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Spiny leaf (Extatosoma Tiaratum) insects belong to the group called phasmids. Phasmids are insects that eat leaves and resemble leaves or sticks.
Feeding
We need to give them fresh eucalyptus leaves (broad leaf varieties) every 2-3 days, they can be placed in a vase of water in their enclosure. If fed rose bush or wattle tree leaves they will become a bright green. However, if you feed them eucalyptus they generally turn a shade of brown.
Daily Care
Spiny leaf insects come from a humid habitat. Leaves in the enclosure need to be sprayed with fresh water each morning and afternoon.
The sand substrate needs to be sifted each week to remove all waste.
Handling (Be Gentle)
Spiny leaf insects are delicate. They are easy to handle, though ripping them roughly off leaves or your hands may result in legs falling off. We must let them gently walk from one hand to the other.
What interesting fact can you find about Spiny Leaf Insects?
Do some research and find an interesting fact and then type it in the comments.
Entries (RSS)
November 24th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
To take care of your spiny leaf insect, give them fresh eucalyptus leaves every 2-3 days, which you can leave in a vase of water in their tank or cage. It is best for the insects to have a vertical (rather than horizontal) aquarium to live in. And just spray the leaves with water about twice a day.
If you’ve got spiny leaf insect eggs to look after, put some river sand in a container and lay the eggs gently on top. Then you spray them with water every 2-3 days.
Local species of spiny leaf insects can be found in rose bushes and also in wattle. If you feed them rose bush or wattle tree leaves they will become a bright green. However, if you feed them eucalyptus they generally turn a shade of brown.
Spiny leaf insects and stick insects are phasmids. Phasmids are generally insects that eat leaves and resemble leaves or sticks.
They are also known as Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect.
Males can fly (have wings), females can’t.
The female insects can lay eggs without the help of a male. This biological miracle is called parthenogenesis and means that all the phasmids born will be female.
Females live to about 18 months old, males to only 6-8months.
Females can lay thousands of eggs in their lifetime.
The eggs have a knob, which attracts ants. The ants carry the eggs to their underground nests, eat only the knob and leave the rest of the egg in the nest, protected from other animals that may eat it.
The young look like small species of ants with tiny curly bits on their tails.
Eggs can take up to 2 years to hatch.
Longest Australian phasmid is the Titan Stick Insect which can grow to 25cm long
150 species of phasmids are found in Australia
When disturbed, a phasmid may sway, imitating a dead leaf or stick swaying in the breeze.
A baby spiny leaf insect is called a nymph.
The Lord Howe Island Phasmid or Land Lobster may be the rarest insect in the world (according to the Australian Museum). They were re-discovered on the island in 2001 after presumably being extinct (due to rats) for 80 years
The adult female spiny leaf insect which can reach over 30cm and are bright green with yellow stripes.
Spiny Leaf Insects also called the Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect make really fantastic and unusual pets. They’re very low maintenance, feeding only on eucalyptus leaves and producing hardly any mess. Plus they seem to fascinate everybody.
Spiny Leaf Insects are very low maintenance pets. As long as they have the right leaves to feed on, enough water, a vertical cage to so they can climb up, and sunlight they are happy. They feed on gum leaves, though once they’re adult they tend to feed only on the type of leaf they were fed on when young, so it’s important to start them feeding on a type of gum leaf you know you will have abundant access too!
These large insects are part of the order Phasmatodea – leaf and stick insects. Spiny Leaf Insects are found living in the tops of Eucalyptus trees on Australia’s east coast. They eat gum leaves.
The females lay small, hard eggs which fall to the ground. When the young emerge, they resemble ants. They instinctively move up the nearest tree and begin feeding. After they moult (shed their skin) for the first time, they start to look like miniature adults.
