Did that stick move? If it did, you might be looking at a stick insect!
These amazing insects are hard to spot because they blend in so well with their environment, a trick they use to avoid predators. Known as Seval-d-bwa in Creole, these are elongated, green or brown twig-like insects. They are also known as walking sticks.
Leaf insects (Mous fey) also use leaf segments for camouflage. Their bodies, wings, and legs are flattened and irregularly shaped. Their large, leathery forewings have veins that look similar to those of leaves.
Among the fascinating insects you can see in Seychelles are leaf and stick insects. In some cases, you will have to go on an intentional bug hunt or go on a mini safari to spot them, whereas in others you will not have to look much. Some are rare and come as a pleasant surprise when they are spotted. We have plenty of insects to discover, from butterflies to moths to wasps to bees, grasshoppers to crickets, dragonflies to damselflies, beetles to ants.
Mantises, for example, are often found in vegetation and sometimes even enter homes, which some people consider lucky. In natural environments, grasshoppers and crickets are abundant and prominent. Many of them use sound to communicate, especially at night. It is not uncommon for large bush crickets to fly to house lights at night.
Dragonfly
There are numerous dragonflies and damselflies (sigals) zipping by in a variety of colors and shapes. Dragonflies have fast-flying adults that perch with their wings extended, while damselflies are smaller, thinner-bodied, and fly with a fluttery movement. Their wings are folded behind their bodies when they are at rest. A common dragonfly on Seychelles’ granitic islands, the Chalky percher has powder-blue thorax and abdomen. As for the Orange damselfly, its color is also recognizable, although the female is more green-brown. The eyes of both sexes are green.
Rhinoceros beetle
Rhinoceros beetles are one of the largest beetles. The dark brown to black beetle spots a projection on its head similar to the animal that gives it its name. It feeds on the tissues of ageing or fallen palms.
Often found in coastal areas and gardens where papaya and other fruiting plants are abundant, the flower scarab flies very noisily. Father Philibert’s Beetle is an attractive endemic beetle with distinctive fan-shaped antennae. It is nocturnal and is often drawn to lights at night.
It is impossible to see the Seychelles Tenebrionid Beetle outside of Fregate Island. Its Creole name, Bib Arme, means “armored spider” and refers to its appearance, which resembles body armour.
Oleander hawkmoth
The Evening brown butterfly is a large butterfly that is active late afternoon, evening, and early morning. Oleander Hawkmoth’s body pattern is green, pink and brown, with distinctive ‘eyes’ and captivating imagery designed to confuse or scare predators.