Global menu

Phasmatodea

English

Northern walkingstick

English
Diapheromera fermorata

This North American walkingstick, known for its outstretched legs, can appear either green or brown. It is the only walkingstick species found in Québec.

The northern walkingstick, previously known as the common stick insect, was renamed following a naming contest organized by the Insectarium Nomenclature Committee.

Wingless, the Northern walkingstick feeds on a variety of plants, though it shows a marked preference for oak leaves.

Physical characteristics

The female is larger than the male.

In this species, both sexes have spines on their legs. They also possess cerci, the pair of appendages at the tip of the abdomen that males use during mating.

Reproduction

Once mating has occurred, the female drops her eggs to the ground. Hidden among the leaf litter, they spend the winter sheltered from the cold. In spring, the young walkingsticks feed on the leaves of shrubs.

In regions where the population is abundant, so many females lay eggs at the same time that the falling eggs create a sound reminiscent of raindrops.

Juvenile Northern walkingstick at the Insectarium:

Yellow flying stick

English
Anarchodes annulipes

This stick insect species lives in the tropical forests of western Malaysia. When threatened by a predator, it spreads its pink wings to create a surprise effect.

This stick insect has glands on its thorax that produce substances capable of repelling predators.

Physical description of the female and male

The female yellow flying stick insect measures about 9 cm in length, while the male reaches around 6.5 cm.

In both sexes, the antennae are very long. Males and females also have three ocelli (simple eyes on the head), almost invisible to the naked eye, that are believed to help them orient themselves in flight.

Unusually shaped eggs

The eggs of this species have an unusual shape. They resemble large teeth, almost like fangs!

During laying, the female uses her abdomen to push each egg into the substrate, hiding it from view.

Le Tirant's leaf insect

English

Discover Le Tirant’s leaf insect
in a vivarium in the Tête-à-tête room at the Insectarium.

Described in 2018, Le Tirant’s leaf insect is found on Peleng Island in Indonesia. Named in honor of Stéphane Le Tirant, curator of the Insectarium’s scientific collection from its opening in 1990 until 2024, this remarkable insect mimics the shape of a leaf.

Individuals show a range of colors: while most are green, some exhibit reddish or yellowish tones.

In the world of leaf insects, body shape and features alone often fail to clearly distinguish one species from another. In the case of Le Tirant’s leaf insect, it was the unique shape of its eggs that revealed to scientists it was indeed a distinct species.

Unique traits of leaf insects

When camouflage is not enough, leaf insects have another trick they use as a means of defence: they simply let go and drop from their perch, disappearing into the dense tropical undergrowth. This sudden fall makes it much harder for predators to find them.

 Another distinctive feature of this species is its eggs. They are covered in tiny hairs and a type of “glue” that helps them stick to leaves and tree trunks. This adhesive activates after the egg is laid, provided it falls onto a surface in a sufficiently humid environment. By anchoring to leaves or trunks in the canopy, the egg remains safely in place, allowing the embryo to develop under ideal conditions.

Giant prickly stick insect

English
Extatosoma tiaratum

Discover the giant prickly strick insect
in a vivarium in the Tête-à-tête room at the Insectarium.

The giant prickly stick insect is native to eastern Australia. Like many stick insects, it is a master of disguise, relying on camouflage to evade predators. By mimicking the shape and texture of a leaf, it blends seamlessly into its surroundings.

A defense arsenal

The adult male has well-developed wings and can fly away from danger.

The female cannot fly, but she can curl her abdomen upward, adopting an intimidating posture.

As a last resort, the stick insect uses its spiny legs as pincers.

The giant prickly stick insect can also secrete a caramel-scented substance from its mouthparts. While harmless to humans, this secretion may help deter predators.

Eggs that fool ants

The eggs of giant prickly stick insect resemble certain seeds that ants find irresistible. This tricks ants into carrying the eggs back to their nests. This clever adaptation helps protect and disperse the eggs.

When the young nymphs hatch, they curl their abdomens, and their coloration and movements give them the appearance of ants. This form of mimicry allows the newly hatched insects to leave the ant nest unnoticed.

Like some other stick insect species, the female giant prickly stick insect can reproduce through parthenogenesis. This mode of reproduction is characterized by the absence of fertilization by a male.

Madagascar blue stick insect

English
Achrioptera manga

This stick insect lives in two forests located at the northernmost tip of Madagascar. Together, these forests cover just 65 square kilometres. Both sites have been protected from deforestation since 2008.

An exceptional morphology

The bright colours of the adult male Madagascar blue stick insect stand out from those of most other stick insect species, which are typically camouflaged.

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the male’s vivid colouring. It may serve to attract females or signal toxicity to predators. Since males are highly mobile, the typical camouflage strategy used by other stick insects might be less necessary for them.

Females can lay a total of 200 to 300 eggs, at a rate of two to five per day.

Sophisticated defence mechanisms

When threatened, these stick insects spread their red wings to startle or warn predators. This visual display may be accompanied by a sound made with their wings, known as stridulation.

Their spiny hind legs can also pinch attackers. As a last resort, they drop to the ground to escape danger.

 

Stick insects

English

The body and legs of these insects are long and thin. Generally, they are wingless, although some species do have small wings. Their antennae are also long and thin.

Subscribe to RSS - Phasmatodea