By Admin. Updated 11:47 a.m., Thursday, July 2, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Residents in Belmont were left both fascinated and startled after an unusually large stick insect, measuring more than seven inches in body length, was spotted at a home in the community.
The lime-green insect, locally known as a “Green Bean”, “God Horse” or, according to some older residents, a “Guava Lobster”, was discovered by Belmont resident and Reformed Baptist preacher Calvin J. Christopher, at his residence below the Belmont Lookout.
Christopher a Dominican national, said the creature immediately caught his attention because of its extraordinary size and striking appearance. He said he had to show it to his Vincentian wife and other locals to confirm.
Using a ruler placed beside the insect, he estimated its body length at approximately 18.5 centimetres (7¼ inches). With its legs fully extended, the insect reportedly measured more than 31 centimetres (12 inches) across.
“It was massive,” Christopher said, noting that several people who saw photographs of the insect were unsure what it was, while others admitted they were frightened by its appearance.
Christopher believes the insect may be a giant female stick insect, possibly Diapherodes gigantea or a closely related Caribbean species.
Most published references suggest adult females of the species typically reach between 15 and 17 centimetres in body length, making the Belmont specimen an unusually large example.
While Christopher stopped short of claiming it was a record specimen, he described it as one of the largest wild stick insects he has encountered.
A former forestry official contacted about the sighting said the insects are known locally as “Guava Lobsters”.
“They are not very common, but they have been seen before,” the former official said.
The sighting has sparked interest among residents and serves as a reminder of the rich biodiversity that exists throughout St Vincent and the Grenadines — often hidden in plain sight in gardens and backyards across the country.
For Christopher, however, the encounter carried a deeper meaning.
“As a Christian, moments like this remind me of the incredible detail and diversity found in creation,” he said.
The unusual visitor has since become a talking point in Belmont, with many residents marvelling that one of the island’s most impressive insects had been living quietly in their midst all along.
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