# Stick Insect! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114 "2007-09-05T13:29:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/1 "2007-09-05T13:29:52Z")
**The Stick Insect** Had a fun encounter this weekend with an insect I’ve only seen in my life a couple of times before - not because they are rare, but because they are so hard to see. My 20 month old son Carl actually spotted the stick insect first - I knew he’d found something, because he was giggling. The notion of a stick that “came alive” fascinated him, so I caught the insect for his amusement: [![](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01248.jpg) ](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01248.jpg) [![](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01247.jpg) ](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01247.jpg) Here’s a closeup: [![](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01259.jpg) ](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01259.jpg) And here it is in its natural habitat: [![](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01261.jpg) ](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01261.jpg) An amazing creature. Any budding entomologists wanna tell me what species this is? It was found just north of lake Simcoe in southern Ontario … ---
**Author:** ![Boggette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@Boggette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boggette)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/2 "2007-09-05T14:38:50Z")
We have them all over the place at our house. They can be found in the trees, on the house, wherever. I think they’re one of the coolest bugs around. We’ve always refered to them as “walking sticks” and here’s a link that refers to them as Phasmatodea… [Phasmatodea - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasmatodea) Hope this helps! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/3 "2007-09-05T15:21:46Z")
[QUOTE=Boggette] We have them all over the place at our house. They can be found in the trees, on the house, wherever. I think they’re one of the coolest bugs around. We’ve always refered to them as “walking sticks” and here’s a link that refers to them as Phasmatodea… [Phasmatodea - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasmatodea) Hope this helps! [/QUOTE] Thanks! I’ve heard them called “walking sticks” too, though here I think the popular name “stick insect” is slightly more common. They aren’t as common as all that up here (or at least, I’ve only rarely seen them …) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/4 "2007-09-05T15:30:36Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve heard them called “walking sticks” too, though here I think the popular name “stick insect” is slightly more common. These days, they prefer to be known as “insects of stickness.” ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/5 "2007-09-05T15:32:56Z")
I haven’t seen a walking stick in years and years. I saw them regularly in my youth. (of course, I no longer go out and play in the woods like I used to.) Pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/6 "2007-09-05T15:35:59Z")
[QUOTE=cmkeller] These days, they prefer to be known as “insects of stickness.” [/QUOTE] 😃 “I’m _more_ than just my resemblance to a twig!” ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/7 "2007-09-05T15:37:29Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] I haven’t seen a walking stick in years and years. I saw them regularly in my youth. (of course, I no longer go out and play in the woods like I used to.) Pretty cool. [/QUOTE] I wonder if younger eyes are just better at spotting 'em. My 20 month old found this one, I’ve not seen one in years - since I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/8 "2007-09-05T15:54:03Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] I haven’t seen a walking stick in years and years. I saw them regularly in my youth. (of course, I no longer go out and play in the woods like I used to.) Pretty cool. [/QUOTE] That was my first thought, verbatim, when reading the OP. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/9 "2007-09-05T17:06:29Z")
You should see them when they’re fully grown “log insects.” Nothing like sitting on a dead log and having it rise up and walk off on 4’ legs. Usually have snipes hiding under them, too. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/10 "2007-09-05T18:19:54Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] Any budding entomologists wanna tell me what species this is? It was found just north of lake Simcoe in southern Ontario … [/QUOTE] Diapheromera femorata, the Northern Walking Stick. I think it’s the only one that makes it into Canada. [http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/D-femorata.html](http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/D-femorata.html) ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/11 "2007-09-05T19:05:01Z")
[QUOTE=Tamerlane] Diapheromera femorata, the Northern Walking Stick. I think it’s the only one that makes it into Canada. [http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/D-femorata.html](http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/D-femorata.html) [/QUOTE] Thanks! I can now say “my toddler found a full-grown _Diapheromera femorata_ when out in the woods.” 😉 I agree with the site that its cameoflage is damn near perfect! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/12 "2007-09-05T21:35:11Z")
Watch it. According to\*\* Pan’s Labyrinth\*\*, they’re actually fairies… ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/13 "2007-09-05T21:51:18Z")
I’m reminded of a snarky thing Mrs. Fawlty said to Basil once on _Fawlty Towers_. She called him “sort of an aging brilliantine stick insect.” I’ve never seen John Cleese since without thinking of this fitting description. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/14 "2007-09-05T22:24:26Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] Watch it. According to\*\* Pan’s Labyrinth\*\*, they’re actually fairies… [/QUOTE] My Grandma told me that lightening bugs were fairies - and if I were good enough they would come to me and grant me a wish. I was never quite good enough… ---
**Author:** ![CateAyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@CateAyo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CateAyo)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/15 "2007-09-06T15:59:04Z")
Malthus, Maybe they ARE faeries and only become visible when you and Carl wear matching shirts! CA ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/16 "2007-09-06T16:14:35Z")
Bug schmug - I’m charmed to bits by his little hand resting on your wrist. Sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/17 "2007-09-06T18:28:35Z")
[QUOTE=CateAyo] Malthus, Maybe they ARE faeries and only become visible when you and Carl wear matching shirts! CA [/QUOTE] I was wondering when someone would notice that. 😃 Believe it or not, that was unplanned. Carl’s shirt was a purchase that day by Carl’s grandma, before she saw what I was wearing. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/18 "2007-09-06T18:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=fessie] Bug schmug - I’m charmed to bits by his little hand resting on your wrist. Sweet. [/QUOTE] Carl’s a cutie at this age. Everything he does, aside from throwing a tantrum, is super-cute. Even the tantrum is sort of cute. 😉 Here he is, playing with a hose and covered in sunscreen. Who could resist that smile? 😃 [![](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01191.jpg) ](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Dsc01191.jpg) And here he is, investigating a different bug - a monarch butterfly caterpiller. So seriously! [![](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Carl.jpg) ](https://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/malthusmalthus/baby/Carl.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/19 "2007-09-06T18:47:24Z")
Sorry I thought this was another thread about Keira Knightly ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stick-insect/418114/20 "2007-09-06T21:20:22Z")
If you want to know all about stick insects, but aren’t bothered by the facts or anything, go [here](http://www.brookview.karoo.net/Stick_Insects/).