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Common Name:
Indian Stick Insect
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stick on a leaf
Photo: kevin simcox
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Common Name:  Indian Stick Insect

Other Common Names:  Laboratory Stick Insect, Phasmid, Common Green Stick Insect

Scientific Name:  Carausius morosus  (Full Taxonomy)

Group:  

Origin or Range:  India

Relative Size:  Larger Than Average  
    (as compared to other stick insects)

Average Lifespan:  1.25 year(s)

Compatibility:  Average   
    (as compared to other stick insects)

Category:  Insects » Stick Insects
Animal Description:  

Indian Stick Insects have been used in school and laboratory settings for at least a century. They are considered easy to care for and are quite hearty, making them an excellent choice for beginners. Stick insects are also known as phasmids. The word phasmid comes from the order Phasmatodea.

Indian Stick Insects, also known as "Laboratory Stick Insects" or "Common Green Stick Insects", are commonly used in classrooms and laboratory settings. The Indian Stick insect is not difficult to care for, making it popular among beginning hobbyists as well. Indian Sticks should be kept in plastic terrariums with a cover. Minimum size should be 12 liters. Lay a few pieces of water-soaked paper towels at the bottom of the tank to keep humidity up. They should also be misted daily and maintained at room temperature. Food can be kept in a vase or container in the middle of the terrarium. They seem to like freshly washed rose, raspberry, hawthorn, ivy, privet, pyracantha and bramble. The food plants should be placed all over the tank, because this species seems to enjoy climbing on them. While Indian Stick Insects usually maintain a vegetarian diet, if too many are housed together they may attempt to eat each other. They are generally not harmful to humans or other vertebrates. They can be handled and will usually walk easily on your hand. Be careful when handling them, as they are delicate, if you grasp them by their legs the legs can fall off. If this does happen they can grow a new one by a process called regeneration. Stick insects can regenerate several legs, though if they loose too many at one time it can be harmful.

The Indian Stick Insect is one of the largest stick insects known to man. Mature male Indian stick Insects will grow to a length of 50-60 mm and females 70-80 mm. They have six legs, and each consists of four segments. The four segments are the coxa (connected to the body), the trochantero-femur, the tibia, and the tarsus, which is equipped with hooks and grasping structures. They will either be green or brown. They are easily distinguished from other sticks by the presence of red lines on the upper insides of their legs. When this species is held it will often fold all of its legs into itself making it truly resemble a stick!

Indian Stick Insects are native to India. Males are more difficult to find than females, and many are sterile. The fact that males are difficult to find posses no problem to the Indian Stick Insect as far as reproduction is concerned. These fascinating Phasmids reproduce by parthenogenesis, which allows all female reproduction.

Specific Care Information: Relative Care Ease: Relatively Easy

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Breeding and Propagation: Relative Breeding Ease: Relatively Easy

Indian Stick insects can breed rapidly. They will often reproduce without mating. This process is called Parthenogenesis. The females will lay eggs, which produce more females. This process has been seen to continue for 20 generations. Mature females can be distinguished by the red stripes on their front legs.

The females will let the eggs fall onto the ground. It is recommended that they be placed in a small pot filled with good earth for seeds. The pot should then be placed in a small terrarium. A grid should be placed on top of it to prevent eggs from falling out. If the soil is kept damn the eggs will hatch within six to seven months. Place this pot in a small glass or terrarium and place a grid on the glass to keep eggs from slipping through.

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Wednesday, 8 October 2008