What Gives With Insects Pretending to Be Sticks and Leaves?

A surprising number of insects look so much like leaves and sticks that it doesn't seem possible.
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Imagine that you had one outfit and one outfit only: a jumpsuit that made you look like a leaf. You'd blend in nicely in a forest or the plant store, sure, but not so much in a desert. Such is the existence of a surprising number of insects, which look so much like leaves and sticks that it doesn't seem possible. Oh, but it is, thanks to the wonders of natural selection. Check out this week's episode of Absurd Creatures to learn more!

Find every episode of Absurd Creatures here. And I’m happy to hear from you with suggestions on what to cover next. If it’s weird and we can find footage of it, it’s fair game. You can get me at matthew_simon@wired.com or on Twitter at @mrMattSimon.