Subject: Bug on mangrove
Location: Big Pine Key, Florida
April 21, 2013 3:50 pm
This bug was found eating the leaves of some sprouts of mangrove that we rooted in a dish. We are 30 miles above Key West, Fl
Signature: John Asbell

Walkingstick

Dear John,
This is some species of Walkingstick or Phasmid.  They have excellent camouflage when feeding upon plants.  We will try to determine which species this is, but considering your location, it might be a tropical import.

Walkingstick

Thanks. I look forward to any other information such as whether it is toxic, bites, poisonous etc.
John Asbell

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Subject: Is it a Timema?
Location: Manhattan Beach, ca
January 26, 2013 8:13 pm
I am referred to this site by Theodore Payne Foundation. I found this bug on my garage, steps away from Ceanothus and Manzanita bushes that have been growing in my front yard for 12 years. The bug is 4 1/2” long. I googled and found that perhaps it is a Timema (they do like Ceanothus). I have never seen anything like it before. I thought perhaps it was a walking stick but its body looked more like a non-slimey slug; not rigid like a stick. In the second picture I was trying to get its legs, which appeared to be long & strait and I think there were 2 in both front and back. Thanks for anything you might be able to do.
Signature: Monla

Walkingstick

Hi Monla,
How nice to hear of the Theodore Payne Foundation recommendation.  This appears to be one of the Stick Insects in the order Phasmida, but there are not enough characteristics visible for us to speculate on a more specific identification due to its tightly retracted position.  It might be in the genus Pseudosermyle, which is pictured on BugGuide.  It is not a Timema.

Oh wow, thank you so much and I might add what a quick response!

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Subject: Stick insect in Thailand
Location: Koh Lipe, Thailand
January 20, 2013 10:46 am
Hello! Thank you so much for answering my last request about the palmking butterfly and the katydid so quickly. I have another one for you guys! Here’s a stick insect found in Thailand.
Signature: spl0uf

Stick Insect

Dear spl0uf,
Thanks for providing this photo of a Stick Insect or Phasmid from Thailand, though we haven’t much confidence that we will be able to identify the species.  We are posting your photo nonetheless.

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Subject: Stick insect species.
Location: Royalla, NSW Australia
January 12, 2013 6:26 am
Hi, Bug Man!
We found a stick insect clinging to the bricks on a friend’s pattio.
It was a ridiculous 36 degrees and windy.
We’re from Australia, in Royalla NSW.
Just interested to know what species it is. I have more photos – He/She is pinky/green along her/his body, leafy green wings, red legs and kind of a squarish back.
We’ve named him/her ”Pete”.
Signature: Hannah

Children’s Stick Insect, we believe

Dear Hannah,
Your photos are not the best quality, but they definitely show the size and shape of this Stick Insect, which we believe most closely resembles the Children’s Stick Insect, Tropidoderus childrenii, which can be viewed on the Brisbane Insect website.  The photos we have located online all show green legs and your individual definitely has red legs.  The Oz Animals website provides this information:  “Children’s Stick Insect is a medium sized stick insect. Females are larger and bulkier than males, and usually green, but can also be pinkish or cream. The wings are yellowish with bright patches of yellow and blue at the base. Males are slender and light reddish brown. Both males and both the males and females have two pairs of wings. Males are strong fliers, but females are too bulky to fly well. They rely on camouflage to avoid predators. When threatened, Children’s Stick Insect will spread its wings showing the yellow and blue markings. Nymphs have a yellow stripe running along the length of the body. When at rest, the nymphs will align themselves on the leaf so yellow stripe aligns with the leaf midvein.”  We believe Pete is a male.

Probably Children’s Stick Insect

Children’s Stick Insect, we believe.

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Subject: Need help with Bug Identification
Location: Lake County, Florida
December 19, 2012 5:14 pm
Saw this impressive 6-8” 6 legged, primarily black bug with symmetrical yellow markings (wingless)sunning itself on our home in Central Florida. Do you know what it is?
Signature: Sandie Selman

Muskmare

Hi Sandie,
This is a Southern Two Striped Walkingstick or Muskmare, Anisomorpha buprestoides, and you should exercise caution and avoid handling them.  According to BugGuide:  “Members of this genus can deliver a chemical spray to the eyes that can cause corneal damage.”

Wow.  Thanks.  I’ll try to keep the dog & husband away too.
Sandie

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Subject: What on earth is this thing!?
Location: East Coast, USA
December 2, 2012 9:38 pm
I saw this on the east coast, USA, in a parking lot- What on earth is this!? I have video of it walking too.
Signature: MetalJay

Walkingstick

Dear MetalJay,
This is a Walkingstick or Stick Insect and they are easily overlooked when they are on plants as they are excellently camouflaged.

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Subject: Pink Stickbug???
Location: Idyllwild, CA
October 19, 2012 6:40 pm
Hi, I live in Idyllwild, CA and I found a red/pink stickbug in my garden. Could you please identify it?
Signature: Josh

Western Short-Horned Walkingstick

Dear Josh,
The very short antennae are distinctive on the Western Short-Horned Walkingstick, Pseudosermyle straminea.  They are fond of buckwheat.

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