The Care of Stick-Insects
There are nearly 3 000 species of Stick-Insect (Phasmida) in the world
all of which feed exclusively on vegetation, they are one of the most
popular forms of insect life to be kept as pets.
Housing
In general the more common species of Stick-Insect can be kept together
though if you are breeding more difficult species then it pays to use
separate cages to create individual requirements.
Temperature
Most Sticks come from tropical or semi-tropical environments and are
happiest between 75F and 80F, though the common Indian Stick-Insect
Carausius morosus and some of its relatives are happy at normal
home temperatures of between 60F and 75 F or 24C. Heating is best achieved
by maintaining a whole room at the desired temperature, if this is not
possible an electric light bulb can be used over small cages. It is
important to make sure the Stick-Insects can not reach the light bulb as
they will burn them selves on it. A red bulb should be used during the
hours of darkness as this disturbs the Sticks far less.
Cage Construction
Because most Stick-Insects are long thin animals which hang down from
their food plants to shed their skins it is most important that the cage
have sufficient height, as a general rule it should be three times as high
as the adult length of the Stick-Insects to be kept in it.
It is also useful to have it so designed that you can easily replace the
food plant material whenever it is required taking into consideration that
this will mostly be brambles (i.e. spiny rubus sp).
Humidity
Not all sticks share a common need for humidity, some species such as
Carausius morosus will be happy to live in a fairly open cage
whereas others such as Epidares nolimetangere will require an
almost if not totally enclosed cage with around 80% relative humidity.
Regardless of this all Sticks need water and it is a good policy to
thoroughly mist the inside of the cage including all the food plant
material each evening before you go to bed or before lights out. Some
Stick-Insects such as Haaniella spneed open water in a low bowl
to drink, don't be to concerned if they leave their heads under water
remember that insect breath threw their thoracic and abdominal spiracles
not through their mouths like us. Note also that in some places tap water
can harm some species so it doesn't hurt to use either rain water or to let
the tap water stand for a day or two.
Food
Almost all Stick-Insects eat the leaves of bramble/blackberry and its
relatives of the genus rubus and many such as the Indian or
Laboratory Stick-Insect Carausius morosus, the Australian or
Giant Spiny Stick-Insect Extatosoma tiaratum, the Thorn Legged
Stick-Insect Eurycantha calcarata, the Small Spiny Stick-Insect
Aretaon assperrimus and the Jungle Nymph Heteropteyx
dilatata will also enjoy plants like Oak Quercus sp and
Hawthorn Crateagus monogyna. It is important to make sure
that your sticks always have plenty of fresh food, and it is often wise to
take from sites not to close to major road ways to avoid the poisoning
effects of various pollutants, if this is unavoidable then the plant material
should be washed before being offered to the Sticks.
Handling
Great care should be taken in handling stick insects at all times,
remember they are living creatures just like you. some species such as
the Indian or Laboratory Stick-Insect Carausius morosusand the
Australian or Giant Spiny Stick-Insect Extatosoma tiaratum are
relatively sturdy and these should be used when allowing younger
children or people who could be frightened to handle the Sticks. Note
that some species such as Pink Wings Sipyloidea sipylus tend to
lose their legs very easily. Also it should be noted that some species such
as the Australian or Giant Spiny Stick-Insect Extatosoma
tiaratum, the Jungle Nymph Heteropteyx dilatata and
particularly the Thorn Legged Stick-Insect Eurycantha calcarata
can and will pinch (with their thorny limbs) and bite if not used to being
handled, while other species such as the American Walking Stick
Anisomorpha bupestroides and to a lesser extent Pink
Wings Sipyloidea sipylus have a defensive chemical spray which
in the case of American Walking Stick Anisomorpha
bupestroides can cause temporary blindness and considerable pain to
an adult.
Breeding
A number of species of Stick-Insect are parthenogenetic (i.e. the females
lay unfertilised eggs which hatch into females which will also lay
unfertilised eggs etc.) such as Indian or Laboratory Stick-Insect
Carausius morosus while the majority of species go in for a more
normal male female system. All Stick-Insects lay eggs, some just drop
them onto the ground, some sick them under tree bark or into crevices
and some bury them in the ground. If you keep the burying species such
as the Small Spiny Stick-Insect Aretaon assperrimus, the Thorn Legged Stick-Insect Eurycantha calcarata
or the Untouchable Stick-Insect Epidares nolimetangere you will need to ensure a container of
damp peat, about 2 inches deep in the bottom of the cage once the
females are adult. Stick-Insect eggs can take from between 2 months and
a year to hatch depending on species, in general the larger species are the
ones which take longest though not always.
