Indian Stick Insect (Carausius morosus)

Description

The females are 3-4 inches long. Indian stick insects are light green to darkish brown with red patches on the forelegs and yellow patches on the mid-legs.

Other Common Names: Common stick insect, laboratory stick insect, Indian walking stick insect

Distribution: Native – Tamil Nadu, India; Invasive – Great Britain, South Africa, and the United States

Habitat: Tropical forests and woodlands

Do they bite: No

Lifespan: Around one year

Predator: Birds, reptiles, or rodents

Behavior and Characteristics

Feeding

These insects are nocturnal feeders living on bramble, ivy, lettuce, privet, rowan, and spiderwort.

Defensive

If disturbed, they will play dead by holding their legs along the line of their bodies and becoming stiff.

Also, if the wind passes by, they sway like leaves to confuse predators.

Life Cycle

Most of these species are female and undergo parthenogenesis to reproduce.

1. Egg Stage

The eggs are 0.08 inches long and oval. They are brown, with a beige head. The nymphs emerge in two months.

2. Nymph Stage

After the eggs hatch, the young that emerge are tiny and string-like.

Pet Care Sheet

These stick insects are easy to care for and handle.

Enclosure:  8″ long x 8″ wide x 12″ high and made of glass, plastic, or mesh.

Temperature: 63-77°F with extra heating required during the colder months.

Humidity: These are hardy insects, so spraying their enclosure with distilled water should be enough for them.

Feeding: Their diet in captivity is similar to what they eat in the wild.

Substrate: Experts recommend about 1-2 inches of substrate consisting of soil and plant matter.