Any outing is enhanced by the discovery of a Northern Walkingstick,
Diapheromera fermorata. I would probably see more of these guys if I spent my time in the tree tops where Walkingsticks tend to hangout. I get the impression that most low elevation Walkingsticks are just making their way back upward from an unexpected fall. Of course, the fact that they are so well camouflaged also accounts for the scarcity of finds. Sometimes they look more like sticks than do real sticks.
The front pair of legs attaches to the body just in back of the head. When at rest, the front legs are held straight above the head so as to appear a continuation of the stick body. The eyes and other parts of the head are fashioned to resemble buds.
The front legs are shaped so they can wrap around the head to produce the appearance of a single piece. Every part of this creature lends itself to creating the image of a stick.
I’m not sure what this end looks like. Certainly not an insect part. Despite the stick-like appearance, Walkingsticks are tasty morsels and will be readily taken by birds. I imagine it would be quite awkward to have a bird mistake this as a perch.
Even the legs have ornaments to help with the masquerade. Short appendages near the joints look exactly like pointed buds. It may look an odd creature, but it’s marvelously suited to its arboreal existence.
Any outing is enhanced by the discovery of a Northern Walkingstick, Diapheromera fermorata. I would probably see more of these guys if I spent my time in the tree tops where Walkingsticks tend to hangout. I get the impression that most low elevation Walkingsticks are just making their way back upward from an unexpected fall. Of course, the fact that they are so well camouflaged also accounts for the scarcity of finds. Sometimes they look more like sticks than do real sticks.
The front pair of legs attaches to the body just in back of the head. When at rest, the front legs are held straight above the head so as to appear a continuation of the stick body. The eyes and other parts of the head are fashioned to resemble buds.
The front legs are shaped so they can wrap around the head to produce the appearance of a single piece. Every part of this creature lends itself to creating the image of a stick. 
I’m not sure what this end looks like. Certainly not an insect part. Despite the stick-like appearance, Walkingsticks are tasty morsels and will be readily taken by birds. I imagine it would be quite awkward to have a bird mistake this as a perch.
Even the legs have ornaments to help with the masquerade. Short appendages near the joints look exactly like pointed buds. It may look an odd creature, but it’s marvelously suited to its arboreal existence.
