California Towhee and the India Walking Stick

The other evening I happened to glance out the kitchen window, noticing some movement on our walkway. A California Towhee was hard at work pecking hard at what I first thought was a thick blade of grass. But that blade of grass had thin long legs, and soon hung limp in the towhee's beak.

Alas, it was the demise of an India Walking Stick Carausius morosus.

These walking stick insects were originally imported to the United States as ideal pets for children to care for.

They are now considered invasive, at least here in California.

The towhee looked very pleased with its treat.

A few minutes after I took this photo the towhee flew away to eat the walking stick in peace, maybe bringing it to a nest to feed its young.