'Smelly' stick insect species found in Phillipines
- Published
![A male conlephasma insect rests on a leaf. It has six legs and long antennae. Its body is yellow and orange and its legs a bright green.](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/624/mcs/media/images/62670000/jpg/_62670921_conlephasma_male.jpg)
A smelly new species of stick insect has been discovered living in the Philippines.
It has no wings and lives on the ground instead of in trees - and it's spectacularly coloured!
Called conlephasma, the insect can release a foul-smelling spray which scientists think deters predators.
![A male and female conlephasma insect compared side by side](https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/424/mcs/media/images/62670000/jpg/_62670993_62670992.jpg)
It's so unique that scientists haven't been able to work out its relationship to other stick and leaf insects yet.
The insect was found on the third-highest mountain in the collection of islands.