Phasmids in the family phylliidae are called leaf insects, leafbugs, walking leaves, or bug leaves. There are over 3,000 different kinds of stick insects, collectively called phasmids, and all of them eat plants. As a young kid i had walking sticks for pets, and i know want to look into getting some again. Introduces stick bugs, including the different species characteristics, what they eat, how they. Some of the contents of this website, including the pdf downloads, are excerpts from the publication bug facts a young explorers guide.
Some species of walking sticks can squirt a fluid that will make their potential predators temporarily blind. This insect has pulled out all the stops when it comes to deception. Walking stick insects of north america insect, bugs and. Big book of big bugs from an amazing stick insect longer than your arm to gigantic spiders as big as a dinner plate, this book s huge foldout pages let readers discover how big some of the biggest bugs in. Giant stick insects 10 of the largest insects in the. Fun facts the walking stick has the ability to regenerate lost limbs. They will drop from the tree that they are in to the ground and stay perfectly still, it will then be hard for the predator to find as they would just look like a stick on the ground. We have a large range of different stick insects for sale. Stick insects also have the ability to play dead if they are threatened by a predator. The chans megastick measures an incredible 22 in 55. Facts about the walking stick insect a picture book for kids lisa strattin on.
A new discovery has been made in northeastern vietnam, and it is the second longest insect ever. The indian walking stick is often used as a study animal by scientists. There are a total of 6 walking stick insects of north america in the insect identification database. Walking sticks are found in ecosystems worldwide, in tropical, temperate and subtropical climatic zones. We are an international community passionate about keeping, rearing and studying phasmids also known as stick insects and leaf insects or, in the usa, walking sticks. Together they make up the order of insects called phasmatodea. Stick insects, despite their imposing appearance, are herbivorous. This species is cannot fly and moves very slowly, making it a great insect to use for introducing children to the world of bugs. This simple report describes what a stick insect is, where it. More than 2500 species of walking sticks, collectively called stick insects, inhabit the earth.
As a grandma, lisa strattin has shared her love for books. Reviewed in the united kingdom on december 20, 2017. They are perfectly camouflaged to look like brown, tan, gray, or green twigs. Facts about the walking stick insect a picture book for kids. A walking stick looks like a home craft project where someone glued leaves and twigs to one another to form a longlegged stick figure of a bug. Walking sticks and other amazing camouflage searchlight books animal superpowers. The walking stick, often called stick insects, is a bug that resembles a stick or twig and is one of the best camouflaged insects in the world, due to. There is also a leaf type bug that looks like leaves. Stick insectsalso known as walking stickslive in tropical and temperate or mild forests all over the world. The facts below have been taken from wigglesworths the priniciples of. Walking stick bugs are long, thin members of the insect family phasmatidae.
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. National geographic reports that some species play dead, while others have grown small. Stick insect facts stick insects for kids dk find out. Just shy of the world record found in 2008, both these bugs are a type of phasmid called a stick. They escape predation by blending into plant material. Walking sticks the perfect insect pets biological sciences. This unique identity means that stick insects can be extremely difficult for predators to spot. Stick insect species, often called walking sticks, range in size from the tiny, halfinchlong timema cristinae of north america, to the formidable inchlong. Entries are listed below in alphabetical order atoz. Walking sticks inhabit forests and grasslands and spend their life on the bushes and small trees. They eat a variety of foliage, though in captivity they commonly eat. Stick insect helps scientists study how animals move. Like all insects, walking stick bugs lay eggs to bring in new generations. 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.
Walking sticks and other camouflaged insects bright hub. Some even sway in the breeze to copy their background. A female of the species averages a few hundred eggs in her lifetime, which is up to three years in captivity. It uses camouflage to look like the sticks or branches of the trees where it lives. Study of stick bugs walking stick insect over an upcycled vintage dictionary page book art print. When i gently waved my hand, the walking stick swayed in the gentle breeze, trying to keep its balance. Walking sticks, or stick insects, are a group of highly camouflaged insects. I have confined this site to one walking stick, the indian walking stick insect species. Stick insects are insects well known for their camouflage stick insects are also knwn as stick bugs, walking sticks, bug sticks, phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects they belong to the order phasmatodea the orders name is derived from the ancient greek phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom.
August 1999 wisconsin department of natural resources. Many animals like to eat them, such as bats, birds, lizards, and primates. Large range of stick insects for sale amazing amazon. Share your top 3 most interesting facts from your favorite nonfiction stick insect book what likes to prey on your local phasmid species. Thanks to unusual morphology, walking sticks are popular in the industry. We just moved from nd to wy and live in the country nw of cheyenne. I am a very interesting insect because i look like the places i call home. Both have evolved these clever body shapes to escape detection by predators. The presence of the indian walking stick in the wild in southern california, specifically san diego, is a concrete example of the damage that can be done by feral walking stick insects. The body of a female malaysian walkingstick pictured at left looks just like a green leaf, while the smaller male does a great impersonation of a brown twig. The indian walking stick carausius morosus may make a good candidate for a teachers pet. Insect field guide to the most commonly found insects and non insects in north america. Although its been so many years i have know clue were to buy them.
