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Phasmids (Stick-insects, AKA Walkingsticks)

Species I've Bred (Text List includes exotics)        Thumbnailed Photos: A-K L-Z        Mimicry & Camouflage

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General Information (scroll down)

    Phasmids (or stick-insects as they are commonly called) are one of the most remarkable orders of insects.  They are typically either stick-like or leaf-like; camouflage or mimicry being their defining characteristic.  "Phasmid" is derived from the Latin term for phantom (phasma), and finding them in the wild can be very difficult for even an experienced collector.  Often the best way to catch them  is to beat their known food plants to make the insects fall.  Approximately 3000 species of Phasmids exist in the world, about 30 of which live in the United States. 

    Phasmids make superb pets.   Many species are very low maintenance, requiring only blackberry leaves (or most Rubus species) and water.  Stick-insects prefer to have their cages and leaves misted with a spray bottle, although care must be taken not to drown the fragile nymphs.  Others do require heat or humidity to be successful.  A phasmid will usually live from one to two years, depending on the species.   Some species are completely or partially parthenogenetic.  This allows the females to lay viable eggs without mating, and in some species males are not even known to exist!  However, ova (eggs) fertilized by males produce a much greater chance of hatching than eggs via parthenogenesis (expect in species that are exclusively parthenogenetic).

    Phasmids have exoskeletons, meaning that the apparatus which provides structure to their bodies is on the outside.  Instead of growing bones until maturity, they grow a new layer of skin beneath the old one, and break through their old skin in a process called molting (or ecdysis).  Females commonly molt 6 times, and males 5.  This means that females have 7 instars, and males have 6.  Instars are the stages during the life cycle between molts.  So, when a phasmid hatches from an ovum (egg), it is automatically on its 1st instar!

    Sometimes when Phasmids are disturbed, they will lay motionless for hours.  They will usually stop playing dead and perk up at nighttime when they do most of their feeding anyway.  Another reaction to being disturbed is a swaying movement evolved to mimic sticks or leaves blowing in the wind.  And if a gentle breeze is applied, many species will begin to feed.  It makes them feel more comfortable about moving.  Many species begin to "dance" from the vibrations of footsteps, etc.  It has even been claimed that music can cause some Phasmids to move this way (probably resulting from vibration).

    While most stick-insects are very non-confrontational, there are species that can be downright aggressive.  One of the most popularly kept Phasmids is Eurycantha calcarata.  Males of this species commonly kept separately, and rarely with other Phasmid species, as they can be very cannibalistic.  They have large spikes on their hind-most set of legs, and do not hesitate to swing them down abruptly.  

    When threatened, some species can emit a chemical spray which is irritable to would be predators.  In certain species, this spray (projected from glands on the dorsal side of the thorax) can cause temporary blindness and considerable pain (Anisomorpha buprestoides and A. monstrosa, for example).  Sipyloidea sipylus releases an odor when held, although my personal experience has shown it to be completely harmless to humans (never tested on the eyes).  E. calcarata will also release a VERY unpleasant odor.

   Many Phasmids have wings at maturity including Sipyloidea sipylus (Pink-wings) and males of Extatosoma tiaratum (pictured above).  Wing-buds are generally visible in the next-to-last instar, although they sometimes appear before that (e.g. Phyllium bioculatum).

Note: I'm sorry, but I do not sell stick-insects.  If you have any plant-eating insects, I strongly encourage you to take every precaution to keep them from entering your environment.  Please contact me for options regarding disposal of your unwanted stock.