Facts About Walking Stick Insect

The phasmatodea also known as phasmida phasmatoptera or spectra are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects stick bugs walking sticks or bug sticks they are generally referred to as phasmatodeans phasmids or ghost insects phasmids in the family phylliidae are called leaf insects leaf bugs walking leaves or bug leaves.

Facts about walking stick insect.

These insects are widespread and numerous in the wild. These amazing bugs are hard to spot because they look so much like twigs until those twigs get up and walk away that is. Walking sticks inhabit forests and grasslands and spend their life on the bushes and small trees. Walking sticks are diverse group of insects that can be found in tropical and subtropical parts of the world only few species live in temperate areas.

Appearance identification. I look like a twig and part of the plant i am on so i can hide from birds and other predators. 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 some species also have sharp spines an offensive odour or the ability to force their blood which contains toxic distasteful chemicals through special joints in the exoskeleton. There are about 3 000 species of stick insects.

Stick insects are the biggest insects in the world one species measures over 20 inches 51 centimeters long with its legs outstretched. My specialty is camouflage. I am usually found on bushes or in small trees. Stick insects are part of the order phasmatodea also known as phasmids and walking sticks and are most often found in subtropical tropical habitats when you can find them that is.

Stick insect species often called walking sticks range in size from the tiny half inch long timema cristinae of north america to the formidable 13 inch long phobaeticus kirbyi of borneo. They belong to the order phasmatodea the order s name is derived from the ancient greek φάσμα phasma meaning an apparition or phantom. Walking stick bugs from the phasmida family look like sticks with legs and antennae or twigs attached to a small branch. Walking stick bugs facts identification control scientific name.

The walking stick family in north america is made up of about 30 species. There are more than 3 000 species of walking stick bugs all over the world and in diverse climates so it s not surprising that not all walking stick bugs look alike. My size ranges from less than 1 inch to over 1 foot in length depending on my species. Thanks to unusual morphology walking sticks are popular in the industry of exotic pets.

Stick insects are also knwn as stick bugs walking sticks bug sticks phasmids ghost insects and leaf insects. Depending on the species walking sticks can grow from 1 to 12 inches 2 5 to 30 centimeters long with females usually growing bigger than the males. Stick insects are insects well known for their camouflage.