Detailed information on Common Walkingstick (Diapheromera femorata)

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themikesmom

Concord, NC | September 2011 | Neutral

back in the 1980's my son found a large brown male walkingstick in upstate new york that was almost 11 inches long. we had a hard time finding a jar large enough for him to temporarily put it in. I can say that it had some very very aggressive movements and defense type mechanisms. They do not have stingers but the male has spines on the lower back end part of his body and if he can curl his abdomen up to grab you after he gets done making his rediculous defensive rocking type threatening jestures which the female also exhibits when scared although she can not stab you, or if you grab him to pick him up when hes feeling threatened or irratated with your hand, my son can atest that getting stabbed and pinched with these 'spines' is quite painful. So even though this is a fascinating appeari... read more

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shewhoplants

Tifton, GA (Zone 8b) | July 2010 | Positive

Such an interesting bug. I love watching them as they turn their heads when watching you. We don't see them as often as we once did,here in Tifton, Ga. I think the insectsides used in growing crops is why. It's sad. Even th lightening bug numbers have dropped.

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Capnover

Brandon, FL | June 2010 | Positive

I live in Brandon, FL. This morning I found a 3" long green walking stick on the screen door of our lanai. They are indeed a very strange looking critter, so I took several photos of it to add to my "collection". I will upload shortly the pick of the litter.

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luciee

Hanceville, AL (Zone 7a) | February 2010 | Positive

we love walking sticks. this summer I will get to teach my 5 yr. old grandson about them. I was under the impression that they were praying mantises and kept the bug population under control. I looked them up and while they are somewhat kin, they are not mantises. Mantises eat bugs and walking sticks eat herbs.

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csuziwin

Shreveport, LA | April 2009 | Negative

we could not figure out what was eating our azaleas. my husband went out at night with a flashlight, and lo and behold they were covered with 2 striped walking sticks. we killed them with an insecticide immediately, and the azaleas recovered. they had almost been completely stripped of leaves.

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hollys_hints

Hersey, MI (Zone 5a) | September 2008 | Positive

On Sept. 5, 2008 I was doing my daily walk thru my gardens to deadhead and get some flowers to bring in the house & as I was trimming spent blooms off my white Blue River Hibiscus - I saw something I have not ever seen in person (face to face)……..

…………..a real live walking stick!! What a fun surprise. They DOOOO exist and in northern Michigan, how about that.

Of course, I had to go in the house & get my camera - had to document this, you know. Thankfully it was still there when I got back to the Hibiscus. It did not seem to be in any hurry to go anywhere. With a little prodding, I was able to get it to pose for the camera.

It definitely looks like a walking stick. I googled ‘walking stick’ & Wikipedia states that there are 3,00... read more

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xaia

| February 2008 | Positive

I live in Ontario, Canada and I've seen this insect in some of the oak savannah's along the south of the province. They are extremely well adapted to an arboreal life, and their camouflage is completely outstanding. Pinery Provincial Park is where I first saw them. They are everywhere in the oak savannah's! Their diet consists of such plants as oak, black cherry, fragrant sumac, and in their instar stages red clover, and rose. I happened by a female Diapheromera femorata and brought her home and fixed a terrarium up for her. Housing stick insects is easy so long as they have vertical height to climb. Give them fresh sprigs of one of their food plants, and spray them daily. They will drink the water droplets off the glass and screen top. the female I had actually laid eggs that I'm anticipa... read more

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DiOhio

Corning, OH (Zone 6a) | February 2008 | Positive

Also known as Northern Walkingstick.
They eat foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs, especially oaks and hazelnuts.
Nymphs are green.
Adult males are brown and females are greenish-brown.
They are wingless.
They can regenerate lost legs.
Females drop eggs singly. Eggs overwinter among ground litter and hatch in spring, when nymphs push open domelike ends of the eggs. Nymphs crawl up woody vegetation at night to reach edible foliage.
Males are about 3" long and females 3 3/4" long.

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TxTurqoize

San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) | August 2006 | Positive

I find these creatures to be so fascinating! Here in Texas....they get very very large....the one that I photographed is, I believe a young one....I've seen adults much larger. :)

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foodog

Toms River, NJ | August 2006 | Neutral

I find these facinating insects in my yard every summer. I was curious as to what they eat and their behavior in general. They like to hang out on the outside walls of the house and on my car. I always gently remove them if I need to drive the car. Just curious. Thanks.

Best Regards,

Gloria

Common Walkingstick

Diapheromerafemorata

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