Poorly camouflaged insects can kick off a cascade of ecological impacts
Monday, October 21, 2013 - 14:00
in Biology & Nature
A California walking stick insect that has evolved to produce individuals with two distinct appearances -- an all-green form that camouflages well with broader leaves and a form with a white stripe running down its back that blends better with needle-like leaves -- can markedly affect its broader ecological community when the appearance of the bug is mismatched with the plant it's living on.