'Mystery' stick insect discovered

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19399735


Conlephasma enigma: a stick insect unlike any other

A mysterious new species of stick insect has been discovered living in the Philippines by scientists.

The stick insect is wingless, lives on the ground rather than in trees, and is spectacularly coloured, having a green-blue head and orange body.

The insect also vents a foul-smelling spray to deter predators.

[Scuba]

1. Crikey, mate, 'e's a beaut!

Thanks for posting!!

[AnneD]

2. A natural...

Beauty.

[Liberal_in_LA]

3. I'd run screaming

[lob1]

4. That's really neat.

The article doesn't say how long it is, tho.

[1620rock]

5. ...looks like his left rear foot is missing.

[DRoseDARs]

6. The knee is more bent on that one from the camera's perspective than the right rear leg. nt

[tex-wyo-dem]

7. Very, very cool!

I love discoveries like this

[greiner3]

8. Damn;

I can't remember the movie but one used CGIs to model an 'insect' VERY close to the above, albeit differently colored.

Art imitates life, or something like that!

[They_Live]

9. I have these in my backyard.

they are dark brown, though. And yes foul-smelling. They cavort slowly around my patio. I live in Austin, TX. Each year i see many varieties if insects that I have never seen before here.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. One about 5 inches long is perched on my patio door as I type this.

It is brown.
I had no idea they put out a "foul odor", haven't poked at them.
I am impressed at how long they get down here.