You can either not bother cleaning out the cage floor and let the sticks
hatch as they want, in this case it is useful to keep some common
Woodlice such as Pocellio scaber in the cage to help keep down
the fungus. Or you can collect the eggs each time you clean the cage and
keep them in separate containers until they hatch. In this case the eggs of
the burying species will need to be gently reburied about 1cm deep, and
the rest will need to be kept on some absorbent material such as sand, all
will need to be kept in a warm place and spraying with moisture
occasionally will help, a careful/daily watch should be kept for moulds
and attacked ova/eggs removed cleaned an then kept in a separate
container.
For more information why not have a look at the 'Order Phasmida' page or contact the Phasmid Study Group.
Book Review
The Amazing World of Stick and Leaf Insects by Paul D Brock
Stick Insects of Britain, Europe and the Mediterranean by Paul Brock.
Phasmids on the Web
The Phasmid Study Group Species List
Phasmid Study Group.
The Order Phasmida an Introduction to Stick Insects and their biology
The Sticklist A listserver for enthusiasts
Klaus Lipinski's Phasmid Page (about ova mostly) and entirely in German.
Eggs and Classification: the Phasmid connection
Buggles A mad American and his Buggles
Mark Watson's Stick Insect Page
Tropische Insekten halten und züchten Also only in German at the moment.
A Stick Insect comes to visit! From Australia
Australian Museum on-line
Twostriped walkingstick
Terrestrial Insects Phasmatodea (Walking Sticks)
Phasmida (Phasmatodea)
Walking Sticks: The Perfect Insect Pet
Northern Walking Stick Diapheromera femorata
Charmayne's Stick-Insects/Phasmids
Arizona Walkingstick
Carausius morosus In German
Phasmids at the tree of life.
3 Photos Including an Anisomorpha sp.
Stick Insects with a nice stamp from Barbados
A Photo love story with Oreophotes Peruanus
Tony and Charlotte's Stick Insect Page
Picture Parade
Heteropteryx dilatata PSG No 18 a 5th instar Female. JPG 16K
Eurycantha calcarata PSG No 23 a 5th instar Female. JPG 28K
Eurycantha calcarata PSG No 23 an Adult Male.JPG 35k
Eurycantha calcarata PSG No 23 the same guy again, this time with a pen for size .JPG 71k
Aretaon asperrimus PSG No 118 a 1st instar JPG 30K courtesy of Rob Lind
Aretaon asperrimus PSG No 118 a 2st instar ? JPG 51K courtesy of Rob Lind
Aretaon asperrimus PSG No 118 a 3st instar ? JPG 48K courtesy of Rob Lind
Aretaon asperrimus PSG No 118 a 4th instar Female. JPG 28K
Extatosoma tiaratum PSG No 9 a 1st instar JPG 43K courtesy of Rob Lind
Extatosoma tiaratum PSG No 9 a 1st instar JPG 39K courtesy of Rob Lind
Extatosoma tiaratum PSG No 9some
ova JPG 59K courtesy of Rob Lind
Extatosoma tiaratum PSG No 9 a 3rd instar female, JPG 35K
Extatosoma tiaratum PSG No 9 Female Imago JPG 30K courtesy of Rob Lind
Extatosoma tiaratum PSG No 9Closeup of the head of the above. JPG 24K courtesy of Rob Lind
Heteropteryx dilatata PSG No 18some ova JPG 59K courtesy of Rob Lind
Guessus whatum PSG No ?An unidentified nymph JPG26K Curtesy of Rob Lind
Phillium bioculatum PSG No 10 JPG 23K courtesy of Ulrich Ziegler
Centrophasma hadrillus PSG No 146 Female Imago JPG 34K courtesy of Phil Bragg
Epidare nolimetangere PSG No 99 Female Imago JPG 20K courtesy of PHil Bragg
Haaniella grayii PSG No 125 Male JPG 40K courtesy of Phil Bragg
Pharncacia kirbyi PSG No Mating pair JPG 26K courtesy of Phil Bragg
Ova
Some scanning electron microscope images of Stick-Insect eggs courtesy of Klaus Lipinski. Klaus has his own Phasmid page (about ova mostly) and if you like looking at Phasmid eggs there are a lot more images there, the site is entirely in German.
The Warty Stick-InsectThis species is scientifically un-named at the present. 60K JPG
Aplopus sp. 45K JPG
Baculum extradentatum 100K JPG
Calynda sp. 70K JPG
Eurycantha coriacea 52K JPG
Lamponius guerini 87K JPG
Lonchodes haematomus138K JPG
Lonchodes everetti 60K JPG
Paramenexenus laetus 53K JPG
Trachythorax maculicollis 67K JPG
Thanks to Phil Bragg PSG Membership No (445), Rob Lind PSG Membership No (315), Ulrich Ziegler PSG Membership No (233) and Klaus Lipinski for the images they have donated
