Conservation / Environment

Critter of the Week: Prickly Stick Insect

15:45 pm on 17 September 2021

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You might find this week’s critter on your rose bush, munching on the leaves of your plum tree, or in native forest—they’ve even made their way to the UK! But the prickly stick insect, Acanthoxyla prasina, is incredibly good at looking like a prickly stick and is very difficult to spot! The species is entirely made up of females who have done away with sex and reproduce by themselves.

Prickly Stick Insect Photo: CC-BY-NC Harry Lurling