Walking sticks are a favorite food of many animals but perhaps their most effective predators are bats.
What s a walking stick.
There are more than 3 000 species of walking stick bugs all over the world and in diverse climates so it s not surprising that not all walking stick bugs look alike.
The phasmatodea also known as phasmida phasmatoptera or spectra are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects stick bugs walking sticks or bug sticks they are generally referred to as phasmatodeans phasmids or ghost insects phasmids in the family phylliidae are called leaf insects leaf bugs walking leaves or bug leaves.
Most bats hunt by echolocation rather than sight so they aren t fooled by the insect s sticklike appearance.
Walkingstick order phasmida or phasmatodea also called stick insect any of about 3 000 species of slow moving insects that are green or brown in colour and bear a resemblance to twigs as a protective device some species also have sharp spines an offensive odour or the ability to force their blood which contains toxic distasteful chemicals through special joints in the exoskeleton.
Walking stick bugs from the phasmida family look like sticks with legs and antennae or twigs attached to a small branch.
All walking sticks are herbivores.
They may also include a built in camera mount under the handle so the staff can be used as a monopod.
Walking sticks come in many shapes and sizes and some have become collector s items people with disabilities may use some kinds of walking sticks as a crutch.
Sometimes called a walking staff or travel staff this is a single pole that s most effective when used on relatively flat terrain and with little or no load on your back.