Walking Sticks
For his fifth birthday, Roger was given a pair of stick bugs (with our permission).
Little did any of us know how much stick bugs are the epitome of the gift that keeps on giving.
Many Phasmatodea don’t really need a mate to reproduce, reproducing by parthenogenesis instead.
I’m not sure if that was the case with our original pair. If not, we clearly had a male and a female.
This shot is of the current generation, probably the 4th generation since the original pair came home nearly two years ago.
Yes, that is a pile of hundreds of very tiny, and very much alive, stick bugs.
Anyone want a stick bug? Easy pets to care for.
As their name implies, stick bugs tend to spend a lot of time trying to look like a stick.
Sometimes they are more successful than others. This little guy — the leaf was about 1.25 inches across at the widest point — is trying desperately to look like a bare twig hanging out in the breeze.
Not going so well.
These particular stick bugs eat rose and citrus leaves. We are careful to not allow any to get loose, but they are so small when freshly hatched (from eggs that look exactly like big stick bug poo) that I would imagine some have managed to get loose.
In trying to look like a stick on a relatively flat surface, stick bugs will typically keep at least one leg raised so that it doesn’t look like a branching twig that just happens to sit perfectly with all branch tips on the ground.
Creative little buggers, that way.
Pick a profession and perfect it. “I’m a professional stick imitator.” Good for you, little bug.
This particular stick bug is, perhaps, 2 inches from head to tail.
I had a dream last night that I was driving across Kansas near dusk and there was this giant stick bug walking across the horizon.
I believe this photo is exactly why.
In the original shot, all that grassy stuff is actually astroturf from the crab party. We roll out huge chunks of astroturf over the lawn to prevent the backyard from turning into a pit of mud (though that would likely be pretty fun, too).
Thus, I have mounds of astroturf which makes for neat photo backdrops at times.
I dropped the green channel saturation to nothing. I like the contrast. Fortunately, this particular stick bug has virtually no green pigment in it and, thus, that is a pretty accurate coloration of the little bug.
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Are all those “things” in the top pic stick bugs or are there pieces of real stick and straw/grass mixed in there as well? Are these the same as our walking sticks or just related to them? Are they native to the US?
Bbum’s first webblog contest:
Guess how many stickbugs in the top picture. Correct guesser gets prize of 2 stickbugs.
xoyourbigsisxo
P.S. Is there a website you can go to to try to identify various bird feathers? (I can’t find one so far.)
P. P. S. Remember that field of crocus you, Chrissy and I found one of the springs you all were still out here in CT? Just drove by it today and IT’S BACK in FULL bloom! And it’s just as beautiful as ever! Spring is most definitely right around the corner.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:11 am
do they bite? i remember finding one as a kid and trying to pick it up and i swore i got bit or something. i’ve kept my distance ever since
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 am
The top pic is wild looking. I thought it was sticks or roots or reeds, but not bugs.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Some do bite. These don’t. Stick bugs — Phasmatodea — range from being carnivorous to purely vegetarian. These are the vegetarian variety.
They really just spend as much time as possible focusing on their inner stick.
They can jump, though.
May 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Where can one find walking sticks. I have been wanting to get one for my classroom, but can’t find anyplace who has them for sale. I tried some places that sell insects as food for lizards or that have rare pets.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Do you have any of these stick bugs you would like to sell? If so are you willing to ship the to Michigan. My kids and I would love to have a few of them.
Thanks
Tony
July 8th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Any chance you’d be willing to sell a few and ship to California? I had these as a kid, and I’m looking to get more.
Thanks
Lauren
November 19th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I would like to own a pair of stick bugs…may I purchase from you?
March 13th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Are you willing to sell any of your stick bugs? I have been searching far and wide for one. Please help.
March 16th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I am an elementary teacher of 25 years, now disabled, who has a Ball Python, Madagasgar Hissing Cockroaches, Emperor Scorpions, and 4 Tarantulas. I have wanted to add ’stick bugs’ to my collection. Do you sell any of yours?? How long does this species get?
Please Email me at the above address.
Thanks,
Ron
March 16th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Nope — I won’t sell any of our stick bugs. I’m not a dealer of animals, don’t have the license for it and certainly don’t want to run afoul of whatever interstate commerce laws there might be for shipping live animals through the mail.
Sorry.
If you live in an area where stick bugs are legal to own as pets, your local pet shop — preferably an independent one that has lizards, tortoises, and the like — should be able to find ‘em for you. They aren’t expensive.