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Aquatic soothsayer

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From the moment of the origin at the Earth insects became one of prospering groups of live creatures. Features of respiratory and blood system do not permit them to grow up large size (to become larger, rather than crabs, for example), but among tiny inhabitants of Earth insects are in the lead unconditionally. They easily adapt to changes of environment and among them new species evolve very quickly. At rather small morphological reorganization insects can develop new habitats easily. One of such species had appeared in marshy plains of China.
In Neocene the climate began more humid, and the plain part of China represents a circuit of rivers, lakes and swamps constantly changing the outlines. Winds bring rains from Pacific Ocean, and in plains flooding often happen. And after flooding the part of water inhabitants may be trapped in shallow ponds drying up quickly. In such conditions inhabitants of water environment develop adaptations for life on land, and ground inhabitants study to develop water.
As a rule, soothsayers, insects having very ancient origin, were inhabitants of woods and dry habitats. But in swamps of China one species of these insects till the evolution process had got ability to live in water, at least, half.
Among water insects water bugs and beetles are very characteristic. These creatures differ in predating behavior and eat any animals they can catch. For prey catching modified front legs working as claws serve to bugs. These insects spend life in thickness of water, regularly emerging to the surface for the portion of air. In comparison with them aquatic soothsayer looks “amateur”, but its habit of existence has the certain grace.
Aquatic soothsayer is completely not able to swim. Nevertheless this insect is not less successful hunter, rather than armed and quickly swimming water bugs. Aquatic soothsayer applies traditional tactics of the ambuscader for hunting. This insect simply sits among water plants upwards an abdomen, having immersed the forward part of body in water. Thus respiratory apertures of insect remain above water, and soothsayer does not risk sinking.
Because aquatic soothsayer actually lives simultaneously in two environments, in air and in water, it seems made of two halves of completely different insects. This feature has determined the generic name of this insect – Dimorphomantis, “the soothsayer of two shapes”. The length of this creature exceeds 15 cm: it is rather large species of soothsayers though its larger congeners live in tropical rainforests.
Forward part of body of the aquatic soothsayer is colored yellowish, very much lengthened and thin. It makes approximately two thirds of general length of insect. Forward pair of legs of aquatic soothsayer is well advanced and very strong. Segments of forward legs are expanded and also resemble a pair of leaves growing on thin stem. From outside they are colored bright green, and their internal surface is grayish-white. Head of this insect is flat and triangular; spherical eyes are very big. It is very mobile, and eyes provide the full circular field of view. Aquatic soothsayer catches prey using sight and chemical feeling. Usually it perches motionlessly at the surface of water, waiting while catch of suitable size will swim up to it closely enough. This soothsayer catches fry of fishes and various water insects. Sharp thorns on internal surface of legs permit it to kill even dangerous insect like water bug quickly.
Abdomen of aquatic soothsayer, on the contrary, is wide and flat. It imitates leaves of marsh plant sticking up from water rather good. Wings folded on back and having pattern of light nerves on green background strengthen the accuracy of this imitation. Walking legs at this insect have usual for soothsayer structure, but are only more tenacious. Aquatic soothsayer frequently masks among water plants, having perched on the bottom side of leaf. So it becomes invisible to predators from air, and protective colouring masks insect from sights of underwater predators. Wings of aquatic soothsayer are very short, and this insect can not fly. But even if wings would be advanced enough, the structure of body would not permit this insect to fly up. Therefore wings of aquatic soothsayer had lost initial function of flight, and serve for masking. At males second pair of wings has bright strips and spots – bases of wings have small brown spots on yellow background, edge of wing is bright yellow. Opening wings and flapping them, male shows to the female readiness for pairing. Also the male of aquatic soothsayer is “musical”: calling the female, it rubs jags on forward pair of legs against each other. The sound is well audible in water, and the ear at soothsayers is located between forward legs. Therefore female reached the maturity and ready to breeding hears courtship calls of the male well. It answers them with short clicks even more stimulating “musical” abilities of the male.
Similarly to all soothsayers, aquatic soothsayer breeds once in life. During the pairing female devours the male. The stock of sperm received by it till the pairing is sufficient to make some clutches. Female lays among reed few ootecas (clutches packed into common dense environment), and then quickly perishes of the exhaustion.
Approximately after 8 – 10 days from eggs larvae very similar to adult insects, but wingless, burst. Young growth of aquatic soothsayer is also connected to water in life, but it occurs differently, rather than at adult individuals. Young aquatic soothsayers are very tiny; therefore it is difficult for them to break through the surface tension film. But it not the obstacle for them: larvae of aquatic soothsayer settle on surface film of water and live in places protected of wind. Aquatic soothsayers settled in other reservoirs mainly at the larval stage, often migrating on floating plants. Adult insects lead settled life.
Larvae have hairs on tips of walking legs with which help they keep on surface tension film. Hairs are covered with wax-like substance that makes them hydrophobous. This substance is emitted from glands on the tip of abdomen, and insect not occupied with hunting serially greases legs with it. Thill first days of life young aquatic soothsayers catch springtails (Collembola) living on water surface, then start to gather small insects fallen in water. Water bugs become catch of larvae of advanced age. Gradually growing up larvae start to hunt fish fry hiding among water plants, applying the same mode, as adult insects.
At later stages of development (after the penultimate moult) young insects start exclusively underwater hunt. At this time wax gland starts to produce much larger amount of wax, and insect starts to grease with it an abdomen. Such feature of behavior helps to immerse in water deeper in searches of catch, and rescues when the insect casually falls in water – in this case aquatic soothsayer has some minutes to get out of water.
The aquatic soothsayer is successfully protected from predatory fishes, striking impacts by spiny forward legs. In ponds of China it has the dexterous imitator – one local frog species.

It is animal of neocene. Look in [[link]]
We are need for more painters (sorry of my english :(). All comers - Welcome!
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Amplion's avatar
Thank you! Unfortunately, I did not invent this kind. He has already been created on the neocene, I just drew a picture. Remark on the shape of the front limbs are very appropriate! Let's hope that this mantis is just going a little competition ... :^)