11d • General discussion
A Case of Mistaken Identity
I learned something tonight that made me laugh so hard I had to share it.
Did you ever hear this growing up?
“Don’t let a praying mantis spit in your eye. You’ll go blind.”
I had not. But after a good laugh and some skillful Googling, we learned it was a case of mistaken identity.
Praying mantises do not spit.
But the two striped walking stick bug has a defensive spray mechanism that could easily be mistaken for spitting.
They can activate this gem if you are bold, curious, or making questionable life choices and put your face too close. At that point, congratulations. You've won a memorable life experience and a same day appointment with your eye doctor.
The spray is not poisonous or acidic. It is, however, very good at making you regret your decisions.
And while going blind is incredibly unlikely, so is getting sprayed in the eye by a two striped walking stick bug… yet here we are talking about it.
So what is the takeaway?
Marvel at these fascinating creatures.
Appreciate them from a respectful distance.
And please, keep your eyes to yourself.
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A Case of Mistaken Identity
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