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Phasmatodea

Common name:

Stick insects or leaf insects

Distribution:

Every continent except Antarctica

Habitat:

On trees in woodlands and tropical forests, mostly in temperate and tropical regions

Diet:

Leaves of trees and shrubs

Number of species globally

3000

Number of species in Hong Kong :

18

Morphology
(how to recognize them) :

-Long, cylindrical body like stick or leaf
-Leg segments long and slender
-Wings often reduced or absent
-Prothorax shorter than meso- or metathorax

Diagram

Did you know ?

Stick insects may sway back and forth to more closely resemble a twig moving in the wind. Although called walking sticks, they can walk very fast like running sticks!

Gallery

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