As thin as a stick insect
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The Giant Spiny Stick insect (Extatosoma tiaratum) is one of the commonly kept pet species. IntroductionThe Stick insects (sometimes called 'walking sticks') and Leaf insects are some of the most well known of all insects. They are commonly kept as pets and are famous for their superb camouflage (crypsis). Many species closely resemble leaves, grasses or twigs. Some leaf insects even have patches on them that make them look like damaged leaves. Stick insects and leaf insects are herbivores - that is they eat plants. Collectively, stick insects and leaf insects are often referred to as Phasmids. Phasmids first appeared in the fossil record over 40 million years ago and they are related to cockroaches, mantids and, more distantly, the grasshoppers and crickets. There are over 2,500 species of Phasmid and three have been accidentally introduced to Great Britain. Main characteristics of Stick insects and Leaf insectsPhasmids are medium to very large (30-300mm) insects. Stick insects are usually very thin and elongated. In contrast Leaf insects are often very flat and wide, thus more closely resembling leaves rather than sticks. Many species are wingless but, when wings are present, the fore wings are shortened and hardened. The hind wings are membranous. The legs are often very thin and can be held almost flat against the body of the insect. Some species have brightly coloured hind wings which can be 'flashed' to scare away predators. Other species, such as the American Walking Stick (Anisomorpha bupestroides) and to a lesser extent the Pink Winged Stick insect (Sipyloidea sipylus), have a defensive chemical spray which can cause temporary blindness and considerable pain to humans. Life-historyIn some species males are rarely (or never) seen. The females of these species reproduce parthenogenically. That is, the females lay unfertilised eggs which hatch into females which also lay unfertilised eggs. However, in many species both males and females are present. Most phasmids lay eggs singly and commonly the eggs resemble seeds. Some species release these and let them fall to the ground where they become hidden amongst the leaf litter. Other species will descend to ground level and, using a blade-like ovipositor, lay single eggs underground. It can take a very long time for the eggs to hatch. In some species this can even be as long as six months to a year. Phasmids undergo incomplete metamorphosis and the nymphs look like small versions of the adults. The wings, if present, only appear at the final moult. The average lifespan for stick and leaf insects is twelve months but, in captivity, they can live longer. They make excellent pets and there are caresheets for Stick insects and Leaf insects available on this site. ClassificationAt one time the phasmids were considered to be part of the Order: Orthoptera (Grasshoppers and Crickets) but have since been classified as a separate Order called Phasmatodea although some people use Phasmida or Cheleutoptera instead. How to find themThree species can be found in Great Britain but these are thought to have been accidentally introduced on plants. The three species are the Smooth Stick insect (Clitarchus hookeri), the Prickly Stick insect (Acanthoxyla geisovii) and the Unarmed Stick insect (Acanthoxyla inermis). The three species are confined to small colonies in the south west England and the Scilly Isles. Essential reading from the Amateur Entomologists' Society
Related links: Stick insects and Leaf insects (Order: Phasmatodea)
A to Z of insects
Back to Insect Orders. What insect is like a stick?Walking sticks, or stick insects, are a group of highly camouflaged insects. They escape predation by blending into plant material. As their name suggests, they look just like sticks, and may even sway back and forth to more closely resemble a twig moving in the wind.
What do you mean by stick insect?Definition of stick insect
: any of various usually wingless phasmid insects (especially family Phasmatidae) with a long cylindrical body resembling a stick broadly : phasmid.
What is the real name of a stick insect?walkingstick, (order Phasmida, or Phasmatodea), also called stick insect, any of about 3,000 species of slow-moving insects that are green or brown in colour and bear a resemblance to twigs as a protective device.
Can you guess from where the stick insect got its name?Size relative to a teacup: As its name suggests, the stick insect resembles the twigs among which it lives, providing it with one of the most efficient natural camouflages on Earth. It and the equally inconspicuous leaf insect comprise the Phasmatodea order, of which there are approximately 3,000 species.
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