How to Care for Stick Bugs

Written and verified by the veterinarian and zootechnician Sebastian Ramirez Ocampo

Last update: 02 April, 2024

Stick bugs belong to the group of phasmids, which are species that are characterized by the amazing mimicry they’ve achieved over years of evolution. Among the main factors to consider in the care of a stick bug are a diet of plant species and the preparation of a habitat that’s three times the length of its body and twice its width.

Although at first glance, they may seem delicate and difficult to care for, the reality is that they’re easy pets to keep. In this guide, you’ll find how to provide for the basic physiological needs of a stick bug in captivity, as well as information about their behavior in the wild. Be sure to read the following article and become an expert on the subject!

Characteristics of stick bugs

Before starting with the aspects related to their care, it’s important to get to know the habitat, morphology, and behaviors of stick insects in the wild. This will give you a better idea of their basic needs in captivity.

Distribution and habitat

According to a publication in the journal IDE@ – SEA, the Phasmatidae family is comprised of more than 3,000 species, including leaf insects. They have an almost global distribution, with a greater presence in tropical and subtropical regions.

They have a predilection for the following habitats, where they spend most of the day immobile under the leaves of plants:

• Gardens
• Pastures
• Humid forests

Morphology

As the name suggests, the physique of these insects is characterized by the imitation of the trunks or branches of the vegetation they inhabit. Their elongated body includes the parts mentioned below:

• A pair of antennae
• 6 articulated legs
• 2 wings that may or may not be functional for flight (in some cases)

According to a description by National Geographic, the size of the species varies between half an inch and 13 inches. Likewise, some specimens can reach 21 inches with their legs extended. For this reason, they’re listed as one of the largest insect families on the planet.

As a general rule, females are longer than males.

An article in the journal Methods In Enzymology indicates that their coloration is a function of the carotenoids present in the plants they consume. In this regard, stick insects can exhibit the following shades:

• Green
• Reddish
• Brown

The behavior of stick bugs

Stick bugs are nocturnal animals, as during the day, they remain almost motionless and take advantage of the darkness to feed and reproduce. Their diet is based on plant species, which vary according to the species:

• Blackthorn
• Elmleaf blackberry
• Scotch broom
• Common hawthorn
• Wild rose bush
• Apple tree

In addition, as reported in a study published in the journal Ecology Letters, these insects have the ability to change and adapt to new host plants. This means that they can expand their feeding niche and include new plant species as habitats or sources of nutrition.

At the same time, they’re able to reproduce both sexually and by parthenogenesis. In the first case, a male and a female are necessary to create offspring. In the latter, the female lays eggs without fertilization, which give rise to new offspring after 4 to 6 months.

It’s often believed that 100% of the offspring are born female.

This curious natural phenomenon has led to the belief that some populations of stick insects are exclusively composed of the female gender. However, the birth of a male by parthenogenesis has been discovered in the United Kingdom. This finding indicates that more may exist.

Caring for stick bugs at home

As you can see, the lifestyle of stick insects in nature isn’t too complex. They only require plants for feeding and shelter, as well as some environmental conditions that we’ll explain in detail below.

How to prepare the habitat for their arrival?

First of all, when caring for a stick bug at home, you should take into consideration that the insectary where the pet will live should have certain special measurements. Remember that stick bugs need a space 3 times the length of their body and 2 times its width, as indicated above.

For example, for a medium-sized species, a place with dimensions of at least 16 inches high, 12 inches wide, and 14 inches long can be adequate.

This is because, throughout their life, stick insects carry out 5 to 7 molts of their exoskeleton in order to grow. Therefore, it’s possible that when acquiring one of these animals, it’s still too soon to know what its size will be in adulthood. The insectary can be made of glass or a special mesh for insects.

To adequately condition their habitat at home, it’s necessary to cover the floor with a material that absorbs humidity. The following elements can be used:

• Vermiculite
• Coconut fiber
• Potting soil
• Small stones

As for environmental conditions, the optimum temperature should be between 17 °C and 27 °C. Likewise, humidity should be between 60 and 70 %, as recommended by the Exotic Animal Veterinary Center of Madrid.

This can be achieved by spraying water with an atomizer in the early morning hours.

However, this should be done with extreme care so as not to apply the mist directly to the insect. If a glass insectary is chosen, it’s important that it has a place where it can be ventilated, but that doesn’t allow the species to escape.

What should their diet be like?

This is a key point in the care required by a stick insect in captivity. As mentioned in previous lines, they can be provided with several plant species, although the most common and accepted are the ones mentioned below:

• Rosebush
• Blackberry
• Apple tree

When choosing the plants to include in the insectary, you should avoid those that are near roads or in places where chemical pesticides are used.

To keep them fresh, it’s best to place them in a vase with water and change them when the leaves are deteriorated or the stem is dry. Remember that they’re species that need constant food to survive.

Among other things, you can also add branches or sticks of other plant species, which, although not consumed, will serve to enrich their environment.

How should they be handled?

To avoid accidents, the best thing to do is extend the hand so that the insect rests on it. When handling it, it’s best to hold it from its torso. Their extremities are very fragile, and they can detach as a method of defense when they feel trapped.

What’s the life expectancy of a stick bug?

Under good care, it can live from 10 months to 1 year. As described above, its biological cycle includes several molting stages, which begin when the insect is about 1.2 inches long. Then, every month, it goes through this process until it reaches 7 months of age, at which time it’s considered an adult.

What to do if it starts to reproduce?

Whether by sexual reproduction or parthenogenesis, at some point, you’ll have eggs in your insectary. These can be differentiated from feces because they resemble a small seed. For their care, it’s best to collect them from the insectary and incubate them in a separate place with different environmental conditions.

Eggs should be handled with tweezers, as most of them are fragile and can be destroyed by the pressure of fingers.

The ideal humidity should be between 70 and 80%. The temperature should be between 68 °F and 77 °F. To avoid problems such as mold growth, it’s best to keep the eggs separate until hatching, as well as provide good ventilation.

How often should the insectary be cleaned?

Considering the humidity levels of the insectary and the high amount of excrement generated by these animals, it’s best to change the entire substrate every week. However, if you use stones or vermiculite, you can sieve the substrate and remove only the waste.

Finally, remember that it’s important to change the vegetation for fresh vegetation, as well as the water in the container in which its located.

Stick bugs: Silent companions

Now that you know how to care for a stick bug, you can easily venture into the world of these exotic pets. Keep in mind the recommendations provided in this article, and make sure you offer them the quality of life and well-being that such an animal deserves. You’ll be surprised by the connection you can achieve with this species!