Walking sticks are a favorite food of many animals but perhaps their most effective predators are bats.
What s a walking stick.
Walking stick bugs from the phasmida family look like sticks with legs and antennae or twigs attached to a small branch.
Walkingstick order phasmida or phasmatodea also called stick insect any of about 3 000 species of slow moving insects that are green or brown in colour and bear a resemblance to twigs as a protective device some species also have sharp spines an offensive odour or the ability to force their blood which contains toxic distasteful chemicals through special joints in the exoskeleton.
The phasmatodea also known as phasmida phasmatoptera or spectra are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects stick bugs walking sticks or bug sticks they are generally referred to as phasmatodeans phasmids or ghost insects phasmids in the family phylliidae are called leaf insects leaf bugs walking leaves or bug leaves.
All walking sticks are herbivores.
Most bats hunt by echolocation rather than sight so they aren t fooled by the insect s sticklike appearance.
There are more than 3 000 species of walking stick bugs all over the world and in diverse climates so it s not surprising that not all walking stick bugs look alike.
Sometimes called a walking staff or travel staff this is a single pole that s most effective when used on relatively flat terrain and with little or no load on your back.
A walking stick or walking cane is a device used primarily to aid walking provide postural stability or support or assist in maintaining a good posture but some designs also serve as a fashion accessory or are used for self defense.
They use their strong mandibles to consume leaves the primary food in their diet.