Walking stick insects, as their name implies, are insects that have taken camouflage and imitation to the extreme by developing the appearance of a stick or twig. Typically these insects are shades of brown, although some may be green, black, gray, or blue. Often they change colors to match the environment they reside in. You might think that stick insects hide among sticks on the ground, hoping to blend in, but most stick insect species are usually found sitting right out in the open within the leaves; often disguised as a leaf or as bark or as a twig.
They usually stay perfectly still, but when they need to move, they are even able to camouflage their motion. It is common to see them walk in a swaying motion, pretending to be a twig caught by the wind. Other stick insect species have lichen-like outgrowths on their bodies that help camouflage them on tree bark.
This 6 inch long walking stick photo taken by me on Cave Mountain on November 1, 2011; in the autumn color change:
Walking Stick in camo
Life and Wildlife along the Little Buffalo River 
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