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Details of the Giant Stick Insect
CHARACTERISTICS: The Giant Walkingstick is the largest Walkingstick species in North America, measuring in at anywhere between 75mm and 150mm. Their camouflage is - taking the appearance of a twig or small branch - is so good in fact that one can often miss these dazzling creatures in the wild.
Identifying features (should you "think" you spot one) are that they are red to brown and in some cases a shade of green in color. Colors will seem to become lighter near the leg appendages. These insects are generally found throughout the Midwest areas and feed within forests and grasslands on various greenery.
Like its counterpart, the Northern Walkingstick, the Giant Walkingstick female will lay individual eggs over the winter in hidden areas on the ground such as dead or dying leaves and foliage. Hatchlings will push through their egg casings in about late spring, which then make their way upwards to edible greens. With only about one generation produced a year, Giant Walkingsticks stay active in the later hours of the day where their movement may not be so noticeable to predator and prey alike.
ADULT SIZE (Length, not including legs):
150mm to 180mm
(5.91in to 7.09in) (Compare Size)
IDENTIFYING COLORS: green; red; brown; yellow
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| Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa |
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Courtesy of Jen Strait of San Antonio, Texas
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| More Pictures of the Giant Stick Insect: |
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| Images @InsectIdentification.org • Hover over each image to view submission credit |
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Kingdom: Animalia
