The Phasmatodea are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick bugs, walkingsticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are also occasionally referred to as Devil's darning needles, although this name is shared by both dragonflies and crane flies. They can be generally referred to as phasmatodeans, phasmids, or ghost insects, with phasmids in the family Phylliidae called leaf insects, leaf-bugs, walking leaves, or bug leaves. The group's name is derived from the Ancient Greek φάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, referring to their resemblance to vegetation while in fact being animals. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult for predators to detect; still, many species have one of several secondary lines of defense in the form of startle displays, spines or toxic secretions. Stick insects from the genera Phryganistria, Ctenomorpha, and Phobaeticus include the world's longest insects.
Extatosoma tiaratum, commonly known as the spiny leaf insect, the giant prickly stick insect, Macleay's spectre, or the Australian walking stick, is a large species of Australian stick insect. The species has the Phasmid Study Group number PSG9.
Timema is a genus of relatively short-bodied, stout and wingless stick insects native to the far western United States, and the sole extant member of the family Timematidae. The genus was first described in 1895 by Samuel Hubbard Scudder, based on observations of the species Timema californicum.
The common walkingstick or northern walkingstick is a species of phasmid or stick insect found across North America. The average length of this species is 75mm (3 in) for males and 95mm (3.7 in) for females.
Anisomorpha is a genus of walking stick insect capable of secreting a substance from glands on the metathorax that can cause an intense burning irritation of the eyes and mouth of potential predators on contact. In some cases, this causes temporary blindness. Species are found throughout the mainland Central, northern South America, and the southeastern United States. The adult female is larger than the male in length and width. There are currently four accepted species in this genus, and all are wingless.
Pulchriphyllium giganteum, commonly known as the Giant Malaysian Leaf insect, is a species of leaf insects described from Malaysia by Hausleithner in 1984 and placed in the genus Pulchriphyllium since 2021. Pulchriphyllium giganteum is the largest species belonging to the genus Pulchriphyllium reaching 105 mm in size. They are found most abundantly in the west Malaysian tropics. The females typically have large elytra that lie edge to edge on the abdomen and tend to lack hind wings making them usually flightless. Males have small elytra and sometimes transparent non-leaflike functional hind wings. Pulchriphyllium giganteum found in the wild tend to be mostly females and the first male of this species was not found until 1994. In captivity, the species has primarily been observed to reproduce through parthenogenesis meaning the females are asexual. The primary reproductive pattern in the wild is unknown. Eggs tend to be brown or black and glossy and resemble seeds. They hatch around 6 months after breeding. Newly hatched young nymphs tend to be wingless and brown or reddish in color. They develop their green color after feeding on leaves. Both the adult and larval stages are phytophagous meaning they feed on plants. The main plant food sources for this species are oak and bramble tree leaves.
Diapheromerinae is a subfamily of the stick insect family Diapheromeridae. They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea.
Acanthoxyla inermis is an insect that was described by John Salmon in 1955. Acanthoxyla inermis is included in the genus Acanthoxyla, and family Phasmatidae. No subspecies are listed. This species is native to New Zealand but has been unintentionally moved to Great Britain where it has grown a stable population and is the longest insect observed in the UK, and the most common of the stick insects that have established themselves on the island.
Diapheromera arizonensis, the Arizona walkingstick, is a species of walkingstick in the family Diapheromeridae. It is found in North America.
Parabacillus hesperus, the western short-horn walkingstick, is a species of walkingstick in the family Heteronemiidae. It is found in North America. This species is found in dry, arid in the summer and fall. Their diet consists of various scrub and grassland plants. Through an adaptation called "crypsis," it blends in so perfectly with its natural habitat that it often goes completely undetected by would-be predators.
Anisomorpha ferruginea is a species in the family Pseudophasmatidae, in the order Phasmatodea ("walkingsticks"). Common names include "northern two-striped walkingstick", "dark walkingstick", and "prairie alligator". Anisomorpha ferruginea is found in North America. This insect can spray a defensive mist that contains a terpene dialdehyde.
Timema poppense, the "Pope Valley timema", is a species of walkingstick in the family Timematidae. It is found in California, and originally described from a nature reserve in the Pope Valley.
Diapheromera is a genus of stick insects in the family Diapheromeridae. There are about 14 described species in Diapheromera.
Parabacillus is a genus of short-horn walkingsticks in the family Heteronemiidae. There are at least three described species in Parabacillus.
Heteronemiidae is a family of walkingsticks in the order Phasmatodea. There are about 14 genera and at least 80 described species in Heteronemiidae.
Canuleius is a genus of walkingsticks in the family Heteronemiidae. There are at least 20 described species in Canuleius.
Timema ritense, the Santa Rita timema, is a species of walkingstick in the family Timematidae. It is found in North America. The species was originally spelled "ritensis", but this spelling did not match the gender of the genus Timema, and therefore has undergone a mandatory change following ICZN Article 31.2.
Megaphasma is a genus of walking sticks in the family Diapheromeridae. There are at least two described species in Megaphasma.
Diapheromerini is a tribe of walkingsticks in the family Diapheromeridae. There are at least 30 genera Diapheromerini.
Damasippoididae is a family of walkingsticks in the order Phasmatodea. There are at least two genera and about six described species in Damasippoididae, found in Madagascar.
