Many animals try to blend in with their surroundings so that enemies will not notice them. Walkingsticks—also known as stick insects—do this by looking like the twigs of a plant. The insects are greenish to brownish in color, making them look like the plants on which they feed. Their bodies are long and thin. Although walkingsticks have wings, they do not fly. Instead, they walk with a rocking motion that makes them look like a stick being blown in the wind. There are about 2,000 species, or kinds, of walkingsticks. They belong to the scientific family Phasmatidae. Walkingsticks range in size from 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) to more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) in length. Tropical species are the largest and most numerous. Walkingsticks are commonly eaten by lizards and birds. Some species have sharp spines or give off a bad smell to help keep enemies away. If a walkingstick loses legs or antennae to an enemy, it can grow new ones. Female walkingsticks scatter their eggs on the ground. The eggs of some walkingsticks look like seeds. This helps keep the eggs from being discovered. The eggs hatch within several months. The lifespan of a walkingstick is usually less than a year. |