# Indian Stick Insect (*Carausius morosus*)

> The Indian stick insect (Carausius morosus) is a master of twig camouflage native to southern India and famous worldwide as a classroom and pet insect. Wingless females reproduce largely by parthenogenesis, eat shrub leaves such as bramble, live about a year, and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Insect
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Southern India; widely cultured worldwide as an educational insect.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/stick-insect/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Phasmatodea
- **Family:** Lonchodidae
- **Genus:** Carausius

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Carausius morosus |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Habitat | Shrubs and laboratory cultures |
| Lifespan | Around 1 years in the wild (varies by population and captivity). |
| Weight | About 0.003 kg typical adult mass (sex and region vary). |
| Top speed | Up to roughly 1 km/h when moving at speed. |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Twig mimicry perfected

Elongated body, twig-coloured cuticle, and slow rocking motions enhance camouflage. When threatened they may freeze or feign death. Captive cultures are almost entirely female.

## Leaf-eating herbivore

Diet is leaves of various shrubs and lab food plants such as bramble, ivy, or privet in culture. They chew quietly at night. Across its range it is tied to shrubs and laboratory cultures, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Southern India — global classrooms

Wild origin in southern India; now cultured on every continent for education because of easy parthenogenetic breeding. Across its range it is tied to shrubs and laboratory cultures, and field accounts emphasise this species’ distinctive ecology rather than generic habitat labels.

## Common in captivity

Wild status is Least Concern. Escapees rarely establish harmful invasions in cool climates; in warm regions responsible disposal of eggs matters.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do Indian stick insects need males to breed?

Females can produce fertile eggs by parthenogenesis, so colonies thrive without males.

### How do stick insects avoid predators?

Camouflage as twigs, freezing behaviour, and sometimes autotomy of limbs.

### What should pet stick insects eat?

Fresh leaves of suitable plants such as bramble or privet — species-specific lists vary.

### How long do Indian stick insects live?

Roughly up to a year under good conditions. Native range summary: Southern India; widely cultured worldwide as an educational insect.

### Where are Indian stick insects native?

Southern India; cultures are now global. Native range summary: Southern India; widely cultured worldwide as an educational insect.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/stick-insect/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.