According to News.com.au, the terrifying Australian bug that went viral on TikTok and was dubbed ‘the creature from hell’ has finally been identified.
A TikTok video quickly gained notoriety when it showed a mysterious insect spotted in Rubberton, Western Australia in early July that appeared to intimidate predators with its long, pointed tail.
The clip quickly racked up over 10 million views, leaving many users confused as to what the bug was. According to News.com.au, it was eventually called “Creatures from Hell.”
This bluish bug appeared to display a typical resemblance to a praying mantis and a scorpion, displaying a pair of wings and a long, pointed tail that appeared to move in a “stinging” motion. (Related: Viral video criticizing ‘inadvertent pregnancies’ among Generation Z)
‘Creatures from Hell’ finally turns out: ‘I’m really scared right now’ https://t.co/FmoTQmNFoN
— New York Post (@nypost) July 12, 2023
Nikolay Tatarnik, an entomologist and curator of entomology at the Western Australian Museum, has solved the case by identifying the creature as a common stick insect of the carnivorous family.
“Although most people are aware that they are camouflaging (i.e., looking like a stick), some species display threatening or frightening displays to ward off potential predators ( (also called ‘non-pseudo-behavior’),” Tatarnik said.
Tatarnik reassured the audience that these insects have a herbivorous diet and, despite their terrifying appearance, are not poisonous.
“Fasmids are found all over Australia, but they are mostly invisible because of their amazing camouflage,” Tatarnik concluded.
There are currently about 20,000 comments speculating about this bug and joking about Australia’s “amazing” nature.
“Australia looks gorgeous but the insects have guns and smoke cigars and will never go there,” one commenter wrote.
Many users joked about the insect’s appearance that it reminded them of the giant carnivorous plant from the movie Alien and the facehugger from Jumanji.
