Home Animals Phasmatodea and Mantodea Fact Files

Stick insects and praying mantids - Phasmatodea and Mantodea

Stick insects and praying mantids were once treated as orthopterans (with grasshoppers, locusts, crickets and katydids) but are now in their own orders - Phasmatodea and Mantodea respectively.

These insects are best known for their remarkable camouflage throughout various stages of their life cycle. Many adults resemble sticks, twigs or leaves, their eggs could be mistaken for seeds, and juveniles often mimic ants.

There are about 300 species of stick insects and praying mantids in Australia, and many of these are found in the tropics. Sydney has a diverse representation of species from these groups, including the longest insect in Australia, the Giant Stick Insect (Acrophylla titan), which may reach 25 cm in length.

Features of stick insects and praying mantids:

• They are usually solitary animals.
• They are usually green or brown, resembling sticks, twigs or leaves.
• Females are usually larger than males.
• Stick insects are herbivores.
• Praying mantids are carnivores with powerful chewing mouthparts.
• Praying mantids have a triangle-shaped head.

See also within this site:
Overview of insects

Other Links:

• Australian Museum fact sheet: Phasmids