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| Walkingstick Insect |
We can determine that this particular walkingstick is a male due to the pinchers located on the rear end. The male uses these pinchers to clasp and hold the abdomen of a female while they breed. Mating can last anywhere from several hours to over a day. Yikes!
The female of the species is one of the few insects that are able to produce unfertilized eggs (if no male is encountered) that will hatch and grow into other females. The eggs resemble tiny seeds and most often, she will either hide them in places that are very hard to get to or drop them one by one on the ground over a scattered area. Scattering them is her natural born instinct to keep predators from finding the eggs all in one place.
Much like a mantis, the walkingstick wears its skeleton on the outside of its body. Their bones are unable to grow like ours and when the insect grows, the exoskeleton is shed and replaced by a new and roomier version. They also have the ability to regenerate a lost limb and some in the species can even shoot a liquid to blind their predators when encountered. It will take a walkingstick several molts to reach the size we see here on the shed door.
If you look closely at the head of the insect, you will see that he has extended his two front legs out parallel to his antennae. This is a defense mechanism of the walkingstick to appear larger than it is and assist in its ability to mimic a twig through camouflage. Many times you will also see them swaying as if they were moving with the breeze offering them one of the best natural camouflages and defenses we find in nature.
This little fella is completely natural to our area and will not cause any harm in the garden. It has been a while since we have heard that one! While they are night feeding herbivores eating a diet of plant leaves, their appetite prefers the leaves of brambles, deciduous trees and shrubs, with a preference to oaks and hazelnuts. If found in the garden they can be left alone, although they may nibble a little, gently moved to the edge of the woods, or placed on a tree to send them on their way.
There are over 3,000 species of the stick insect and while not on the endangered list, walkingsticks do suffer from habitat destruction, pesticide use, and their collection for the pet trade.
A big thank you goes out to Lyndsay for pointing out this most interesting bug!
Happy Gardening,
Denise, Beds 25 & 29
