The armoured ground cricket of southern Africa are fat and flightless, two things that make them prime targets in the food-scarce African landscape.
Predation should've killed off these crickets, but evolution has equipped them with an amazing arsenal of self defense mechanisms, including vomiting and squirting blood in every direction.
Entomologist Bill Bateman of the University of Pretoria said:
Predation should've killed off these crickets, but evolution has equipped them with an amazing arsenal of self defense mechanisms, including vomiting and squirting blood in every direction.
Entomologist Bill Bateman of the University of Pretoria said:
"If [the attack] is from above the blood wells out and coats your hand. If grabbed by forceps from the side, by a leg, they lean towards it and crouch down, then there is a slight cracking sound and the blood jets right along the line of attack."
"The blood is pale green and rather acrid smelling. I couldn't bring myself to actually taste it fresh but it leaves an acidy, tobacco-like taste on your fingers if you do not wash it off," he says.
From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by coconutnut.
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