Kitchen paper vermiculite and sand. Nymphs eat their molted skin 6.
Some species have wings when adult most species do not.
Breeding stick insects. Breeding stick insects is easy because when you keep them in the right way they will mate and produce eggs automatically when adult. If you do find them transfer them to a sealed but ventilated container. Stick insects even act like sticks 4.
A female will lay hundreds of tiny eggs over her lifespan. 10 fascinating facts about stick insects 1. Stick insects can regenerate limbs 2.
Stick insects belong to the order of phasmatodea. Like any insect an stick insect has 6 legs and 2 antennae. Their eggs may attract ants 8.
A number of species of stick insect such as the indian or laboratory stick insect are parthenogenic i e. Some are long and thin others bulky and covered in strange shapes that mimic thorns leaves or moss. Of the 6000 species of stick insect in the world hundreds of different species are being kept in captivity in zoos and as pets.
You may end up with more insects than you bargained for even if you just purchase a lone female. On the previous pages general introduction care breeding and faq you could read all about the general care and quirks of stick insects. Stick insects aren t defenseless 7.
It is very important you know the precise species of stick insect before you buy them. Their eggs resemble seeds 5. Females of these species are parthenogenic meaning they can produce fertilized eggs without being fertilized by a male.
In this document i provide you some very basic information but for serious advice i would use other websites these insects are not my expertise. Examples of substrates that can be used include. Indian stick insects can reproduce in the absence of a male parthenogenetic reproduction.
Every species is different in its colors body structure behavior natural habitat and preferred temperature and humidity. The smooth round eggs can be collected and hatched in a warm tub of sand or vermiculite. Breeding stick insects is made easier with a lot of species such as the indian stick insect because they breed without the need for mating parthenogenesis.
So of course i have some limited experience with breeding stick insects too. However the majority of species require males and females. If you have soil at the bottom of the tank look for eggs when you are cleaning it out.
For eggs of most stick insect species a thin layer of substrate should be placed on the bottom of the incubation container which will serve as both soft bedding for the eggs and as something to absorb water and hold moisture. Despite that i would like to showcase some pictures of my previous breeding and experiences. Stick insects can reproduce without males 3.
The females lay unfertilised eggs which hatch into females which also lay unfertilised eggs. Adult stick insects either allow their eggs to drop to the floor of the tank they are being kept in or they will bury them in soil. For most species mating is not even necessary so you do not even need to keep a male.
The shape and size of their body differs a lot between species.