Stick
Insects: are similar in appearance to the better known Praying Mantis
except that Stick Insects do not have trap-like forelegs for seizing prey.
Stick Insects do not need to trap and hold prey because they are vegetarians.
Stick Insects belong to the Phasmidae family. This is usually shortened to
Phasmids. Another group in this family are the Leaf Insects. As the names
imply, Stick Insects imitate branches whilst Leaf Insects mimic leaves. When
stationary both groups are almost impossible to see as they rest amongst the
vegetation.
Stick Insects usually frequent the upper branches of trees and shrubs. They
rest by day and feed at night. This explains why we rarely see Stick Insects
at ground level. The specimen illustrated was found on the wall of a house.
This is certainly not the best place to find dinner.
Female are usually much larger that the males. Males are often seen on the
back of females in the mating position.
Eggs are laid singly and fall to the ground. Females are said to lay at least
100 eggs in their lifetime. The eggs are seed-like in appearance with
stopper-like cap. This is pushed off when the young hatch. Stick Insects take
at least two years to mature. Many species develop wings at maturity.
Phasmids sometimes occur in large areas of forested country. In these cases
they may cause extensive damage. Many years ago we saw a large area of
defoliated trees, west of Sydney, that had been attacked by Phasmids.
Much of this information was gleaned from: Australian Insects by Keith
C. McKeown, 1944.
See our article on the Lord Howe Island Stick
Insect.