Black beauty stick insect (Peruphasma schultei)

Picture taken in Frederiksberg, Denmark

Peruphasma schultei, known as the black beauty stick insect, is a species of phasmid found in the Cordillera del Condor region of northern Peru. In the wild the insect feeds on Schinus plants, but will feed on privet, Aucuba japonica and honeysuckle in captivity. In Peru they are only known to exist in a region of less than 5 hectares, usually on volcanoes or mountains, but since their discovery they have become increasingly popular as pets worldwide due to their unusual colouration and they are now bred regularly in captivity.