Insect Science

First published in 2025 by The University of Queensland

Copyright © The University of Queensland, 2025

DOI: 10.14264/20a60aa

eISBN: 978-1-74272-509-3

Please cite as: Ang, G. and Ebert, K. (2025) Insect science. The University of Queensland, DOI: 10.14264/20a60aa

This book is published under a CC BY-NC-SA licence unless otherwise noted.

The University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD, Australia

Cover image by Jessa Thurman (used with permission): Mountain Katydids (Acripeza reticulata) have two strategies for avoiding predation: camouflage and a defense display. This defense display doesn’t disguise them as another animal, instead it flashes warning colours and exudes a liquid that is meant to be foul enough to deter predators. These warning colours usually say, “don’t eat me, I’m toxic,” and the liquid reinforces this message. But in this case it’s all a trick. This katydid isn’t toxic, but a predator has every reason to think that it is.