the.com/stick insect
a twig that learned to walk and committed to the bit forever.
means A long, slender insect whose body mimics twigs or branches, using its camouflage to hide in plain sight from predators.
from A plain English compound, "stick" plus "insect," naming the creature for exactly what it resembles. "Stick" comes from Old English "sticca," a rod or twig, and "insect" from Latin "insectum," meaning "cut into" — a nod to the segmented, notched bodies of bugs (the same root gives us "section"). Scientists prefer the grander family name Phasmatodea, from the Greek "phasma," meaning phantom or apparition — a fitting word for a thing that vanishes by standing still.
- females only
- some species reproduce entirely without males
- longest insect
- one species stretches over half a meter
- survives digestion
- eggs hatch after passing through birds
- sways gently
- mimics a branch moving in wind
- regrows limbs
- young can regenerate lost legs molting
phyllium giganteum — giant leaf insect from indonesia, up to 3.3 inches long, mimics leaves perfectly
bacillus rossius — mediterranean stick insect, most common pet species, reproduces asexually
diapheromera femorata — northern walkingstick of north america, produces chemical defense sprays