Madagascar blue stick insect

Meet the Madagascar blue stick insect in the Insectarium’s Tête-à-tête room.

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.