News Animals

Walking sticks mimic two leafy looks and split their species

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

A species of walking stick, an insect that pretends it’s part of a plant, may be evolving into two species by adapting to different environments.

Sandoval

SPLITTING STICKS. Striped (top) and nonstriped forms of a walking stick show a rare example of one species splitting into two by adapting to different environments. Sandoval

The insect, Timena cristinae, seems to be adapting so that it can hide on either of two species of plants.