Cinder & Smoke appreciation post! Look how far these little cuties have come since I hatched them 12 months ago! These are phasmids (stick/leaf insects) - specifically Peruphasma Schultei or ‘Black Beauties’ - indigenous to a tiny mountainous region of Peru. They utilise Batesian mimicry as a defense mechanism (that’s pretending you’re a different, dangerous animal, in this case a scorpion) by curling up their abdomen. And if that doesn’t work, adults have bright red vestigial wings they can pop out to try and freak out predators. They enjoy the dark and eating leaves and are very easy and entirely harmless to keep as pets. What’s more, females can reproduce asexually, creating eggs that contain genetic clones of themselves. Meaning these two will no doubt be laying a bunch very soon. Lemme know if you’re interested in some, they’ve brought me much joy over the last year and I think they’re just the coolest 🤟 . . . #phasmids #stickinsect #stickinsects #peruphasmaschultei #blackbeauties https://www.instagram.com/p/Cba1n6SMwrL/?utm_medium=tumblr