Macleay's Spectre Stick Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum) PSG 9 - Nymphs
Note: Nymphs will be L2-L3 and Juveniles L4-L5 depending on availability, feeding on bramble
Looking for the ultimate master of camouflage? The Macleay’s Spectre (Extatosoma tiaratum) is a world-renowned Australian species, prized for its impressively large size, leaf-like body, spiked legs, and fascinating "scorpion-like" defensive posture.
These "Prickly Stick Insects" are among the most robust and interactive phasmids in the hobby, making them an ideal choice for both children and serious collectors.
At EntoScapes, our Spectres are UK captive-bred and raised by biology graduates on a varied diet of bramble, eucalyptus, and oak to ensure they arrive healthy and ready for a long life.
Explore the sections below for our biology-led guide on their incredible sexual dimorphism, humidity requirements, and why these 'armoured' giants are the perfect centrepiece for a tall, arboreal display.
- 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.
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