Macleay's Spectre Stick Insect UK (Extatosoma tiaratum) PSG 9 - Nymph & Juvenile

• Origins: Native to the tropical and subtropical rainforests and sclerophyll forests of Eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales). In the wild, they are perfectly evolved to blend into the dry eucalyptus leaves and mossy bark of the Australian bush.

 

• Appearance: This species is sexually dimorphic, with females being larger, stockier, and have spines covering the body with vestigial wings. Males in comparison are slender and smaller, with spines only on the head, and three ocelli. They also have long wings which they use to fly away from threats or to find a female, but they are not very graceful or fast.

 

• Masters of Mimicry: Their bodies are covered in flattened, leaf-like expansions (especially on the legs) and small spines. This "foliage mimicry" allows them to disappear completely among dried eucalyptus or bramble leaves to evade predators like birds and lizards.

 

• The "Scorpion" Posture: When threatened, they curl their abdomens over their backs in a behavior called reflex bleeding or startling. While they look intimidatingly like a scorpion, they have no sting and are completely docile to handle.

 

• Eggs: Adult females will lay multiple eggs with or without a male, but parthenogenetic eggs will always hatch a female nymph. We often hear our females flicking their eggs against their enclosure, or sometimes at us during a clean!

 

• Nymph Appearance: Freshly hatched nymphs are black / dark brown with a red head, which mimics the ant genus Leptomyrmex and makes them appear toxic! L1 nymphs are super speedy but slow down after a few moults and start to gain their classic appearance.

 

• Avoiding Accidental Injury: Large females are relatively heavy and their legs are strong. If your fingers get caught in their legs when they are walking then the spines can accidentally puncture skin, so be very patient and let them walk onto your hand when handling to avoid injuring yourself and the stick insect.

• Adult size: females 15-20cm, males 11-12cm
• Lifespan: approx. 18 months females, 6-8 months males
• Status: captive bred
• Place of Origin: New South Wales and Eastern Queensland, Australia
• Parthenogenetic: yes
• Temperature: 20-24˚C
• Humidity: 60-65%
• Diet: bramble, raspberry, hazel, oak, eucalyptus (not store bought!)

 

Special Requirements: prefer well ventilated, ‘airy’ conditions on the drier side. Only need a light spraying once a week max. Nymphs will benefit from higher humidity range for molting.

The EntoScapes Way

 

• We like to keep our Macleays around 22˚C and humidity ranges between 55-65%, but these will do just fine at average room temperature so long as the humidity is kept in the higher ranges which aids the molting process.

 

• Enclosure size should be at least 3 times the length of the body of the insect in height, and at least 2x the length of the insect in width. If housing different species together, use the largest individual as a guide. We house multiple individuals together successfully in a 90cm x 60cm enclosure, but 4 individuals will live together just fine in a 60cm x 40cm enclosure. 

 

•  We use a wire mesh enclosure, as we find the mesh provides excellent cross-ventilation whilst maintaining humidity and provides extra surface area for the stick insects to utilise. As these invertebrates are arboreal, its important to try and replicate these conditions in captivity. Alternatively, a tall glass or plastic enclosure can be used if it has adequate cross ventilation and surface grip. We add a variety of hardwood branches as décor and to provide a more natural, enriching habitat.

 

• We like to line the floor of the enclosure with some paper towels which catch the faeces and absorb excess moisture, reducing the chances of mould. PLEASE AVOID USING SUBSTRATE AND CLEAN UP CREW. The light colouration of the tissue also helps with spotting eggs and differentiating them from droppings.

 

• Once a week we replace the tissue and separate out eggs from poo. It is important to mention that we ONLY collect as many eggs as we can care for, the remainder are frozen for 72+ hours to prevent hatching. Eggs can be incubated in moist sphagnum moss or vermiculite at 20-22˚C and can take between 4-9 months to hatch.

 

• We like to gather our own foodplants for our stick insects from local parks and forests which we know are safe and have minimal or no pesticide use. We suggest picking branches with leaves that are away from the main path, higher than ground level, and are healthy and free from signs of fungal infections and disease. Generally, if the leaves are green, intact and have other little critters living on them, then you are good to go!  Avoid super new growth as these leaves are high in sugar and some species will not eat them.

 

• We cut the branches at a length that is 10cm or so less than the height of the enclosure which ensures there is a suitable gap at the top for stick insects to moult if the choose to do it there. The branches are soaked in water for 15-20 minutes to remove any surface debris and hitchhikers. The end of the branches are placed in a jar of fresh water to keep the cuttings fresher for longer. We push some paper towel into the top of the jar to close off the opening which prevents any smaller stick insects from drowning, but you can use sponges or alternatively non-spill paint pots. Once a week we replace the branches with fresh ones, but this can vary for different hobbyists. You will want to change the branches once they have gone limp and start to look dry. Stick insects will only eat live leaves, so its important to keep on top of food changes. 

• More in depth info on shipping and returns can be found on the shipping and T&Cs, and FAQ page

 

• Our shipping rates are determined by the total weight of your cart at checkout.

 

 

The shipping bands are:

 

• 0-1kg - £4.99

• 1-2kg - £5.99

• 2-10kg - £7.99

• 10kg+ - £9.99

 

• Live orders and dry goods will be posted every TUESDAY. We will contact you if anything changes due to bad weather or delays. 

 

• LIVE ORDERS- sent with Royal Mail Tracked 24 and usually arrive next day after dispatch 

 

• DRY GOODS & ENCLOSURES- sent with Royal Mail Tracked 48 and usually arrive 2 working days after dispatch. We will contact you regarding a dispatch day for enclosure orders.