Earth.com

by Eric Ralls; Staff Writer
In the diverse world of entomology, stick insects stand out for a peculiar reason — their apparent ability to span vast distances despite being flightless. Their widespread presence across geographical barriers that would be daunting for most flightless species has long been a conundrum.

However, a new study led by Kobe University has shed light on this puzzle, pointing to a surprising ally in their dispersal: birds.

The stick insect dispersal enigma

The majority of stick insect species lack wings, making their extensive distribution across various terrains seem perplexing. This anomaly led to the hypothesis that their eggs might be dispersed by birds, mirroring the method many plants utilize.

Read on: https://www.earth.com/news/how-do-flightless-stick-insects-spread-their-populations-over-vast-regions/