At the Houston Zoo, an emergency medical procedure saw a tiny resident receive a big degree of attention.

At the ‘Bug House,’ the Houston Zoo boasts a number of Peruvian jumping sticks, which appear like stick insects, but are actually grasshoppers.

In early 2024, a female jumping stick was going through molt, a number process by which the bugs shed their exoskeletons and grow new ones. However, when the female finished, attentive zookeepers noticed a crease had developed between her thorax and head in an area without a joint.

This “neck”-like spot (it isn’t really a neck as we would understand it) was so weak that when she attempted to climb up trees, her head flopped almost all the way back on itself.

Rushing her to the veterinary clinic, Julie, the entomologist who first noticed the crease on the jumping stick, came up with the ingenious idea to secure her head with a neck brace. Using the rod of a sterilized Q-top and some microspore tape, they braced her head and thorax which allowed the crease to heal.

She had a small visible mark where the original crease happened, but after a few days the brace was removed and she was back to climbing about like normal in her exhibit.

“Whether it’s a mammal, reptile, bird, or even insect, all of our animals receive extraordinary care from our veterinary team, no matter how big or small it may be,” the Houston Zoo, understandably proud of Julie and the entomology team, wrote in a blog post.

“Together, with the help of our entomology and veterinary team, one of our smallest critters received exceptional treatment thanks to the ingenious design of a temporary neck brace.”