What's this a picture of?
Posted by Sean Ryan March 18, 2005

It's another example of Natural selection. Bare with me this is not a great photograph, but if you look carefully you can see a stick bug (left side-hanging). This insect has evolved to look more and more like it's surroundings (sticks). They are herbivores (to my knowledge!) and feed on the plants that they're mimicking. They usually move slowly to avoid being detected by predators. Their movements are quite interesting as well, from what I have observed. This specimen, in particular, moves in a jerking fashion. My guess would be that short movements consisting of light rocking, mimics the swaying of branches in the wind. It could very well be that this insect has not only adapted physically to look like a stick but move like one too :) (This specimen was on display at the Monte Verde Butterfly Garden)