Walk Softly And Be A Big Stick

Following on the steps of the red katydid outbreak is a walking stick invasion.

They belong to the Phasmatodea order of insects. There are four families in North America and many species in Texas. They are also known as stick insects and stick bugs. They are herbivores, so their increased numbers are not to take on the red katydids. I think that for both the red katydids and the walking sticks, weather conditions were favorable for them earlier this year and now their populations have boomed.

They excel at camouflage are are quite difficult to see unless, like these two, they're on our driveway or house.

This one is on our driveway and it's displaying a defense posture because I annoyed it. It's curling its abdomen and trying to look like a scorpion. I don't think it can actually sting, but I didn't take any chances. It's funny that it doesn't know that all I want is a photograph so it's not taking any chances either!

Like all insects, it has six legs, but only four are obvious. It's holding its front two legs together and ahead. I think this is to make it appear big and scare me off. As far as it knows - it worked!

This one is resting on a post on our front porch. They will sometimes stay in the same place for hours; longer than I'm willing to track them, anyway. It's also holding its forelegs in front.

These specimens are both about 6 inches long but you sometimes see smaller ones.

Mike Quinn, a local entomologist, has an excellent web page with more information here.