This is a quick detour in the usual blog-posting schedule because, quite frankly, it’s been driving me nuts!
I saw this bug on a shop window in Dublin over a year ago and have been unable to identify it since.
I’ve asked all my science-loving, bug-loving nature-loving friends and have consulted books, websites etc to no avail.
Can anyone help? Any ideas at all?
I wish I could tell you! I tweeted and pinned you on pinterest so maybe that will help?
Thank you – I really appreciate it. Hopefully I’ll find out at some point!
I believe it is a plume moth (with its wings closed)
My friend Becky, a nature enthusiast and Google savant, says that your bug is one of over 3,000 variants of the Walking Stick insect. She found this page of pix: http://j.mp/MaTle0 and this National Geographics page of info: http://j.mp/OcrriA
The Walking Stick’s unique feature? Camouflage!.
Pretty sure it’s a plume moth with wings folded. (Pterophoridae)
Thank you everyone – apparently it’s reasonably rare in Ireland so I’ve reported it and will update with any news! (Thanks Lisa (@ficflash) for the link)
Yeah, it’s definitely a plume moth. Pretty cool that you found such a rare insect to Ireland.