Species Diapheromera femorata - Northern Walking Stick

Classification · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

mating - Diapheromera femorata - male - female

Northern Walkingstick? - Diapheromera femorata - male

Appledore walking-stick - Diapheromera femorata

Diapheromera femorata - Northern Walking Stick - Diapheromera femorata - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Phasmatodea (Walkingsticks)

Family Heteronemiidae (Common Walkingsticks)

Genus Diapheromera

Species femorata (Northern Walking Stick)

Size

Body only: male 75mm (3in.), female 95mm (3 3/4in.)

Identification

Very elongated, wingless. Male brown, female greenish brown. Antennae 2/3 length of body.

Cerci with one segment, often resembling palps at the tip of the abdomen.

Range

Atlantic coast to northern Florida, west to New Mexico, north to Alberta

Habitat

Deciduous woods and forests

Food

Foliage of deciduous trees and shrubs, especially oaks and hazelnuts.

Life Cycle

Females drop eggs singly on to the forest floor. Eggs overwinter in leaf litter hatch in the spring. Nymphs become adults during the summer and fall.

Remarks

This species is native to the US and Canada. It is the most common species of Phasmid in North America.

When very numerous, they can severely defoliate trees.

Print References

Milne, page 446 (1)

Internet References

http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/natural/insects/projects/stickins.htm

http://www.uvm.edu/extension/publications/el/el249.htm

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/northern_walkingstick.htm

http://www.forestpests.org/southern/walkingstick.html

Works Cited

1.	National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders By Lorus and Margery Milne

Contributed by Chris Wirth on 16 October, 2005 - 4:00pm
Last updated 20 October, 2005 - 3:57pm

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