Researchers finds seven new species of leaf insects

Source: The post is based on the article “Researchers finds seven new species of leaf insects?”  published in The Print on 1st September 2023

What is the News?

An international research team has identified seven previously unknown species of leaf insects, also known as walking leaves.

What are Walking Leaves?

Source: SciTechDaily

Walking leaves are part of the phasmatodea order.They are also referred to as “phasmids” or “stick and leaf insects.” 

They are known for their unusual appearance as they look confusingly similar to parts of plants such as twigs, bark or in the case of leaf insects as leaves.

They feed on plants and typically inhabit densely vegetated areas. 

Range: Their natural range extends from islands in the Indian Ocean, across parts of mainland South Asia and Southeast Asia, to Papua New Guinea and Australia in the western Pacific.

They are also largely nocturnal, resulting in a relative lack of movement during the day that makes locating them quite difficult in the wild.

Significance: There are around 3,500 known species of stick and leaf insects.But there are currently just over 100 described species of leaf insect.

– Hence, they only make up a small fraction of this diverse family of insects but their spectacular and unexpected appearance makes them unique.