# Need help identifying an insect **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430 "2008-06-19T02:10:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430/1 "2008-06-19T02:10:30Z")
Anyone know what [this](http://www.flickr.com/photos/42561499@N00/2591839906/sizes/m/) is? I’m guessing a type of Walking Stick, but I’m not familiar with this particular variety. Photo taken a few miles north of downtown Houston. There are two in the photo; the larger one is 2 1/2 to 3 inches long. There have been a bunch clinging to the outside walls of our office the past couple days. Remind me a bit of the coffee-drinking bugs from _Men In Black_. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430/2 "2008-06-19T03:40:56Z")
\Nevermind\ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430/3 "2008-06-19T04:10:47Z")
Lovely. Stick Insect Porn. I think they’re mating, and sort of almost match [these guys](http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=2722022). I am not an entomologist. Or an etymologist. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430/4 "2008-06-19T04:23:05Z")
I am not an entomologist either, but this looks like a mating pair of Anisomorpha ferruginea – compare with the photos [here.](http://www.microcosmos.org.uk/Anisomorpha_ferruginae.htm) Even though the pictures are from a UK website, the species originates in Texas, I was directed there by the [Texas Walkingstick Information website](http://www.texasento.net/sticks.htm). Apparently the common name of this insect is the Northern Two-striped Walkingstick, or “Prairie Alligator”. They apparently spray an irritating substance when disturbed. ---
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430/5 "2008-06-19T04:46:15Z")
Oh…our boy is using the ol’ “two striped walking stick” on her, alright! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2008, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-help-identifying-an-insect/453430/6 "2008-06-19T11:00:48Z")
[QUOTE=MisterThyristor] I am not an entomologist either, but this looks like a mating pair of Anisomorpha ferruginea – compare with the photos [here.](http://www.microcosmos.org.uk/Anisomorpha_ferruginae.htm) Apparently the common name of this insect is the Northern Two-striped Walkingstick, or “Prairie Alligator”. They apparently spray an irritating substance when disturbed. [/QUOTE] Looks like you nailed it (as did the male in the photo, hurh hurh). One of my co-workers mentioned that one of them had ‘spit’ at him. Thanks.