Dah dadadah dada-dadadah dadah

The last of this year's Stick Insects died this morning. Extatosoma Tiaratum — McLeay's Spectre (1827) — the Giant Prickly Stick Insect. They have six green hairs on the backs of their head and winning, ready Simpsonized smiles. They hang around on bramble branches, but will also make do with rose, euclayptus and raspberry. They grow old disgracefully, gorging themselves on leaves as bits of them drop off. We had 2. Now we've got 0. Oh, but there is a circle of life. Ours laid about 300 eggs before dying, so if anyone out there wants some, er, next February, you know where to come...