The Walking Stick Waltz

Have I mentioned yet that I really like shadows? They are one of my favourite things. Combine them with bugs, and I am a happy camper. Especially when bugs are dancing with their own shadows...wow...

Tis a shame I don't have a video camera so you could see how elegantly this fellow was swaying with his dance partner...He didn't once step on his companion's toes...

I'm not quite sure what the little guy was up to, other than maybe hoping some passing females would stop to admire his dance moves. My advice to him though would be to practice his techniques a bit closer to home. Where there is more foot traffic. Like in a tree. Where the women folk are congregating. I confess I know very little about the visual acuity of stick insects, but I reckon they would struggle to spot him at that distance. Especially since they would need to be able to see around corners. 

While his wooing strategy may have been slightly flawed, he did at least have the smarts to warm-up first. Here he is doing his stretching exercises--star jumps sticky style;

 

Someone did appreciate his performance though...

On the subject of performing bugs, scroll down to check out this extrovert and the other charming stick impersonators residing in my garden, a.k.a. Stick Insect Metropolis.