The one in the picture is a female. Males are smaller and more slender and have fully-developed wings.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Spiny Leaf Insects
One interesting Australian phasmid is the Spiny Leaf Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum), also called Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect. The females of this species have very large bodies but very short wings and are unable to fly. The males are long and slim with fully developed wings. Spiny Leaf Insects are popular pets in Australia and also overseas.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Spiny leaf insects and stick insects are phasmids. Phasmids are generally insects that eat leaves and resemble leaves or sticks.
They are also known as Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect.
Males can fly (have wings), females can’t.
The female insects can lay eggs without the help of a male. This biological miracle is called parthenogenesis and means that all the phasmids born will be female.
Females live to about 18 months old, males to only 6-8months.
Females can lay thousands of eggs in their lifetime.
The eggs have a knob, which attracts ants. The ants carry the eggs to their underground nests, eat only the knob and leave the rest of the egg in the nest, protected from other animals that may eat it.
The young look like small species of ants with tiny curly bits on their tails.
Eggs can take up to 2 years to hatch.
Longest Australian phasmid is the Titan Stick Insect which can grow to 25cm long
150 species of phasmids are found in Australia
When disturbed, a phasmid may sway, imitating a dead leaf or stick swaying in the breeze.
A baby spiny leaf insect is called a nymph.
The Lord Howe Island Phasmid or Land Lobster may be the rarest insect in the world (according to the Australian Museum). They were re-discovered on the island in 2001 after presumably being extinct (due to rats) for 80 years
The adult female spiny leaf insect which can reach over 30cm and are bright green with yellow stripes.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
These large insects are part of the order Phasmatodea – leaf and stick insects. Spiny Leaf Insects are found living in the tops of Eucalyptus trees on Australia’s east coast. They eat gum leaves.
The females lay small, hard eggs which fall to the ground. When the young emerge, they resemble ants. They instinctively move up the nearest tree and begin feeding. After they moult (shed their skin) for the first time, they start to look like miniature adults.
The one in the picture is a female. Males are smaller and more slender and have fully-developed wings. This female is part of a small colony which has been living in search & discover for several years. The Spiny Leaf Insects are very popular with visitors and are becoming increasingly popular pets.
November 24th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Spiny Leaf Insects
Habitat and Distribution
About 150 species of phasmids are found in Australia. They usually live in gum trees but are sometimes found in gardens on rose bushes or fruit trees. However because of their excellent camouflage, they are often overlooked. When disturbed, a phasmid may sway, imitating a dead leaf or stick swaying in the breeze. During summer many people have found stick and leaf insects in the laundry, clinging to windows, and drowned in swimming pools. The attractive green and pink Podacanthus typhon is one species that is often found.
Appearance
Marked variations in body features and colours occur in many species of phasmid. Horns, spines and lobes on the abdomen or the legs, may be more or less developed, or completely absent, in the same population. Some species have green and non-green forms. Many of these features may also vary geographically, together with overall size, relative wing length, and the colour of the hind wings, if present.
Reproduction
Many female phasmids do not need to mate in order to produce fertile eggs. This form of reproduction is called parthenogenesis and all the eggs produced will hatch into females. If the females do mate with a male before producing eggs, the nymphs (babies) may be male or female.
Spiny Leaf Insects
One interesting Australian phasmid is the Spiny Leaf Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum), also called Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect. The females of this species have very large bodies but very short wings and are unable to fly. The males are long and slim with fully developed wings. Spiny Leaf Insects are popular pets in Australia and also overseas.
Feeding
Stick insects require fresh, broad-leafed eucalyptus or wattle branches and leaves. Cockroaches love dried eucalyptus leaves. What the stick insects don’t eat, you can give to the cockies. Giant Burrowing Cockroaches also have a taste for carrot. Provide thin slices for variety.
Routine care
Spray Stick Insects up to 2-5 times daily, more during the warmer months. It is important that humidity be maintained at around 60-80% within their enclosure. Temperature should be maintained at 25-32°C. It’s best to eliminate the guess work with a thermometer and hydrometer.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Spiny Leaf Insects
Lots of people have cats and birds but not many have a spiny leaf insect. Plus they are really easy to look after!