Packed full of interesting and unusual phasmid activities. The phasmatodea also known as phasmida or phasmatoptera are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick bugs, walking sticks or bug sticks. Facts about the walking stick insect a picture book for kids by lisa strattin jun 25, 2016. One of the most unique backyard insects one can come across is the walkingstick insect commonly called the stick bug. Northern walkingstick family diapheromeridae field station. Stick bugs, walking sticks or stick insects whatever you call them, these amazing twig mimics lead fascinating lives. These amazing bugs are hard to spot because they look so much like twigsuntil those twigs get up and walk away, that is.
The phasmatodea are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stickbugs, walking sticks or bug sticks. Spiney leaf stick insects and goliath stick insects to name a couple available to purchase stick insects make for easy to keep pets and we always try to have them available for sale. In the process of metamorphosis, there are three stages egg, nymph and adult. With over 3,000 different species you might think that they all look alike, but these different species can look very different than the others, it all.
Northern walkingstick insect, bugs and spider identification. Stick insect species, often called walking sticks, range in size from the tiny, halfinchlong timema cristinae of north america, to the formidable inchlong phobaeticus kirbyi of borneo. Stick insects, also called walking sticks, can have extremely long and slim bodies, but leaf insects have. The world book encyclopaedia definition for walking sticks is. Interesting facts about stick insects just fun facts. Stick bugs, walking sticks or stick insects whatever you call them, these amazing twig mimics lead fascinating livesdid you know that in 2008, a newly discovered stick insect species from borneo broke the record for longest insect. As an insect the walking stick is pretty low on the food chain, so its predators are numerous. The stick bug is a type of insect that actually looks like a stick. The largest presentday insect, measuring inches, is a walking stick. The longest insects on the planet are stick insects, which have evolved a. They are generally referred to as phasmatodeans, phasmids, or ghost insects. Share your top 3 most interesting facts from your favorite nonfiction stick insect book. Walking stick bugs are one of the coolest insects, and not just solely for the fact that they quite literally look like sticks that can walk. Medauroidea extradentata, commonly known as the vietnamese or annam walking stick, is a species of the family phasmatidae.
Birds swoop down to attempt a nibble, and on the ground rodents, reptiles, spiders and even other insects consider walking sticks a meal. Northern walkingstick females lay their eggs, one at a time, on the ground before winter. A great disguise and a unique metamorphosis are found in the walking stick bacteria virgea. Stick insect species, often called walking sticks, range in size from the tiny, half inchlong timema cristinae of north america, to the formidable inchlong. They resemble sticks or twigs, which give them natural camouflage and an effective passive defense against predators. On my screen windows every morning are walking sticks. There, young nymphs will hatch and climb up nearby vegetation to feed. Depending on the gender, these fascinating insects resemble either leaves or twigs. They are haycolored and actually look like a piece of loose hay. Stick insect helps scientists study how animals move the.
From cage setup, to diet, to handling, we cover everything you need to know about stick insects in todays video. Desertusa newsletter we send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant. As well as reading this book for interest or to support. They have been in southern california since before 2001 and have been expanding their.
Although some species still use malefemale mating to create fertilized eggs, many species are parthenogenetic. The twostriped walking stick is capable of squirting a strongsmelling defensive spray that is painfully irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes references. Stick bugs, walking sticks or stick insects whatever you call them, these. 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. Thank you for your helpful information re walking sticks. Texas giant stick insects choose river bottoms with their favored oaks and grapevines. Walking sticks and other amazing camouflage searchlight books. Walkingsticks are terrestrialif you see a similar critter in the water, its an unrelated water scorpion. Walkingstick, order phasmida, or phasmatodea, also called stick insect, any of about 3,000 species of slowmoving insects that are green or brown in colour and bear a resemblance to twigs as a protective device.
They originate in vietnam and are commonly found in tropical forests there. Please back up your answer with facts not just wikipedia. A female can reproduce by herself, but will only produce other females. These bugs are extremely interesting, and there are over 3,000 different species of walking sticks. Report this resource to let us know if this resource violates tpts content. She is now pursuing her bachelor of arts in english and writing a book. The walking stick insect makes a captivating and instructive pet for the classroom or other educational venue, provided, of course, that it is not a species that sprays an acidic compound into your face and eyes. Did you know that in 2008, a newly discovered stick insect species from borneo broke the record for longest insect.
Facts about the walking stick insect a picture book for kids 80. I walked out of my house this morning and saw a walking stick the insect sitting on the wall of my garage. Stick insects are part of the order phasmatodea also known as phasmids and walking sticks and are most often found in subtropical tropical habitatswhen you can find them, that is. I live in vancouver, washington area can you please give me any links, or stores that you know of that sell them. Commonly known in some areas as walking sticks, these insects are mostly nocturnal, and come out at night to feed.