Do Stick Bugs Bite? Amazing Leaf Insects Explained For Kids!

Stick bugs, as their name suggests, are straight thin insects that eat foliage.

Stick bugs are also called stick insects and walking sticks. Stick insect species have a stick-like figure with six long spindly legs and thin antennae.

Most stick insect species are rather small. However, the giant walking stick and some other stick insect species grow much bigger than average insects. If we look at all the recorded species thus far, these insects can measure up to 21 in (53.3 cm) in length.

Unlike the praying mantis, these stick insects did not evolve front legs to catch prey or hold food while eating. A stick insect has compound eyes with multiple lenses.

They also consist of photosensitive cells that provide an image or color. Walking sticks are a great option as pets due to their low maintenance. However, only people who are willing to research and learn, and make special provisions should keep unconventional pets.

If you find this article interesting, then you might enjoy learning about other stick bug facts and do stink bugs fly here on Kidadl.

Do walking stick bugs bite?

A walking stick does not bite. The walking stick species is not an aggressive species. When faced with a threat, walking sticks will rather conceal themselves than fight the predator.

Stick insects are completely harmless and instances of a stick insect's bite are unheard of. The only time when this skinny insect may retaliate is when it might feel threatened. The most common defensive technique among the different stick insect species is to camouflage to hide from predators. Walking sticks often play dead for self-defense.

They camouflage extremely well. They use their look as slender sticks and gently sway from side to side as if swaying because of the wind.

The earthy-toned body of green and brown aids in this camouflaging strategy. Another instance of camouflage is where instead of swaying, they either blend in with the leaves or the ground and stay still until the predator leaves. There are still a few other ways that walking sticks use to protect themselves.

Is it safe to pick up a stick bug?

Even though walking sticks do not bite people, you should still be wary of picking up these stick insects if you have no experience. Most stick insects use camouflage to hide from predators, but there are some species of stick insects that use certain features of their bodies to harm an approaching predator albeit in self-defense.

One such stick insect is the jungle nymph. This large stick insect with its great postural stability uses its hind or back legs to attack a predator.

The insect supports itself on its front legs and raises its back legs in the air. When the predator gets close, it traps the incoming predator between its curved legs. Since their legs are covered in spines, the pinch can hurt a predator.

However, if a human finger is trapped between those legs, the pinch won't hurt that even if the spines draw a little bit of blood. By pinching predators, these stick insects save their lives.

Another species of stick insect that defends itself by attacking the predator is of the Anisomorpha genus, also known as the two-striped stick insect. This walking stick cannot use camouflage due to its striking yellow and orange back pattern.

Instead, when a predator approaches this insect, it releases a chemical substance from its thorax and sprays it into the eyes of the predator. This chemical creates a burning sensation in the eyes and can also cause temporary blindness.

What are stick bugs good for?

Stick insects are herbivores. They rely on plant foliage for sustenance. The nourishment of these insects is actually quite beneficial for the environment.

The foliage of trees and shrubs such as rose, ivy, oak, apple, strawberry, and eucalyptus that stick insects eat through, helps them to grow better. Their feeding invites new growth for the plants.

Insects decrease the growth rate of early successional plants by eating them. Then when they defecate, they release the nutrients they digested through the plants back into the soil.

The returned nutrients in the soil then aid in the growth of other successional plants. This propagates forest recycling by making the excessive early growth rate lower and providing nutrients for later plants.

What eats a stick bug?

A walking stick makes for a very delicious meal for many predators. This is due to the high nutrition present in them. Stick insects have a lot of predators.

Bats are one of the predators of stick bugs that use echolocation to hunt and prey upon them. The walking sticks' camouflage defense doesn't work around the technique of echolocation. Some birds, reptiles, spiders, and primates are also predators of stick bugs. They hunt and search for them and eat them if they can find them through their camouflage.

Some rodents also prey upon walking sticks as part of their diet. Walking sticks are hard to find due to their camouflaging technique. They blend in with their surroundings very well. This makes them seem almost invisible to the predators.

The praying mantis, a skinny insect with curved legs, is a carnivorous insect that preys upon other bugs. This praying mantis eats stick insects too.

Did you know?

A walking stick has an average lifespan of up to two years.

Some adult stick insects, mainly the male ones, have wings that help them to fly and look for female stick insects. The walking stick lays eggs. Stick insect eggs may either fall down or stick to the bark of a tree and niches where the insect might have been. Some are also found burying their eggs under the ground.

The different species of stick insects act in various manners when it comes to laying and protecting their eggs. Stick insect eggs might take two months to a year to hatch depending on the different species.

Baby stick bugs look like tiny minuscule sticks with even thinner legs. Moreover, an adult female can lay eggs even without the presence of male stick insects when they are provided with a suitable environment and proper nourishment.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Do stick bugs bite? Amazing leaf insects explained for kids! Then why not take a look at Do fish have lungs? Complete respiration in fish explained or Bogle creature: curious facts on Scottish creature revealed for kids!