Leaf bug

[Big IV]

This morning when I went to hop on my Valk, I realized a leaf bug was stuck to the windshield. I'm not sure if that is the real name of these creatures, but they are a six legged pale green with a body shaped like a leaf.

I figured he'd fall off or fly away so I let him be.

I backed the bike out and cranked it. The leaf bug was walking around on the windshield. He was fairly close to the edge.

As I hit the road at the end of the driveway I noticed that he was still there. I kept an eye on him wondering how much wind he could take. At 35mph he was still there. At 45 mph he was still there. At 55 mph he was still there, and I was reaching the end of my road.


I figured that when I took the left turn onto the highway he'd come loose because the wind would hit his flat body differently. While I was waiting my turn to turn he walked toward the center of the windshield.  As I turned he held on.

When I hit traffic I didn't keep as close of an eye on him. I could, however, see him at the bottom of my vision. He held on.

At 65mph I glanced down and he was still holding on.

Somewhere in the morning commute I realized not only was he still holding on,but he was managing to walk around slowly, one foot in front of the 5 others.

When I got to work this morning he was still there. So there I left him. I wonder if he'll still be out there for the afternoon ride home?

[Jess from VA]

Cool, now you've got a mascot.  Maybe he'll eat the other dead bugs up front after the ride.

[Willow]

Somewhere in the morning commute I realized not only was he still holding on,but he was managing to walk around slowly, one foot in front of the 5 others.

IV, next time you get a chance to observe insect behavior watch more closely.  Unlike the human, an insect never crosses past another foot as it "steps".   

It is amazing how much wind a living bug can take while clinging to a windshield (Not that I've been able to observe any on my own screen). 

[T.P.]

I guess sometimes we need to take the time to look at the little things in life. 

[lacon]

Probably a katydid.

[Big IV]

Could be a katydid, but it's not the bug I usually refer to as a katydid.


I suppose I missed that their feet don't cross. I was driving at the time. I probably missed a few things. It was amazing how the little guy hung on.


After 1:30 when I finally got out of meeting that went horribly horribly wrong the leafbug had fled.  I understood. I wanted to flee too.  I didn't want to hang around for that long of a meeting either. 


I don't know if leafbugs (katydids) are migratory, but I took this one from home to work where it went off on its own way. I don't know how fast they tend to travel, but I imagine that leafbug won't take the next part of his journey at 45-65mph.


Looking back, this was the highlight of my day.