Aquila
Location : Salisbury
Spotter Watch Member : No
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 Subject: Big bug! 2009-09-19, 11:33 |
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Hey all you budding entomologists out there-found this floating in a river (barely alive) in Salisbury, and would really like to know what it is?
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jingernut
Admin
Location : Didcot, Oxfordshire
Spotter Watch Member : NO
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| Subject: Re: Big bug! 2009-09-19, 12:16 |
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That is a Giant Spiny Stick Insect from Papua New Guinea.
I used to keep them many years ago.
It's against the law to release them into the wild and highly unlikely that it got out on it's own as they are pretty big!
My other hald wont let me keep them now we live together!! 
Is it still alive? Or did it die in the end?
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Beefsteak
Location : Mid Cheshire
Spotter Watch Member : Yes
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| Subject: Re: Big bug! 2009-09-19, 17:29 |
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More inclined to say it's a Dragonfly nymph (I.E. shortly due to hatch out) it's been in that water for about 2/3 years so a bit longer won't harm it . Was it pulling itself up a reed by any chance , if so it was readying itself for spreading it's wings!!
Then again those back legs make it look more Locust like , or a very large Cricket/ Grass hopper !!
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Aquila
Location : Salisbury
Spotter Watch Member : No
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| Subject: Re: Big bug! 2009-09-20, 02:36 |
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Just been on google images, and it is indeed a giant spiny stick insect  What it was doing in the river? Who knows-as jingernut says probably released. It didn't live very long after we fished it out of the water.
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