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Other animals
Stick insects
Stick insects · Phasmatodea
Stick insects disguise themselves perfectly as a twig or leaf and amaze with their fascinating powers of adaptation in the dense canopy.
Fact file
- Size
- Depending on the species, between 4 and 30 centimetres long, with a delicate build
- Males and females
- Females usually larger and more robust, often without wings, males sometimes winged
- Sounds
- Usually silent, some species produce a faint rustling by rubbing body parts together
- Diet
- Feeds mainly on the leaves of many different plants
- Offspring
- Lays several single eggs, development usually takes several months
How to identify Stick insects
Stick insects are true masters of camouflage. Their body looks like a twig or a leaf, sometimes with small protrusions or ridges that imitate natural plant parts. Their colouring ranges from olive green to brown and sometimes shows light patterns that blend in with the surrounding vegetation.
Depending on the species, stick insects can grow from just a few centimetres up to 30 centimetres in length. Their elongated, slender body with thin legs means they are almost invisible when they keep still. Some species show striking movements that resemble a twig swaying in the wind.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- one place where you can see Stick insects
Where Stick insects live
Discover Stick insects on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
