Cyclone Larry insects are named after the incident that involved a cyclone disaster in North Queensland. Cyclone Larry Insects are also called Phasmids.
Males: Usually males are smaller and have bigger wings but females are bigger and have smaller wings.
Females: Generally female stick insects live longer (twice as long) because they are bigger.
Stick insects live for 4 to 10 months as nymphs and then 5 to 12 months as an adult, depending on the species. Bigger species live longer than smaller species.
Cyclone stick insects are found mostly in regions of the rain forests. This map below is of Queensland which includes the three locations where our stick insects are commonly found in Australia.
Cyclone Larry insects eat eucalyptus leaves.
Small eucalyptus leaves are not suitable as they contain higher levels of oil which is harder for them to digest. We spray water on the leaves once a day, as they drink the droplets of water when they need to.
Our specific stick insects eat fresh eucalyptus leaves which have to be changed every 3-5 days.
Our insects shed their skin about 8-9 times before reaching adulthood. As soon as the insect starts to eat eucalyptus leaves they start to shed. We have to leave the stick insect uninterrupted beneath the leaves while it sheds. This process can take up 20 minutes for the shedding to be complete.
Here is a picture of our stick insect's exoskeleton within a week of their growth. They do this because the rigid outer skeleton skin can no longer support its growth between the molts.
Looking at the Cyclone Larry Insect's natural habitat is an important factor to touch on, as a group we are remaking a new home for them.
Some of the requirements for a habitat for the cyclone stick insect is:
Although our insects have not reproduced we think that this is necessary for their profile.
This is an important factor to consider in case our stick insects reproduce within the weeks we are taking care of them!
Our insects as well as most other insects are apart of a food web. Down below is a food web that presents the relationship of the stick insects and wildlife. As you can see, insects are known as primary consumers as they eat what are known as the producer, any plant or grass.