Stick insects belong to Phasmatodean Family. Other insects
that also belong to the same family are leaf insects, ghost
insects, and walking sticks. There are nearly two thousand and
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 camouflage with the surroundings.
Stick insects belong to areas having tropical climates and some
of them have wings. Stick insects that are kept as pets can grow
four inches 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 favorites are Indian stick
insects; Vietnamese thorny stick insects and pink winged flying
stick insects. They are desirable because they are
low-maintenance and their unique appearance. Their surroundings
in captivity should be similar to that of their native
surrounding. The temperature and humidity should match almost
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. Blueberries
are among the most favorable foods of stick insects. Other than
that, they can be given raspberry, ivy, oak, privet, oak and
hawthorn. These insects can be kept in a vivarium or circular
jar, which has some holes on the top. The length of the jar
should be three times that of the insect and it should be tall
in height. The holes shouldn’t be so big that the insect can
escape from it. To be extra careful, a net can be placed over
the holes, to completely prevent them from escaping. The
vivarium can be filled with ivy, bramble and privet.
The temperature within the jar should be maintained around
seventy to seventy-five degree Fahrenheit. At night the
temperatures can be lowered to sixties. The humidity within the
vivarium should be moderate. Stick insects are very fragile
insects and should be handled with extra care. A covered water
container can also be placed and the insect should be allowed to
drink from it only under invigilation, as the animal can fall
and drown in it.
Stick insects shed skin often, which they eat. When the insect
shed 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 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 and dying. And owners that aren’t interested in breeding
should completely destroy the eggs by boiling, burning, or
crushing them.
These insects should not be left out in the wild, from
captivity. Since they do not belong to the 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 supposed to be plant pest. A
special permit is needed to import them.