About Walking Stick Bugs

Walking stick bugs are nocturnal insects and the adults feed mainly on the leaves of shrubs and trees. Though their feeding activities don’t cause major damages to plants, when left unchecked for years, they can cause serious plant damage.  Unlike other foraging insects, walking stick bugs are opportunistic feeders. Each species of walking stick bug has a preferred choice of food. When they find such food, they are still around that food source their entire life. For example, the giant walking stick bug of Texas feeds only on grapevines and oaks. Despite their incredible ability to blend in with their natural environment and remain hidden, they are easy targets for birds, rodents, and praying mantises.  Walking stick bugs have an interesting life cycle. These insects lay their eggs at the beginning of winter but later die when the months are getting colder. As the weather warms up, the eggs begin to hatch and the young nymphs begin to climb trees in search of food. After a few weeks, the nymph becomes mature and begins to look for a mate. One of the exceptional features of female walking stick bugs is their ability to lay eggs even if they are unable to find mates. They often lay their eggs in litters around their preferred food choice.