Stick insects belong to Phasmatodean Family. Other insects that also belong to the same family are leaf insects, ghost insects, and walking sticks. There are nearly two thousand and eight hundred species within the Phasmatodean family. The striking characteristic of this family is that the species have a body structure, which helps them to camouflage with the surroundings. Stick insects belong to areas having tropical climates and some of them have wings. Stick insects that are saved as pets can grow four inches and can live up to one year.
Among all the insects, which are kept as pets, stick insects are essentially the most desirable. Some of the favorites are Indian stick insects; Vietnamese thorny stick insects and pink winged flying stick insects. They are desirable as a result of they are low-maintenance and their unique appearance. Their surroundings in captivity should be just like that of their native surrounding. The temperature and humidity should match almost exactly with their unique habitat.
Also the food assets provided to them should be close to the foliage available to them in their natural habitat. Blueberries are among the most favorable foods of stick insects. Other than that, they can be given raspberry, ivy, oak, privet, oak and hawthorn. These insects could be kept in a vivarium or circular jar, which has some holes on the top. The length of the jar should be thrice that of the insect and it should be tall in height. The holes shouldnÂ’t be so big that the insect can escape from it. To be additional careful, a net can be placed over the holes, to utterly forestall them from escaping. The vivarium could be filled with ivy, bramble and privet.
The temperature throughout the jar should be maintained around seventy to seventy-five degree Fahrenheit. At night time the temperatures might be lowered to sixties. The humidity within the vivarium should be moderate. Stick insects are very fragile insects and should be handled with extra care. A lined water container can also be placed and the insect should be allowed to drink from it only under invigilation, as the animal can fall and drown in it.
Stick insects shed skin usually, which they eat. When the insect shed for the sixth time, it indicates that the insect has reached sexual maturity. All of the Indian stick insects are female as they reproduce by parthenogenesis or the eggs are laid and they do not need fertilization by a male. Owners that are interested by breeding can spray water on the eggs and wait till they hatch. After eggs are hatched, offspring might be managed with the help of paintbrushes. Generally the tail has some stays of the egg, which will be gently dismissed with the help of the paintbrush. Also, care should be taken to to not depart pools of water as there can be a probability of bugs drowning in them and dying. And owners that arenÂ’t keen on breeding ought to fully destroy the eggs by boiling, burning, or crushing them.
These bugs shouldn’t be left out within the wild, from captivity. Since they do not belong to the surroundings, there’s a chance that they’ll hurt the ecosystem by reproducing young ones. Insects, which dwell in environments other than their pure habitats are often known as pests. In United States, Indian walking stick bugs are supposed to be plant pest. A special allow is needed to import them.