- The Care of Stick-Insects
-
-
- There are nearly 3 000 species of Stick-Insect
(Phasmida) in the world all of which feed exclusively on vegetation,
they are one of the most popular forms of insect life to be kept
as pets.
Housing
In general the more common species of Stick-Insect can be kept
together though if you are breeding more difficult species then
it pays to use separate cages to create individual requirements.
Temperature
Most Sticks come from tropical or semi-tropical environments
and are happiest between 75F and 80F, though the common Indian
Stick-Insect Carausius morosus and some of its relatives are
happy at normal home temperatures of between 60F and 75 F or
24C. Heating is best achieved by maintaining a whole room at
the desired temperature, if this is not possible an electric
light bulb can be used over small cages. It is important to make
sure the Stick-Insects can not reach the light bulb as they will
burn them selves on it. A red bulb should be used during the
hours of darkness as this disturbs the Sticks far less.
Cage Construction
Because most Stick-Insects are long thin animals which hang down
from their food plants to shed their skins it is most important
that the cage have sufficient height, as a general rule it should
be three times as high as the adult length of the Stick-Insects
to be kept in it.
It is also useful to have it so designed that you can easily
replace the food plant material whenever it is required taking
into consideration that this will mostly be brambles (i.e. spiny
rubus sp).
Humidity
Not all sticks share a common need for humidity, some species
such as Carausius morosus will be happy to live in a fairly open
cage whereas others such as Epidares nolimetangere will require
an almost if not totally enclosed cage with around 80% relative
humidity. Regardless of this all Sticks need water and it is
a good policy to thoroughly mist the inside of the cage including
all the food plant material each evening before you go to bed
or before lights out. Some Stick-Insects such as Haaniella spneed
open water in a low bowl to drink, don't be to concerned if they
leave their heads under water remember that insect breath threw
their thoracic and abdominal spiracles not through their mouths
like us. Note also that in some places tap water can harm some
species so it doesn't hurt to use either rain water or to let
the tap water stand for a day or two.
Food
Almost all Stick-Insects eat the leaves of bramble/blackberry
and its relatives of the genus rubus and many such as the Indian
or Laboratory Stick-Insect Carausius morosus, the Australian
or Giant Spiny Stick-Insect Extatosoma tiaratum, the Thorn Legged
Stick-Insect Eurycantha calcarata, the Small Spiny Stick-Insect
Araeton assperrimus and the Jungle Nymph Heteropteyx dilatata
will also enjoy plants like Oak Quercus sp and Hawthorn Crateagus
monogyna. It is important to make sure that your sticks always
have plenty of fresh food, and it is often wise to take from
sites not to close to major road ways to avoid the poisoning
effects of various pollutants, if this is unavoidable then the
plant material should be washed before being offered to the Sticks.
Handling
Great care should be taken in handling stick insects at all times,
remember they are living creatures just like you. some species
such as the Indian or Laboratory Stick-Insect Carausius morosusand
the Australian or Giant Spiny Stick-Insect Extatosoma tiaratum
are relatively sturdy and these should be used when allowing
younger children or people who could be frightened to handle
the Sticks. Note that some species such as Pink Wings Sipyloidea
sipylus tend to lose their legs very easily. Also it should be
noted that some species such as the Australian or Giant Spiny
Stick-Insect Extatosoma tiaratum, the Jungle Nymph Heteropteyx
dilatata and particularly the Thorn Legged Stick-Insect Eurycantha
calcarata can and will pinch (with their thorny limbs) and bite
if not used to being handled, while other species such as the
American Walking Stick Anisomorpha bupestroides and to a lesser
extent Pink Wings Sipyloidea sipylus have a defensive chemical
spray which in the case of American Walking Stick Anisomorpha
bupestroides can cause temporary blindness and considerable pain
to an adult.
Breeding
A number of species of Stick-Insect are parthenogenetic (i.e.
the females lay unfertilised eggs which hatch into females which
will also lay unfertilised eggs etc.) such as Indian or Laboratory
Stick-Insect Carausius morosus while the majority of species
go in for a more normal male female system. All Stick-Insects
lay eggs, some just drop them onto the ground, some sick them
under tree bark or into crevices and some bury them in the ground.
If you keep the burying species such as the Small Spiney Stick-Insect
Aretaon assperrimus, the Thorn Legged Stick-Insect Eurycantha
calcarata or the Untouchable Stick-Insect Epidares nolimetangere
you will need to ensure a container of damp peat, about 2 inches
deep in the bottom of the cage once the females are adult. Stick-Insect
eggs can take from between 2 months and a year to hatch depending
on species, in general the larger species are the ones which
take longest though not always.
You can either not bother cleaning out the cage floor and let
the sticks hatch as they want, in this case it is useful to keep
some common Woodlice such as Pocellio scaber in the cage to help
keep down the fungus. Or you can collect the eggs each time you
clean the cage and keep them in separate containers until they
hatch. In this case the eggs of the burying species will need
to be gently reburied about 1cm deep, and the rest will need
to be kept on some absorbent material such as sand, all will
need to be kept in a warm place and spraying with moisture occasionally
will help, a careful/daily watch should be kept for moulds and
attacked ova/eggs removed cleaned an then kept in a separate
container.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By gordon@earthlife.net
© Earth-Life Web Productions
Bringing Insects to the World http://www.earthlife.net/insects/
-
-
-
|
|