Rainforest Revelations

Whilst it might seem obvious in a tropical rainforest that the most advantageous colour for the purpose of concealment is green, the influence of the upper rainforest canopy on light from the Sun absorbs the red bands of light to drive photosynthesis, leaving a residue that most of us see as green.  Within this light environment, blue resonates most conspicuously, whereas green provides the optimum cover of conformity.

Forever impacted by the earlier discovery of a translucent green spider, I found this new little critter on the underside of the same species of Small-leaved Fire Vine (Tetracera nordtiana).  At first glance I would have guessed an early instar nymph of a stick insect, but the way that it held its rear legs was un-phasmid-like and the way that it walked was much more akin to a cricket.

So, I photographed it and sent an image through to orthopteroid expert, David Rentz from BunyipCo.  It was then sent on to the Australian Insect Farm at Garradunga, just north of Innisfail.  Looking like a young Queensland Malandella Stick Insect (Malandella queenslandica), the leaf became an important consideration.  Had it been Litsea leefiana or a Laurel then the determination would have more compelling, but it was not and so it led the identification to Xabea, a genus of Rainforest Tree Cricket.

Probably only 10 mm from head to tail, this little green tree cricket now has a name, at least to the level of genera.