LIFE OF A STICK INSECT – MUNNAR KERALA -
The
Indian Walking stick (also called the laboratory stick insect) is a long,
slow-moving, plant-eating insect from India. There are almost 3,000 species of
stick insects (Order Phasmatodea) in the world; all are nocturnal (most active
at night) herbivores (plant-eaters).
The
genus and species of the Indian Walking stick is Carausius morosus.
Camouflage
by Plant Mimicry:
The walking stick is well-camouflaged in its environment, since it looks like a
twig. Plant mimicry also occurs in its eggs; the eggs have hard shells and look
much like tiny brown seeds.
Anatomy: Like all insects, the
Walking sticks have a three-part body (head, thorax and abdomen), six jointed
legs, two pairs of wings, and two antennae. Their body is covered with a hard
exoskeleton. Walking sticks breathe through a series of holes called spiracles;
they are located along the sides of the body. Indian Walking sticks are brown
or green. The body is long (up to 8 cm for females, 6 cm for males) and thin
(with a diameter of about 5 mm).
Metamorphosis: Indian Walking sticks are
often parthenogenetic; females can lay unfertilized eggs that hatch into
females who can also lay unfertilized eggs. Walking sticks undergo simple (or
incomplete) metamorphosis; eggs hatch into nymphs, which look like little
adults without wings or reproductive organs. Nymphs molt about 6 times as they
grow to become adults. Indian Walking sticks have a life span of about 18
months.
Diet and
Predators: Walking sticks
eat bramble (including blackberry and rose), ivy and other leaves. Their
predators include birds, rodents,
reptiles,
other insects, and spiders.
