Prairie Alligator

Post-processing1 #11

On our way home after an afternoon drive in the Ozarks last fall, we stopped at Rotary Ann Scenic Overlook and rest area.  We were surprised to find a large number of walkingsticks on the outside of the restroom doors and walls, as well as on the ground. Most of those on the ground appeared to be dead.

Walkingstick, also commonly called the stickbug, specter, stick insect, prairie alligator, devil's horse, witch's horse, devil's darning needle, thick-thighed walking-stick, or northern walkingstick, depending on locality.

Walkingstick

Walkingstick, Diaphe-romera femorata, is a de-foliator of deciduous trees in North America . Because of its shape, this insect is also commonly called the stickbug, specter, stick insect, prairie alligator, devil’s horse, witch’s horse, devil’s darning needle, thick-thighed walking-stick, or northern walkingstick, depending on locality.2

Walkingstick, also commonly called the stickbug, specter, stick insect, prairie alligator, devil's horse, witch's horse, devil's darning needle, thick-thighed walking-stick, or northern walkingstick, depending on locality.

Even though it is late October, we saw very little fall color on our drive.  It has been warm and very dry the last couple of months, which has delayed and probably muted this year’s fall foliage.

Rotary Ann Overlook and Rest Area, Ozark National Forest, ArkansasRotary Ann Overlook and Rest Area, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas


  1. Image editing to enhance the photo closer to what the eye “saw.” Images in this series are selected within a day or so of being edited and are either posted at the time or scheduled for posting at a later date.
  2. Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 82 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
arkansas, autumn, critters, forests, landscape, mountains, on the road, photography, Post-processing, wild life
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