Don't look now but there's something in your hair
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (339577)
Rockingham, Australia
January 22, 2017 8:11am CST
Have you seen stick insects? There are around 200 species in Australia and 3000 worldwide. The order name is Phasmatodea and the insects vary in their appearance. Some look more like leaves but the one here in a friend's hair looks very much like a dried stick. In the USA and Canada they are sometimes known as stick bugs or walking sticks.
They are naturally camouflaged but some also have spines or secrete toxins when threatened. Others have ways of startling their predators by sudden displays of bright colours and/or loud noises. Stick insects are sometimes kept as pets. However I think a kitten might be more fun.
43 people like this
44 responses
@moffittjc (121548)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jan 17
I came across a stick bug yesterday when I was geo-caching with my son! I was playing with it for a few minutes before I let him wonder off back onto the tree where I found him
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121548)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jan 17
@JudyEv Haha that's funny! Maybe he was geo-caching!
3 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Jan 17
I think a kitten would be more fun too... I get them on my screens in the summer, they look exactly like the one in the photo.
3 people like this
@MALUSE (69373)
• Germany
22 Jan 17
@JudyEv @PaintsOnSlate You mean they are sitting on the screens of your computers while you're writing?
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
22 Jan 17
@MALUSE ha ha ha ha...our window screens
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136099)
• India
23 Jan 17
Since they camouflage it is possible they are there in my garden but I have not spotted them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339577)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 17
@katsmeow1213 @besweet I know many people don't like insects. It's good we're all different. :)
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
23 Jan 17
@JudyEv My daughter's worse, she literally screams her head off when she sees a bug!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339577)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 17
@katsmeow1213 That's a bit of a shame.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
22 Jan 17
We have them - saw a lot of them last summer.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
25 Jan 17
Did your friend have a hilarious reaction when you told her she had "company"? LOL!
Yes, I have seen lots of Walking Sticks, Judy. Some of them here can get quite large!
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137257)
• United States
25 Jan 17
@JudyEv Yeah, since you didn't say there was a fun reaction to it in your discussion starter, I was fairly sure she knew it was there... *sigh!* SMH! (shake my head!)
I can imagine her having a screaming fit, though, right? (grinning and teasing you!)
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339577)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 17
@DaddyEvil I get the feeling you'd like there to be a screaming fit. 
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Jan 17
Insects usually creep me out, and that one would definitely do the trick!
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
23 Jan 17
@JudyEv - No, not really. At least it's not a spider, though.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180461)
• United States
23 Jan 17
There are indeed walking sticks in the US, but I haven't seen one for years!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (339577)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 17
You'll probably come across several now. That's usually what happens. :)
@JudyEv (339577)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Jan 17
I don't think they are very entertaining as pets. :)
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
23 Jan 17
I never seen one, I never want to see one in my hair...yuk
2 people like this
