Stick insects (Seval-d-bwa) as the name suggests are elongate, green or brown twig-like herbivores. Their resemblance to the sticks on which they live gives them camouflage. Likewise, leaf insects (Mous fey) also find camouflage as segments of leaves. There are five species of stick insects in Seychelles and one leaf insect. All are restricted to the larger granitic islands and all but one are endemic.
Carausius gardineri with a length (body) of 6cm is the smallest of the endemic Carausius species. It is predominantly mid-brown with reddish eyes and patches of pale buff-brown. Females are broad while males are thinner. This species is found on the granitics and feeds on native ferns.
Carausius alluaudi is also an endemic found on most of the large islands. Females can grow up to 10cm. It feeds on a range of plant species. Females are brown and relatively wide while males are a bright orange-red. The similar C. sechellenisis feeds only on ferns mostly the abundant ladder or Boston fern. It is found on all four large islands in addition to Felicite and Conception.
The only leaf insect found in Seychelles usually resides on introduced trees and shrubs including Jamblon, Guava and related plants in the coastal lowlands and mid-altitudes. It is highly camouflaged to resemble a leaf with limbs flattened. In the adult female, even the wings are leaf-like and cannot be used in flight. The smaller thinner male has transparent wings and can fly.
(Photo: Leaf insect Credit: Dao Nguyen)