Stick Insects belong to the Phasmatodean Family. Other insects that also belong to the same family are Leaf Insects, Ghost Insects, and Walking Sticks. There are nearly twenty-eight hundred species within the Phasmatodean Family. The striking feature of this family is that the species have a body structure which helps them to blend in with their surroundings. Stick Insects belong to areas having tropical climates. Some Stick Insects have wings. Stick Insects that are kept as pets can grow up to four inches long and can live up to one year.
Among all the insects which are kept as pets, Stick Insects are the most desirable. Some of the favourites are Indian Stick Insects, Vietnamese Thorny Stick Insects and Pink Winged Flying Stick Insects. They are all desirable because they are low maintenance and because of their unique appearance. Their surroundings in captivity should be similar to that of their native surroundings. The temperature and humidity should match exactly with their original habitat.
Also the food resources provided to them should be close to the foliage available to them in their natural habitat. Their diet can also be supplemented with Blueberries, which are among the most favourable alternate foods of Stick Insects. Other supplemental foods that they can be given are raspberries, ivy leaves, oak leaves, privet leaves and hawthorn leaves. These insects can be kept in a vivarium or a circular jar, which has some small holes drilled into the solid top. The width of the jar should be at least three times the length of the insect and it should be tall in height. The holes shouldn’t be so big that the insect can escape through the holes. To be extra careful, a net can be placed over the holes, to completely prevent the insects from escaping. The jar or vivarium can contain some ivy, bramble and privet stems and leaves.
The temperature within their container should be maintained as close to the temperature of their native habitat as possible. At night the temperatures can be lowered to the high sixties Fahrenheit. The humidity within the vivarium or jar should also be close to that of their homeland. Stick Insects are very fragile insects and should be handled with extra care. A water container can also be placed in the jar or vivarium each day and the insect should be allowed to drink from it, but only under careful supervision as the insect can fall into the water and drown.
Stick Insects shed their skin often. Once they shed their skin, they eat it. When the insect sheds for the sixth time, it indicates that the insect has reached sexual maturity. All of the Indian Stick Insects are female as they reproduce by parthenogenesis or the eggs are laid and they do not need fertilization by a male. Owners that are interested in breeding can spray water on the eggs and wait till they hatch. After the eggs are hatched, offspring can be managed with the help of paintbrushes. Sometimes the tail has some remains of the egg, which can be gently brushed off with the help of the paintbrush. Also, care must be taken to not to leave pools of water as there can be a chance of insects drowning in them. Owners that aren’t interested in breeding should completely destroy the eggs by boiling, burning, or crushing them. This is to prevent them from hatching outside of the jar or vivarium.
These insects should not be let out from captivity into the wild. Since they do not belong to your environment, there is a possibility that they can harm the ecosystem by reproducing young ones. Insects which dwell in environments other than their natural habitats, are known as pests. In United States, Indian Walking Stick Insects are classified as plant pests. Therefore, a special permit is needed to import them.
As a matter of fact, no matter where you live, if you are thinking of importing insects, please ensure that you check with local and national authorities to determine if it is legal and what type of permits are needed.
Until next time,
Teia
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