麻豆官网首页入口

'Smelly' stick insect species found in Phillipines

  • Published
A male conlephasma insect rests on a leaf. It has six legs and long antennae. Its body is yellow and orange and its legs a bright green.Image source, Oskar Conle

A smelly new species of stick insect has been discovered living in the Philippines.

It has no wings and lives on the ground instead of in trees - and it's spectacularly coloured!

Called conlephasma, the insect can release a foul-smelling spray which scientists think deters predators.

Image source, oskar conle

It's so unique that scientists haven't been able to work out its relationship to other stick and leaf insects yet.

The insect was found on the third-highest mountain in the collection of islands.