An irritating, stinking stick of fire?
There are over 2,500 species of stick insects worldwide, mainly in tropical zones, but they are also found in Europe, for example the Gallic stick insect. Most stick insects look like twigs or leaves, protecting themselves from predators who can't distinguish them from the natural environment.
But this one is a female Peruvian stick insect(Oreophoetes peruana). Unlike the majority of stick insects, this species doesn't use mimicry to protect itself - quite the contrary. They're nicknamed "Peruvian fire-sticks" because the males, measuring around 7 cm, are bright red with black legs, while the slightly larger females (around 8 cm) are black with bright yellow or orange joints. It's these bright colors that warn would-be predators of their toxicity.
In fact, if an enemy dares to get too close, the Peruvian stick insect ejects a particularly foul-smelling and irritating whitish liquid, which is highly effective in repelling predators.
