Japanese Stick Insect

Japanese Stick Insect key facts

Care level

Beginner-friendly

Lifespan

Adult females 4-6 months / adult males 3-4 months

Size

Males 57-62mm (only a few records), females 74-100mm

Diet

The leaves of broadleaf trees such as cherry, konara oak and evergreen oak

Temperature & Humidity

No published figures for rearing temperature or humidity could be found for this species, so none are given. It occurs widely from the lowlands to low hills of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, so indoors it can be kept at temperatures that follow the Japanese seasons. Mist the enclosure so the insect can drink droplets from the leaves.

Breeding & Egg-laying

It reproduces by parthenogenesis, so a single female can carry a line forward. Females drop eggs to the ground with the ovipositor or a movement of the abdomen, or else place them in leaf axils, bury them in soil, or glue them to stems and leaves; a female may lay between 100 and 1,200 eggs. The eggs are covered by a hard shell and resemble plant seeds, hatching in anything from thirteen days to more than seventy, on average twenty to thirty. Temperate species pass the winter dormant and hatch in spring.

Cohabitation

It is placid, and several of the same species can share an enclosure. Being touched during a moult, however, easily spoils it, so give the container height and plenty of footholds. The legs can be shed; a nymph regrows one at each moult, but a limb lost in the final instar or as an adult does not return.

Lifespan & Rearing Period

No lifespan published specifically for this species could be found, but the Japanese Wikipedia records that most stick insects mature in a few months through five or six moults and live from a few months to at most three years. Temperate species overwinter as eggs.

Health & Notes

It is easily confused with Phraortes elongatus, so check the length of the antennae. It is native to Japan and is on neither the invasive alien species list nor the CITES appendices, but it should never be released outside the area it came from. The eggs look like plant seeds, so check the substrate for them before discarding it.

About Japanese Stick Insect

Japan's best-known stick insect, found from Honshu to Kyushu. Females reproduce via parthenogenesis and are told apart from a similar species by their shorter antennae. Beginner-friendly to keep.

7 things to know before welcoming a Japanese Stick Insect

1. 1Setting Up the Enclosure

   Keep them in a well-ventilated enclosure with branches and foliage to climb on. Mist regularly so it doesn't dry out too much. They don't need a lot of floor space since they move very little, but some height is important to allow room for molting.

2. 2Food and Host Leaves

   In the wild they feed on the leaves of a variety of plants. In captivity, keep a steady supply of fresh leaves and replace wilted ones promptly to keep them healthy.

3. 3Reproducing Without Males

   Males are extremely rare, so this species typically continues its generations through parthenogenesis, with females laying eggs on their own. This means keepers don't need to worry about pairing males and females.

4. 4Telling It Apart from a Look-Alike

   It closely resembles the twig stick insect, but can be told apart by its shorter antennae. It's easy to confuse the two by appearance alone, so this is a useful point to remember.

5. 5Watching Over Molts

   They go through several molts as they grow. Around each molt they may become sluggish or change color slightly, so it's best to leave them undisturbed and simply watch.

6. 6Sensitive to Disturbance

   They are calm and slow-moving, but if startled they may freeze up or shed a leg in self-defense. Observe them in a quiet setting and avoid unnecessary vibration or handling.

7. 7Preparing Before You Bring One Home

   Before bringing one home, prepare a well-ventilated enclosure and make sure you can keep a steady supply of fresh host-plant leaves. It's worth checking in advance that you can regularly gather suitable leaves nearby.

Frequently asked questions about Japanese Stick Insect

Q.Are there no males of this species?

A.Males are found only very rarely, and this species typically reproduces through parthenogenesis, with females laying eggs on their own. There's no need to keep a pair, as a single female can potentially reproduce.

Q.How can I tell it apart from a twig stick insect?

A.They look very similar, but can be distinguished by antenna length. If you're unsure when choosing one, check how short the antennae are.

Q.Can beginners keep this species?

A.Yes, this species is considered beginner-friendly. As long as you can supply host-plant leaves and maintain reasonable humidity, it's an easy species to start with.

Q.How large do they grow?

A.Adult females typically reach about 74-100mm in length. Males are extremely rare, with recorded sizes of around 57-62mm, but only a handful of specimens have ever been found.

Q.What should I watch for during molting?

A.They are especially vulnerable just before and after molting, so avoid shaking the enclosure or handling them. Providing several sturdy branches gives them secure footholds to molt from.

Useful tools for Japanese Stick Insect care

Learn more about Japanese Stick Insect in the encyclopedia

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