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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Walkingsticks (Phasmida) » Diapheromeridae » Megaphasma » Giant Walkingstick (Megaphasma denticrus)
Photo#85370
Mite this guy be the Giant Walking Stick? - Megaphasma denticrus - male
Copyright © 2006 DigiFaktor

Mite this guy be the Giant Walking Stick? - Megaphasma denticrus - Male
Newton County, Arkansas, USA
August 6, 2006
Size: 4 inches (head-tail)
I believe this large stick insect to be the Giant Walking Stick (Megaphasma denticrus). Have never noticed any other specimen or species anywhere near as large. One can only assume he may have been tailing a female, but have never spotted another prior to this one, nor since. I was amazed at the size of this guy, and so I am left to using my imagination in picturing the size of an equivalent aged female!
Some confirmation and/or correction would be most greatly appreciated.

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Mite this guy be the Giant Walking Stick? - Megaphasma denticrus - male Mite this guy be the Giant Walking Stick? - Megaphasma denticrus - male
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Contributed by DigiFaktor on 30 October, 2006 - 3:27pm
Last updated 30 October, 2006 - 5:37pm

Yes.
Your identification is correct. Spectacular colors!
… Eric R. Eaton, 30 October, 2006 - 5:31pm login or register to post comments

 
Appreciate the confirmation, Eric
Now, the ID is 'official'.
Will be hoping like the dickens, to one day spot a female.
((thanks so much))
… DigiFaktor, 31 October, 2006 - 11:05am login or register to post comments

 
Big walking stick
Hey! When I still lived in southern Missouri, (Ozark County)I saw a walking stick that was bigger than the one shown above, by three or four inches and it's body was as green as grass and as big around as my index finger and was really quick when it moved. Also it was coming down the trunk of a black walnut tree head first. When I got within six feet or so it must have seen me because it started moving back and forth in place then, when I came closer for a look it actually crawled toward me down the tree. When I went around behind the tree it stayed where it was until it saw me on the other side and then came over to that side of the tree. When I got about two feet away it held on with it's rear legs on the tree and reached out with the others like it was going to jump. I backed up and it r-a-n down the tree and followed me as I went to get a large branch to let it walk on. I put it in the brush on the other side of the yard so it would not get stepped on or attacked by one of our cats. Still it was the biggest walking stick I have ever seen. Could you tell me 1) if agressive behavior is normal and 2) was it male or female?
… dowens, 3 December, 2009 - 12:06am login or register to post comments

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