Results: Trick Or Treat -- Insect Style!

Halloween is the time of year for costumes, and many of us spend lots of time (and occasionally money) finding the perfect disguise. But good old Mother Nature can definitely give this holiday a run for its money. It seems every day is Halloween for these insects...no costume required. Some of these will definitely get..under..your..skin... First off, a rather pretty one actually. But this beautiful mantis is a bloodthirsty predator in disguise. Found in the rainforests of Southeast Asia, this species looks undeniably like an orchid. Its hind pairs of legs are greatly flattened and heart-shaped, looking uncannily like petals. Many smaller insects find these mantises even more attractive than the orchids they mimic. But get too close and the orchid mantis doesn't smell too sweet. It uses its front legs to hunt, aggressively snatching and eating insects looking for a treat of nectar or pollen. Do you think you would be fooled by this mantis?

One species of caterpillar, the gum leaf skeletonizer (Uraba lugens), dons a "hat" of heads, a conical ornament made up of its own discarded head capsules, one stacked on top of the next. The disguise is gory but effective. Researchers studying this grotesque accessory have found that it helps the caterpillar ward off attack by confusing its predators, making it a truly a functional fashion item. Does this little caterpillar give you the "creepies"?

Just like some of prefer the scarier costumes, so do some insects. The larval form of the tropical moth Hemeroplanes triptolemus falls into that category. It is a harmless caterpillar, but when threatened does a compelling impersonation of a snake. Do you think this one would win the scary costume contest in the insect world?

This giant swallowtail caterpillar is hidden in plain sight. Caterpillars can try to avoid predatory birds by masquerading as bird droppings. There are very few larger organisms that feed on bird feces, so this disguise is a useful strategy to avoid being eaten. It is such an effective disguise, in fact, that many species are known to use this strategy, including many species of charismatic swallowtail butterflies. Admit it, did you have a hard time seeing a caterpillar in this photo?

Sometimes the best costume is a group costume -- think along the lines of The Three Stooges or Huey, Dewey and Louie. Enchenopa binotata species, commonly known as treehoppers like to do things in groups! These small insects feed on sap and are found throughout eastern and continental North America. From a distance, species in this genus are nearly indistinguishable from thorns. The insects themselves are not as sharp as thorns, but this disguise allows them to seamlessly blend into their surroundings while enjoying a good feed. Doesn't nature amaze you?