Phasmatodea (Stick & Leaf Insects)

The Phasmatodea is the order that comprise of stick and leaf insects since their members resemble vegetation and are commonly referred to as phasmids. Their camouflage helps them to elude predators, although many species do have secondary lines of defense in the form of startle displays, spines or toxic secretions.

Phasmids are found on all continents except Antarctica, but they are most abundant in the tropics and subtropics. Phasmids are herbivorous, with many species living in the tree canopy although many species do feed on feeding on shrubs. Phasmids have also been found to be light gap herbivores in climax forest, suggesting that they play an important role in maintaining succession and resilience light gaps by consuming foliage in successional plants. This help to keep the successional plant populations in check, and prevents they from overgrowing and smothering climax vegetation, while also enriching the soil through their defecation.

Phasmids undergo incomplete metamorphosis in their life cycle, with nymphs looking like wingless adults. Many phasmids are also parthenogenic, meaning they do not require fertilized eggs for female offspring to be produced. In the tropics, reproduction occurs year-round, while in temperate regions, the females lay eggs in the autumn before dying, and the new generation hatches in the spring.