Sawtoothed Stick Insect

Description:

This is a medium sized stick insect of 4.5 in. (115 mm) whose mix of drab green and grey-white colors perfectly mimic lichens. It can also make itself nearly flat as it hugs a surface making it nearly invisible. See if you can find it in Foto #4 as it sits on a pipe after release. The patches on the ventral side of the thorax (Foto #3) are glands that secrete chemicals that produce a burning sensation or odors as a means of defense.

Habitat:

Found in a house in the Amazon rainforest of SE Ecuador (700 masl).

Notes:

I noticed something “large” flying around inside our house one evening. It came to light on a pair of sock draped over the back of a chair and it took me a minute to figure out what it was. One of the coolest sticks I’ve ever seen. After taking pictures I took it outside where it lit on a pipe at the corner of the house, and, for all practical purposes became invisible.