Phasmids (stick insects), mantids, katydids, unusual beetles, all harmless but temptingly photogenic.
Beetles
Scarabaeidae:
Scarabaeus sp. - Dung beetle
We met an number of dung beetles rolling goat dung 2-3x their size up impossible slopes. When it slippedand rolled all the way back down to the bottom again (like landing on the snake on square 98 of Snakes and Ladders) they jusst clung on, went over and over with their prize and when it stopped, they started all over again - you have to admire their work-ethic! Perhaps this is why ancient civilisations like the Egyptians held scarab beetles in such high esteem.
Dung or scarab beetle,
Scarabeus sp. north of Loutrós
Bush crickets
Tettigoniidae:
Isophya or Poecilimon sp. - Brown bush-cricket
A brown bush cricket (Isophya or Poecilimon sp.) found in rocky woodland north of Loutrós.
Brown bush cricket,
Isophya or Poecilimon sp. from rocky woodland north of Loutrós
Isophya or Poecilimon sp. - Green bush-cricket
A green bush cricket (Isophya or Poecilimon sp.) found in river valley south of Loutrós.
Green bush cricket,
Isophya or Poecilimon sp. from river valley south of Loutrós
Praying mantids
Empusidae:
Empusa fasicata - Cone-head mantis
One of the weirdest, alien, praying mantids was found on the rocky, wooded hill sides north of Loutrós. Fortunately Benny Trapp was on hand to identify it as a Cone-head mantis (Empusa fasciata).
Cone-head mantis,
Empusa fasciata rocky woodland north of Loutrós
