What Do Walking Sticks Eat?

What Do Walking Sticks Eat?

In nature, survival hinges on adaptation and resourcefulness—two things the walking stick species have mastered very well. With their slender bodies and unique ability to camouflage themselves from predators, these insects often leave many people wondering—what do they actually eat? 

Just as any other insect, these masters of disguise have to find sustenance in order to survive in the wild. And while these insects are sometimes kept as indoor pets, we’ll focus on the species that remain in the wild in the United States and around the world. 

WHAT ARE WALKING STICKS?

A member of the order Phasmida or Phasmatodea, “walking sticks” are also commonly referred to as walking stick bugs, stick insects, or stick bugs. The USDA Forest Service has also compiled a list of fancier nicknames commonly used to describe walking sticks, including stickbug, prairie alligator, devil’s horse, devil’s darning needle, and witch’s horse. 

This long cylindrical bug gets its name from its ability to camouflage or mimic the appearance of sticks, twigs, branches, and even leaves in their natural habitat. While there are several varieties of stick bugs, the two most common types are:

Diapheromera femorata

This insect has a small square head with long antennae and six slender legs. Female Diapheromera femorata typically measure about 95 mm (3.74 inches), while males usually measure on the shorter side, around 75 mm (2.95 inches). 

Megaphasma denticrus 

Nicknamed the “giant walking stick,” this insect is known to be practically imperceptible from their environment when they stop moving. The Megaphasma denticrus is usually wingless and measures up to almost 110 mm (4.33 inches).

WHERE DO WALKING STICK BUGS LIVE?

With over 3,000 species of walking stick bugs, these pests can be found practically everywhere except Antarctica. With such a wide distribution across preferred tropical and temperate regions, there are many habitats where you might encounter walking sticks:

  • Forests
  • Gardens
  • Parks
  • Grasslands
  • Savannas
  • Tropical regions
  • Subtropical regions
  • Temperate regions
  • Islands

Walking stick insects prefer different locations based on their species, but they generally choose to live in an area that is rich in vegetation and offers enough foliage so they can remain hidden from predators. 

THE UNITED STATES

Walking sticks are known to inhabit most of the United States but can be found predominantly in the southern half of the country (where there are more of the insects’ preferred plants). 

Here are some of the most common walking sticks you may have heard of:

  • Western short-horned walking sticks (Parabacillus hesperus) are frequently found in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. 
  • California Timema (Timema spp.) has about 25 known species and prefers to live in southwest regions of the United States and Mexico.
  • Northern walking sticks (Diapheromera femorata) are found all across the United States and in some parts of Canada.
  • Prairie walking sticks (Diapheromera velii) are commonly found in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Mexico. 
  • Southern two-striped walking sticks (Anisomorpha buprestoides) can be found in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Texas, and Mexico. 

OTHER LOCATIONS

Stick bugs can also be found in parts of Africa, Asia, Central America, Eurasia, Europe, and South America. 

WHAT DO WALKING STICK INSECTS EAT?

Stick bugs primarily feed on leaves, with a preference for oak leaves. They consume leaves rapidly, often leaving only the veins, a process known as “skeletonizing.”

Among the vast array of walking stick species, one of the unifying characteristics that binds them together is their shared dietary preference as herbivores, or insects that eat only plants. In the wild, walking sticks prefer to eat these types of leaves:

Hazel

While hazel is not an evergreen plant, it is a go-to favorite for most stick insects. 

Oak

Oak trees are very common in the United States, making oak leaves a popular food choice. However, oak leaves do not remain green year-round, so walking stick insects are forced to find alternate food options in the winter months. 

Bramble

Compared to oak leaves, bramble leaves stay green all year long, providing a consistent source of food and nutrition. It is important to note that stick insects avoid brightly colored leaves due to their toxic nature, but dark-colored leaves are good. 

Blackberry

Almost all species of stick insects show a strong preference for eating blackberry leaves. 

Rose

Rose leaves are another commonly preferred snack by stick insects, especially ones that enjoy eating bramble because it is readily available and non-toxic.  

Ivy

This evergreen climbing or ground-creeping plant is readily available in wooded areas and offers multiple varieties to choose from. For wild walking sticks, they tend to prefer English ivy, German ivy, Irish ivy, North African ivy, and even Persian ivy—all “true ivies” belonging to the genus Hedera. Ivy is native to Eurasia and North Africa but has since been introduced to North America and even Australia. 

Privet

Privet stays green year-round and is easy to find. This group of shrubs and small trees are from southern and eastern Asia and are often a favorite food source for nymphs as they hatch from eggs and feed on small-leafed privet and ivy varieties.  

Juvenile walking sticks in their nymph stage also enjoy eating berries and shrubs found in close proximity to the popular leaves enjoyed by adult walking sticks. 

Leave No Trace: To keep their location hidden from potential predators, most walking stick nymphs will eat their molted skin so they do not leave a trail. Any castoff skin left nearby acts as a giveaway to their location. 

HOW DO WALKING STICKS EAT?

When it comes time to eat, walking stick insects use their strong mandibles to consume their favorite leafy greens. This feature is quite remarkable, containing impressive mouthparts that have been adapted to consume plant matter. The elongated mandibles of a walking stick are shaped like pincers, possessing enough strength to grasp their food while withstanding the rigorous task of biting and chewing through tough vegetation. 

STICK WITH THE PROFESSIONALS AT JOSHUA’S PEST CONTROL

If any unwanted pest has invaded your yard, contact the experts at Moxie Pest Control for help. Our field experts train daily on pest identification and behavior so they can manage problem pests quickly and conveniently for our customers. Call today for a free quote! 

SOURCES

Author Bio

Courtney Enzor has worked in the pest control industry for about a decade. From helping you build a fly trap to giving you the best tips for identifying various bugs, she loves answering all your pest-related questions and sharing her pest-related expertise through writing. At the end of the day, she hopes her content will help people avoid mishaps and keep families happy and healthy!

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