What Is A Walking Stick Bug

These amazing bugs are hard to spot because they look so much like twigs until those twigs get up and walk away that is.

What is a walking stick bug. 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 in the u s. They escape predation by blending into plant material. Walking stick bugs from the phasmida family look like sticks with legs and antennae or twigs attached to a small branch.

Walking sticks or stick insects are a group of highly camouflaged insects. The phasmatodea are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects stick bugs walking sticks or bug sticks. Stick insects are part of the order phasmatodea also known as phasmids and walking sticks and are most often found in subtropical tropical habitats when you can find them that is. The average length of this species is 75mm 3 in for males and 95mm 3 7 in for females.

The common walkingstick or northern walkingstick diapheromera femorata is a species of phasmid or stick insect found across north america. Stick insect species often called walking sticks range in size from the tiny half inch long timema cristinae of north america to the formidable 13 inch long phobaeticus kirbyi of borneo. Walking stick insects of north america one of the most unique backyard insects one can come across is the walkingstick insect commonly called the stick bug. Phasmids in the family phylliidae are called leaf insects leaf bugs walking leaves or bug leaves.

The stick bug meaning insect meaning is also a reminder that stillness and meditation will reveal alternate paths that may solidify your goals. The insect is found in deciduous forest throughout north america where it eats many types of plant foliage. They are fairly easy to recognize due to their long slender body legs and close resemblance to a tree twig. It may also be prudent to keep your plans to yourself for the time being.

Most are without wings except a florida species and are colored brown tan gray or green. They are generally referred to as phasmatodeans phasmids or ghost insects. Stick insects can regenerate limbs. There are more than 3 000 species of walking stick bugs all over the world and in diverse climates so it s not surprising that not all walking stick bugs look alike.

The group s name is derived from the ancient greek φάσμα phasma meaning an apparition or phantom referring to their resemblance to vegetation while in fact being animals. Vary in length from about two to eight inches.