Phasmids !
Nope not a new range of lights from Acme !
We were watching TV in the conservatory last night when I noticed what appeared to be a grape stem on the carpet.
However when I tried to pick it up............ it began crawling up my arm !!!
Turns out it's one of these little beauties
A 5" long Unarmed Stick Insect !!.
Apparently these were unwittingly imported with plants from New Zealand (to which they are native) during the building of collections for the great gardens which abound in this part of the world, from about 1920, and have now established sizeable colonies in Cornwall, Devon and SW Ireland.
Having reported her to the British Phasmid Study Group, she has been nicknamed 'Stella' and will be assisted to overwinter in a small vivarium where she may well lay eggs which will be released in the Spring to hatch and provide the next generation.
Apparently their favourite food is brambles, so we're hoping for a huge colony to save us a lot of gardening chores ?
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