“An interesting insect on a plant may seem like a thorn, which is a kind of protection against birds.”, — write: www.unian.ua
An interesting insect on a plant may seem like a thorn, which is a kind of protection against birds.
The bison hornworm is an aggressive pest that feeds on the juice of grapes and fruit trees / UNIAN collage, photo by Olga BielskaAn unusual bison humpback insect lives in Ukraine, which once arrived here from North America. It is an aggressive pest of vineyards and fruit trees.
The photo of this creature was released by specialists of the Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve. According to researchers, the bison humpback (Stictocephala bisonia) is one of the most exotic insects of the cicada suborder that currently lives in Ukraine. This small species, the length of which does not exceed 10 mm, got its name because of the characteristic curve of the back, similar to the hump of a male bison.
“The hard front back of the insect, like a crown with two side spikes, rises above the head and ends with a sharp process above the abdomen, protecting the soft body from predators,” the scientists said.
It is said that, thanks to these outgrowths, the bison humpback on the plant can seem like a thorn that serves the “alien” as a kind of protection – when the bird tries to grab an unwary insect, the spines prevent it from swallowing its prey.
“This is how the natural protection, honed by evolution, works,” the scientists emphasize.
Researchers say that the appearance of this species in Europe was recorded for the first time in Hungary in 1912, where it arrived with plant seedlings. In the south of the continent, the humpback quickly showed itself as an aggressive pest of vineyards and fruit trees. It settled in Ukraine about half a century later, which is associated with the warming of the climate. However, so far its impact as a pest is not as noticeable as that of many other invasive species.
The humpback bison feeds on the juice of various herbs and trees: elm, willow, acacia, as well as fruit crops. An important role in its development and distribution is played by North American plants – goldenrod, ragweed, ash maple, and five-leaf wild grape.
More news about the Chernobyl reserveAs UNIAN wrote, researchers recently came across a herd of wild cows in the Chornobyl region. More than 10 massive animals carefully guarded two almost black calves, which had grown significantly over the summer. The animals grouped up and watched the scientists while they tried to count them and take good pictures. Then the herd suddenly turned around, quickly crossed the water barrier and instantly disappeared among the trees. After the “disappearance” of the animals, the researchers were left with a sense of the uniqueness of the moment.
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