Introduction
Many stick insect species can be kept in similar environmental conditions.
The species detailed below can be kept at temperatures between 18-26 degrees (night/day) with humidity at 50-70%.
Almost all are fed on bramble such as blackberry and raspberry leaves, with one species feeding only on privet.
Some species are more difficult to successfully raise to adulthood, but only because of common factors they are more sensitive to than other species.
Nymphs of the same species and similar size can be housed together. However, if you want to house different species communally, be sure they are of a similar size and weight and won’t harm each other. This is particulary important when moulting, so more fragile species are not dislodged or harmed by much heavier or spikey species.
Stick insects with spikes often use them in defense. For example, Metaillic, Macleays and Jungle nymphs will use their spikey legs to trap and squash anything they think might be a predator trying to grab them, including humans.
Always allow the stick insect to walk on to your hand rather than trying to pick them up, particularly more skittish or fragile species.
Metallic Stick Insect (Achrioptera Fallax)
Females are large and impressive, growing to 20-24cm and are various shades of brown and covered in spikes.
Both have red and black wings which they display and rustle when disturbed, but they can not fly.
They can be quite skittish to handle particularly when small.
They are a parthenogensis species which means they don’t need to mate for eggs to hatch. However, a larger ratio of males hatch if the females have mated.
The eggs should take approximately 3-6 months to hatch with a typical hatch rate of 60-70%.
Males grow to 13-15cm and are a stunning metallic blue colour with fewer spikes than females.
Both females and males grow to appx 6-8cm long.
Females have much broader bodies and are unable to fly. Males are much more slender and are able to fly some distance.
These do need to mate for eggs to hatch.
Eggs take approximately 4-6 months to hatch.
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These are quite a chunky, spikey species.
Females are much heavier than males and unable fly whereas males can fly some distance.
They need to mate for eggs to hatch, which take approximately 3-6 months to hatch.
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This species feeds on privet.
They have stunning bright pink wings and are excellent flyers.
They need to mate to produce fertile eggs. These are shaped like a small canine tooth and the females ‘drill’ them in to the ground or suitable surface. We use florist oasis which is perfect for them to anchor their eggs. If you don’t provide suitable surfaces, they will continue to tap on all the surfaces until they find a suitable area. The eggs will hatch in approximately 6-8 weeks.
They are a very skittish species, so handling is best done in a confined area.
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These are an excellent beginner species and quickly get used to being handled.
They do not need to mate to produce fertile eggs. All parthenogenesis eggs of this species hatch as females.
Eggs take approximately 3-6 weeks to hatch.
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These have a very delicate build with very long legs and antennae and beautiful pale pink wings once adult.
They stick their eggs in places which camouflage them very well, so look carefully for them when changing bramble.
Eggs take approximately 4-8 weeks to hatch.