Stick Insect

This little creature appeared from behind the door this morning. It is a known as a French Stick Insect, or Clonopsis gallica.

It certainly resembles a piece of stick or twig and this must be very useful camouflage. They are parthenogenetic, which means the female produces viable eggs and no males are necessary for the continuation of the species.

The body of this one was around 8 or 9 cm long (4 inches). 
They eat leaves, and are sometimes kept as pets, although there are much more exotic varieties for the connoisseur than this one.