Stick bugs

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Superorder: Exopterygota
Order:Phasmatodea

Geographic Range: North America, Australia, Southeast Asia, and islands in the South Pacific

Habitat: Forests, parks, recreation sites; basically wherever there are oaks and hardwood trees.

Physical Description: These insects resemble sticks or leaves with their cylindrical bodies, which is their natural camouflage. They can range from 1 inch to 1 foot in length. Some have very narrow wings. They are usually green, brown, or yellow.

Reproduction: Reproduction usually occurs sexually, although some females do not need to mate in order to produce eggs - if eggs hatch that were not fertilized, all of those eggs will be female.

Cool facts: They are solitary and are infrequently encountered because of their secretive nature. When disturbed, they play dead and fall to blend in with their backgrounds.