Stick InsectsThe stick insects include some of the most amazing of all insects.
The scientific name ‘Phasmid’ refers to ghost and alludes to
their blending in with the surroundings so well that they are virtually invisible to the visitor. And as the common name suggests, these insects often grow to resemble sticks and leaves.
Some of the tropical forms grow to enormous sizes.
The impersonation of vegetation doesn’t stop there; the females often drop eggs that look like little seeds. In most species, the females are larger and wingless, the males are smaller, winged, and fly about in search of females to mate with. Because of their cryptic habits, they’re usually only noticed when against an unnatural background, such as a picnic table.
They are an unusual group of insects for two other reasons. One is ‘autotomy’; many species can regenerate lost limbs, something which is relatively unusual among insects.
Another unusual feature of this group is the high incidence of parthenogenesis; that is, populations of certain species that have been found to reproduce without males.
so where can I find stick insects?That's a tricky one! Stick insects are most diverse in tropical rainforest, and I have seen many in the jungle, mainly lowland, in Australia, New Guinea and South-east Asia. However, I usually see them when they are out of their context; that is, they have landed or are walking on a table or on grass, and they 'stick out'.
So you just have to wander through tropical rainforest and hope for the best!
The information includes edited extracts from the Ecosystem Guides book
Rainforest of tropical Australia
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