Hesse, a state in the heart of Germany, is characterized by a diverse biocultural landscape. From the wooded low mountain ranges like the Taunus and the Vogelsberg to the fertile valleys along the Rhine, Hesse offers a wide range of habitats for a variety of plant and animal species. The flora is marked by deciduous and coniferous trees in the forests, as well as typical Central European plants such as beeches, oaks, and chestnuts. The fauna includes a variety of species, including deer, wild boar, foxes, badgers, and various bird species like woodpeckers and owls. The people of Hesse have developed a close relationship with nature over the centuries, reflected in traditions such as the preservation of orchards and the protection of nature reserves. Despite challenges from land use, urbanization, and climate change, the protection and preservation of this biocultural diversity remain crucial for the future of Hesse and the well-being of its residents.
I used to keep this species as a pet for many years.
They reach a size of about 5 to 8 cm and live up to 5 years. They don't have wings, but they can easily scale smooth glass.
The offspring looks cute. They are so-called nymphs, so they already look very similar to the adults. Only in tiny.
The tiny ones were always great escape artists. Again and again I collected the little adventurers and freed them from fluff.
The adults live in groups and communicate by hissing noises. There are three different hissing sounds. Both sexes can do the disturbance hiss "F*ck off!".
Only males can make two more sounds: the female-attracting hiss and the aggressive fighting hiss. The males can be recognized by their horns and bushy antennae. There is one in the middle of the second picture.
The females have humps instead of horns.
Females carry their eggs (ootheca) internally, and release the young nymphs only after her offspring have emerged within her. After that, they usually stay close together for some time.
Instagram recently doesn't work that good. As always when they implement new features. I just found this capture too cute but couldn't upload it as wanted... but here it is 🤍
Loki and Berenike and a golden pot of zophobas. While Loki easily catches her meal, Berenike seems to be a bit confused. She doesn't hunt but walks around looking for something. She's actually looking for prey. You can see the same hunting behavior in my post # 330, which you can also find on my website megagroundsloth.de by searching for "lunatic gila monster". There I also explain the social behavior. Berenike doesn't like fighting and she can hear the other zophobas outside. So she prefers to look for them. In the middle of the video you can "see" Nameless catching a worm from the left. She slowly sneaked to the pot and waited for a good moment. She twitched with tension. When I finished the recording, she was startled and gone in a flash. Arsinoë just climbs around in the background.
It's a species of flower chafers 🌸 (a group of scarabs) from west and central Africa. The larvae are called grubs. I sometimes feed them to my animals. Very rich food! 😋
