Insects from Another World?

In an earlier post, I wrote about how Nature surrounds us with all sorts of incredible insects and creatures that we’re usually too much in a hurry to notice.  And, in many cases, their camouflage is so good that, even if we are looking, our eye tends to pass right over them.

Well, yesterday, I came across this fellow on my front porch rail.  If he had been on the ground, I never would have noticed him.  Now, before you dismiss him as “Oooh!  Another gross creepy-crawly!” I want you to take a really good look at what a miracle this guy is.  First of all, if he had been down on the ground among the leaves, his body would have easily been mistaken for a leaf, and his legs for sticks.  Those things in themselves make him pretty amazing, but, after I took some pictures and used the zoom, I discovered more…much more.

Okay, now take a good look at his head.  On the top of his head, there’s a silver sheen that shines in the sunlight.  But, what I though was even neater is that his antennae look exactly like copper wire!  Here he is, colored on most of his body to match the fall leaves, but he’s marching around with these beautiful copper “feelers.”

So, okay, so maybe you’re still not sold on the uniqueness of my little insect guy here – let’s call him “Bugsy” for lack of anything better.  That’s why I’ve saved the best for last.  The minute I saw what looks like an image on his body, I started to even wonder if he’s “of this earth.”  Could that or could that not be an alien wearing a helmet?  Now look closely.  You can see the big dark eye on the left and the mouth at the bottom of the face. And there’s the line of his neck directly below the chin. The alien’s head is gold-ish and the helmet is black.  Personally, I can’t look at it without seeing it!  So…is this an innocent everyday insect, or could it be an agent of beings from another planet and this is how they’ve “marked him?”

Of course I’m just kidding…at least I think I am.

On the other hand, you never know, do you?  It’s a strange and wonderful world we live in.  But you gotta keep your eyes open.