Stick Insect

One of my neighbors has figured out I am interested in insects. She sent me this picture the other day. This insect is new to me.

It is a stick insect–a walking stick version.

They can range from 1 to 12 inches and live mostly in temperate or tropical environments. They are masters of camouflage. They are herbivores. They are parthenogenetically organized, so females can produce unfertilized eggs that grow into new stick insects. These insects reach maturity between three months and one year, and usually live up to two years. More than 3,000 species of stick insect exist, many of which are susceptible to habitat destruction, pesticide use, and collection for the pet trade.

Who knew? Stick insect pets?

Here’s a nice to information used above and more:

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Invertebrates/Walking-Sticks