Mantids and Walkingsticks

Northern Walkingstick Diapheromera femorata

Description

Male 3" (75 mm), female 3 3/4" (95 mm). Very elongated, wingless. Male brown, female greenish brown. Antennae 2/3 length of body. Cerci, with 1 segment, often resemble palps at tip of abdomen.

Food Foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs, especially oaks and hazelnuts. Life Cycle Female drops eggs singly. Eggs overwinter among ground litter and hatch in spring, when nymphs push open domelike ends of the eggs. Nymphs crawl up woody vegetation at night to reach edible foliage.

Habitat

Deciduous woods and forests.

Range

Atlantic Coast to northern Florida, west to New Mexico, north to Alberta.

Discussion

The Northern Walkingstick's resemblance to slender twigs camouflages it from predatory birds during the day. When many females are dropping eggs, the sound is like the pitter-patter of light rain.