This beautiful phasmid (Oreophoetes topoense) is a striking stick insect native to the lush Andean slopes of Ecuador. While most stick insects rely on stealthy twig camouflage, this species completely subverts expectations by utilizing brilliant aposematic (warning) coloration. Interestingly, they display extreme sexual dimorphism: males are a vibrant contrast of black and red, while females sport a bold pattern of black and bright yellow. To deter predators, Oreophoetes topoense possesses specialized prothoracic glands that secrete a pungent, white, quinoline-based liquid when threatened—a chemical defense that is highly unpalatable to birds and spiders. I encountered several individuals of both sexes during my expeditions to Tena and Puyo in the Ecuadorian Amazon. At first, I was convinced I was looking at two entirely different species, but my curiosity led me to a scientific paper that explained this fascinating color divide!