To take care of your spiny leaf insect, give them fresh eucalyptus leaves every 2-3 days, which you can leave in a vase of water in their tank or cage. It is best for the insects to have a vertical (rather than horizontal) aquarium to live in. And just spray the leaves with water about twice a day.
If you’ve got spiny leaf insect eggs to look after, put some river sand in a container and lay the eggs gently on top. Then you spray them with water every 2-3 days.
Local species of spiny leaf insects can be found in rose bushes and also in wattle. If you feed them rose bush or wattle tree leaves they will become a bright green. However, if you feed them eucalyptus they generally turn a shade of brown.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I love Spiny Leaf Insects. Here is one more fact!
they’re cool!:)
November 24th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Facts about spiny Leaf Insects
Spiny Leaf Insects also called the Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect make really fantastic and unusual pets. They’re very low maintenance, feeding only on eucalyptus leaves and producing hardly any mess. Plus they seem to fascinate everybody.
Spiny Leaf Insects are very low maintenance pets. As long as they have the right leaves to feed on, enough water, a vertical cage to so they can climb up, and sunlight they are happy. They feed on gum leaves, though once they’re adult they tend to feed only on the type of leaf they were fed on when young, so it’s important to start them feeding on a type of gum leaf you know you will have abundant access too
November 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Habitat and Distribution
About 150 species of phasmids are found in Australia. They usually live in gum trees but are sometimes found in gardens on rose bushes or fruit trees. However because of their excellent camouflage, they are often overlooked. When disturbed, a phasmid may sway, imitating a dead leaf or stick swaying in the breeze. During summer many people have found stick and leaf insects in the laundry, clinging to windows, and drowned in swimming pools. The attractive green and pink Podacanthus typhon is one species that is often found.
Most species of phasmids are quite rare but a few such as Podacanthus wilkinsoni can occasionally occur in plague numbers, causing extensive damage to eucalypt forests. In the 1960s, a series of devastating outbreaks occurred in mountain forests of Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Other species that can reach high densities include Didymuria violescens, and Ctenomorphodes tessulatus.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
The eggs can take up to 2 years to hatch.
They are also known as Macleay’s Spectre Stick Insect.
Males can fly (have wings), females can’t.
The adult female spiny leaf insect which can reach over 30cm and are bright green with yellow stripes
November 24th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Daily Care
Spiny leaf insects come from a humid habitat. Leaves in the enclosure need to be sprayed with fresh water each morning and afternoon.
The sand substrate needs to be sifted each week to remove all waste.
November 24th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Quality not Quantity
November 24th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
got it mr rees
Quality not Quantity
November 24th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Breeding-female stick and spiny leaf insect can produce eggs that will hatch,even if a male is not present.If you have a female and and would like to have young you will need to look for the eggs before cleaning the cage.The eggs of the spiny leaf insect are oval in shape and can be distinguished easily from the insect’s droppings.The droppings are quite large,black cyliners that crumble when dry,while the eggs are hard,ovval and shiny,with a mottled appearance.The adult female spiny leaf insect which can reach over 30cm and bight green with yollow stripes.A baby spiny leaf insect is called a nymph.Females live to about 18 months old,males to only 68 months.Eggs can take up to 2 years to hatch.
November 24th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I put a comment in today at 4.30pm and now it is gone. Do you Know where it is? Please find it.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Spiny leaf insets
Thwir leaf-like appearrance & still posture make them very difficult to spot amongst trees.
Female constantly lay eggs, each egg is flicked and may travel several meters to increas distribution.
eggs are hard & look like seeds,for protection & comouflage.
November 24th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Spiny leaf insects!!!!
Spiny leaf insects also called the Macleay’s spectre stick insect make really fantastic and unusual pets.
