I have a prickly pear cactus in my yard right now that is slowly dying from the effects of this insect. The plant is covered with what appears to be white spider webs. When the white material is crushed, it turns a brilliant red from the insect bodies inside.

They are not placebos where I live. Perhaps in New Yourk people are too stupid to figure such things out but where I live the walk buttons do actually start a sequence that will change the light much more quickly than if you simply wait.

Obviously this is how the legend of Sasquatch got started.