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Stick Insect Facts & Worksheets

Stick Insect is part of the order Phasmatodea known for developing the appearance of a stick, leaf, or twig.

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Stick insects are part of the order Phasmatodea (also Phasmida) and take camouflage and imitation to the extreme by developing the appearance of a stick, leaf, or twig.

See the fact file below for more information on Stick insect, or you can download our 29-page Stick insect worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CHARACTERISTICS

  • Stick insects are among the world’s longest insects. They are often brown, though they can also be green, black, gray, or blue.
  • They have six legs. Many stick insects have wings, some of which are incredibly attractive, while others are little more than stumps. 
  • The bodies of many of the species are covered in spines and tubercles. Phasmids are distinctive insects and are often large to very large, ranging in size from 30 to 300 millimeters in body length.

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

  • The name of their order is derived from the Greek word “phasma,” meaning an apparition or phantom and refers to their resemblance to plants.
Common Name:Stick insect
Scientific Name:Phasmatodea
Type:Invertebrate
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Orthoptera
Order:Phasmatodea 

ANATOMY

  • Stick insects have a three-part body (head, thorax, and abdomen), six jointed legs, one tail, and two antennae, just like all other insects. 

HABITAT

  • Except for Antarctica, stick insects are widely dispersed throughout temperate, tropical, and subtropical zones of every continent. 
  • They live primarily in grasslands, wooded areas, and forests.
  • Southeast Asia and South America contain the most species of stick insects.
  • Stick insects are typically nocturnal to avoid predators. They only appear at night to feed and spend most of the day lying motionless on or under plants. 

DEFENSE

  • Stick insects don’t bite, but they aren’t defenseless. They conceal themselves in plant matter to avoid being eaten.
  • A stick insect will employ all methods required to thwart an attacker if it feels threatened.
  • Its tail acts as a kind of ‘snorkel’, so it can breathe in the water.
  • Stick insects use their antennae for obstacle detection during locomotion.
  • Some large, tropical stick insects may inflict damage on an enemy by using the spines on their legs, while Anisomorpha buprestoides emit a putrid-smelling fluid.

REPRODUCTION

  • The production of fertile eggs is not always required for female stick insects to mate.
  • This form of reproduction is called parthenogenesis, and all the eggs produced will hatch into females.
  • The eggs resemble seeds.
  • The nymphs (babies) may be male or female if the females do mate with a male before laying eggs.
  • Stick insect mothers randomly scatter eggs on the forest floor, leaving the newborns to fend for themselves.

LIFE CYCLE

  • The egg stage. The oval-shaped eggs have tough shells. Every stick insect has a unique seed-shaped egg with a specific set of appendages.
  • The nymph stage. Nymphs resemble adults almost precisely, except in size and frequently color. The nymph goes through a number of different nymphal phases as a result, which is known as hemimetabolous. They eat their molted skin.
  • The adult stage. Adults are experts in camouflage. They resemble twigs and leaves not just in appearance but also in behavior.
  • The mating stage. After the female lays eggs, the life cycle is complete and starts again.

RELATIVES

  • Phasmids, often known as stick insects, are similar to sticks and consume leaves.
  • Phasmids are related to other insect species, such as cockroaches, grasshoppers, mantids, and crickets.
  • Phasmids and mantids are different, but they are both experts at blending in with their surroundings. Phasmids are herbivores, whereas mantids eat other animals.
  • Mantids have large eyes located at the edge of their triangular heads. Mantids are commonly referred to as “praying mantis” because of the way their front legs are folded, giving the appearance that they are praying.

DIET AND HOUSING

  • Stick insects require fresh leaves for their nutrition. The majority of Indian stick insects live in bramble and privet, but they also eat privet, hawthorn, and roses.
  • If kept in captivity, leaves should be retained on a twig and placed on a stand in a pot of water to prevent the insects from drowning. 
  • Daily watering is required for the leaves, which should then be replaced weekly.

SIGNIFICANCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT

  • The leaves of deciduous plants, including apple, strawberry, eucalyptus, oak, roses, and rhododendron are particularly tasty to stick insects, which are herbivores. 
  • Because they prune the foliage while they feed, their activity is advantageous for the plant.
  • Because of what they eat, they play a crucial part in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. 
  • They also consume dead vegetation, making room for new growth to the advantage of other living organisms in the environment.
  • In South America, stick insects are the main herbivores that feed in the light gaps. By eating early successional plants, they inhibit their growth, and by defecating, they increase the nutrients in the soil available to later successional plants.
  • To maintain new substantial growth and forest recycling, it is necessary to make sure that earlier plants cannot quickly immobilize soil nutrients in light gaps.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES TO OWNERS

  • Stick insects don’t smell.
  • They can’t infest your house.
  • They walk relatively slowly and carefully.
  • They can be handled easily.
  • They don’t need daily care.
  • Special Exotic Pet Permits are usually needed in specific locations.

SPECIFIC SPECIES

  1. Common walking stick (Diapheromera femorata)

A typical stick insect, it has long antennae, thin legs, and a small, square head. Males are typically 75 m long, compared to 95 mm for females.

  1. Giant walking stick (Megaphasma denticrus)

It greatly resembles the twigs of a plant. It is notable for being big, reaching a maximum diameter of roughly 110 mm. It doesn’t have wings and ranges in color from green to reddish brown.

  1. Thorny devil stick insect (Eurycantha calcarata)

It is relatively bulky and usually lives on the ground. Its color ranges from light brown to black and resembles bark or rotten wood.

  1. Sunny stick insect (Sungaya inexpectata)

This species is strong, lacks wings, and the males spend a lot of time with the female, preventing fertilization by additional males. The tone of the color ranges from dark brown to grayish.

  1. Indian or Laboratory stick insect (Carausius morosus)

The most well-known stick insect of them all, it is frequently kept as a pet by people and schools because it is probably the easiest species of all to keep as a pet.

  1. Giant prickly stick insect (Extatosoma tiaratum)

This species from Queensland, Australia, is among the most beautiful stick insects. Adult females are heavy for their size and have curled abdomens. 

  1. Jungle nymph (Heteropteryx dilatata)

The most impressive stick insect of them all and the heaviest in the world. Both sexes are huge when they are adults, however, the females are a bright green while the males are a dull brown. This stick insect species is also one of the longer-living ones that are well-known in the hobby world.

  1. Black beauty stick insect (Peruphasma schultei)

These strange insects have a dark, glossy color. They feature contrasting brilliant red wing buds, which makes them even more striking.

Stick Insect Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Stick Insect across 29 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Stick Insects, which is part of the order Phasmatodea known for developing the appearance of a stick, leaf, or twig.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Stick Insect Facts 
  2. Unique Physique
  3. Food Check!
  4. Expose its Purpose
  5. Wheel of Life
  6. Xs and Os
  7. Find It!
  8. Locate Me!
  9. My Creation
  10. Spread Seeds
  11. Stick Insect Care Sheet

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can stick insects live?

After about five or six months, an adult stick insect will reach a length of 7.5 cm and live for around one year. Stick insects are found in tropical and semi-tropical locations globally and primarily eat leaves as vegetarian animals.

How many eggs do stick insects lay?

While foraging for food, stick insects will lay small eggs that resemble seeds. On average, a female stick insect will lay one egg per day.

Are stick bugs poisonous?

If stick insects feel threatened, they will use any available means to protect themselves, including regurgitating a substance or oozing blood from their joints.

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Link will appear as Stick Insect Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 10, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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