The spiny leaf insects is bizzare in its appearance but is actually very dolice and completly harmless.
they are also very delicate. They can be handled but dropping can be fatefal and ripping them roughly of leaes may result in legs falling off!!!!!
November 24th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
To take care of your spiny leaf insect, give them fresh eucalyptus leaves every 2-3 days, which you can leave in a vase of water in their tank or cage. It is best for the insects to have a vertical aquarium to live in. And just spray the leaves with water about twice a day.Spiny leaf insects and stick insects are phasmids. Phasmids are generally insects that eat leaves and resemble leaves or sticks.
Spiny leaf insects and stick insects are phasmids. Phasmids are generally insects that eat leaves and resemble leaves or sticks.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:34 am
Spiny Leaf Insect
You can tell if they are a male or a female because the female have all little spikes on their backs but males don’t, They have a smooth back and can fly a short distans.
They both have wings but the female cann’t fly!!!!!!!!! :0
November 25th, 2008 at 6:40 am
Spiny Leaf Insects look very much like leaves. It is very hard to see them in the wild. They hide in the leaves of the trees they live in. They have a head, abdomen and thorax like other insect and they have six legs. The abdomen and thorax are very long. The arms, legs and main body parts have spiky spines coming from them. Spiny Leaf Insects can be very large. They can grow up to 25 centimetres in length. Most are about 10 to14 centimetres long. They can be brown or green. The food they eat can even change their body colour! The female spiny leaf insect is larger than the male. The female has a very large body, small wings and cannot fly. The male Spiny Leaf insect has larger wings and is able to fly.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Adaptation to environment
• Their leaf-like appearance & still posture
make them very difficult to spot amongst
trees
• Females constantly lay eggs, each egg is
flicked & may travel several metres to
increase distribution
• Eggs are hard & look like seeds, for
protection & camouflage.
Main characteristics of Stick insects and Leaf insects
Phasmids are medium to very large (30-300mm) insects. Stick insects are usually very thin and elongated. In contrast Leaf insects are often very flat and wide, thus more closely resembling leaves rather than sticks. Many species are wingless but, when wings are present, the fore wings are shortened and hardened. The hind wings are membranous. The legs are often very thin and can be held almost flat against the body of the insect.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Breeding
With luck, the females will begin laying eggs a few weeks after becoming adult. Each female will lay about 40 eggs at the rate of one or two per day.
The image above shows a Leaf Insect egg with ruler for scale (each division is 1 millimetre).
Place the eggs on moist silver sand in a plastic or perspex box with a tightly fitting lid. Keep the box at about 20-25°C. When the eggs hatch place the young onto fresh bramble which has had the edges cut to stimulate eating. This is the most crucial time in rearing these insects. With care, most species of leaf insects can be bred successfully.
November 25th, 2008 at 6:51 am
These large insects are part of the order Phasmatodea – leaf and stick insects. Spiny Leaf Insects are found living in the tops of Eucalyptus trees on Australia’s east coast. They eat gum leaves.
The females lay small, hard eggs which fall to the ground. When the young emerge, they resemble ants. They instinctively move up the nearest tree and begin feeding. After they moult (shed their skin) for the first time, they start to look like miniature adults.
The one in the picture is a female. Males are smaller and more slender and have fully-developed wings. This female is part of a small colony which has been living in search & discover for several years. The Spiny Leaf Insects are very popular with visitors and are becoming increasingly popular pets.
If you visit search & discover, remember to look for the Spiny Leaf Insects at the front information desk.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:15 am
This ROCKS
November 25th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Mr Rees if you have any Spiny Leaf Insect eggs to look after, put some river sand in a container and lay the eggs gently on top. Then you spray them with water every 2-3 days.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Hi, I’m wondering how to successfully rear the young hatchlings, I have had many hatch but no survivors and I can’t seem to find anything about the best ways to get them through the first few weeks of their life, hopefully someone has some answers.