Fear is something that not only is a strong presence in humans, but insects as well. It is often this fear that drives our survival instincts.  In the case of the Callibia diana, they are well equipped to deal with that fear of other insects or animals and survive.  The Callibia diana are normally found in the Amazon Jungle of South America but they can also be found in Africa and Asia. Their body make up is such that they are able to easily camouflage themselves and appear to be part of the leaves of a tree.  It is this survival tactic that makes the Callibia diana a strong member of it’s region and allows it to be a strong survivor.

The Callibia diana’s size can be different because they can change so that the adult shape is different from that of immature stages, and shape changes in certain body parts are thus related to overall body size changes. The Callibia diana can range from 3 to 6 inches.  The females are often larger than the males.  The coloration of this insect can be tan or green.  Because of the color of the Callibia diana, it can easily camouflage itself like a leaf or part of the tree. Cornicle ontogeny is an adaptation to differential predation risk. Some of its identifying characteristics are its habitat, ontogeny, sexual selection, evolutionary tradeoffs, and functional requirements.  The physical makeup and coloration of the Callibia diana makes it able to hide from and attack it’s prey.

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Callibia diana are primarily found in the Amazon Jungle of South America and need the humidity that the jungle provides.  The Callibia diana are not a commonly collected insect.  However, their population is stable.  Although their population is not endangered or threatened, it could be in danger because one of their food sources is eating each other.  They will often eat their young as well.

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The eating habits of the Callibia diana are primarily eating something similar in size to themselves.  Within the rainforest of the Amazon Jungle, they are considered secondary consumers.  They will often become fearful of larger prey and play dead making them able to evade being eaten.  They like to eat crickets, flies, grasshoppers and other insects of similar size.  Callibia diana are considered consumers and are carnivorous.  Again, their body composition, color and survival instincts allow them to continue with life.

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As I previously mentioned, humans and insects alike have a fear that heightens our survival skills.  I found it interesting that the Callibia diana are able with their legs that look like twigs of a tree, and covering that blends in like a leaf or branch of a tree, survive from other insects.  Their instincts to play dead when a bigger, more threatening animal approaches, make them a unique insect.  These are all characteristics that make them almost human like.

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Author:  Colton P.
Published:  02/2012

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Picture credit:  tolweb.org

Sources:www.naturalentomology.com ,www.enchantedlearning.com, www.petbugs.com ,www.trueknowledge.com, www.ehow.com