Hello, friends, and welcome to episode 138 of Just the Zoo of Us. This week, I am joined by an entomologist

who is here to introduce you to the gentle giants of the insect world, phasmids, which you may know as

stick bugs, leaf insects, they go by many names. We discuss learning to love bugs, what makes the abundantly diverse

stick bug family so weird and wonderful, and even why you might want to consider incorporating

bugs into your own culinary repertoire. Just the Zoo of Us presents Fasmids with Shakara Magit.

Music Fasmids with Shakira Magit. Hey everybody. This is Ellen Weatherford. I'm here with your favorite animal review podcast, Just the Zoo of Us.

I'm here with a brand new friend today. We're talking to Shakira Maggit. Say hi, Shakira.

Hi.

It's so nice to virtually meet you because I've been following you on Twitter for a while.

And I'm always so overjoyed by your love for bugs. And today we're talking about a really,

really cool bug. We're talking about phasmids, which folks listening probably know as stickbugs

or possibly walking sticks, I think they're also called. Yes, yes. Leaf insects, walking sticks,

all of those are common names. Well, when I hear like leaf bug or leaf insect, I think of like Katie Dids.

That's different, right?

Katie Dids are...

Yes, they're in a different order.

They're in an orthoptera.

Oh, okay.

Before we get too far into our stick bugs today, let's talk about Kara a little bit. Can you let our

friends at home listening know, like, what got you into bugs? Like, how did you start really

loving bugs? Is this like a childhood always loved bugs thing? Or was this like a learned

appreciation? So this was not a childhood love of bugs.

...