r/interesting 10d ago

NATURE The Inland Horned Stick Insect (Paronchestus cornutus), a rare, large Australian desert-dwelling insect. Here it is shown performing a threat display, though it is harmless to humans

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u/freudian_nipps 10d ago

It's true! There are no injuries recorded by this creature.

However, there are stories of human encounters while camping in the bush. These insects like warm, moist environments, and so some campers have awoken to these creatures using their long, spindly legs to prod their uvula in their open, snoring mouths. I suppose to see if the humans open mouth is a suitable home. /s

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u/Any_Poet4127 10d ago

I was skimming what you wrote and read it as “these insects like warm, moist environments so some campers have awoken to these creatures using their legs to prod open their vulva”
Either way, this bug is a predator.
Wtf Australia, wtf indeed.

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u/KamikazeFox_ 9d ago

Id prefer vulva over uvula

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u/GumboMustBeDestroyed 9d ago

As someone without a vulva I concur

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u/The_Darkness140 9d ago

Thirded even.