Friend or Foe?

Hi,
I have been told they call these funny looking creatures walking sticks.
Are they friend or foe?

I've always concidered then a friend.

Thanks Bubba,
Wonder if they bite?

Probably only harmful insects - not people.

There is a related insect - common name - Darning Needle - body is shaped a little differently - thicker and pointed on both ends. I have not seen one in years, but we had them in Kansas City.

I'e seen a few walking sticks in Houston and on our many kayaking trips in TX.

I think this is yours.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/71291
And more info:
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/fidls/walkingstick/walkingstick.htm

I wonder what the ring on the back end is for?

"The abdomen is tipped with two, small sickle-shaped cerci, which are used to sense the environment."
-http://www.wnrmag.com/stories/1999/aug99/stick.htm

rainy_jane's photo is that of a male.

The "ring on the back end" .. is used to clasp onto his mate, while breeding. Although the females don't necessarily have to breed to have babies.

A nice shot of the males 'pinchers' in-use, is here > http://bugguide.net/node/view/76743

I've seen some relatively large males .. and since the males are considerably smaller than their counter-part: my imagination kicks into overdrive .. to picture the immense size that the females can be!

- Magpye

Aha! I suspected same, but couldn't find the corroboration. And then to learn that they didn't necessarily need a male to produce fertile eggs....I have a picture I took of a mating in my files. Need to look at it closer!

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all your replies and sharing your links.
I was concerned that the ring on the back end was possibly used to cease something....but I was thinking more in line with my finger, tip of my nose or somewhere else that would be terribly painful. Happy to find out it's real purpose!

ceejaytown...I would love to see your photo if you would like to share it..

jane

This is a pair of Two-lined Walkingsticks, Anisomorpha buprestoides, also known as Musk-Mares or Devil Riders because of their habit of remaining in coitus for extremely long periods of time. The male is much smaller than the female. They don't bite but they can spray a noxious substance from their necks that is painful if it gets in your eye - can even temporarily blind a person. I didn't know this when I took the photo. Luckily, I didn't have a problem. BTW, their heads are towards the bottom of the photo, rear ends toward the top. LOL It took me some time to figure that out. BTW, she was about 4 1/2 inches long.

This message was edited Oct 12, 2006 11:22 AM