What is going on with these Australian walking stick insects??

laurenkane · Jul 23, 2014

Hi there!

Ok, so I bought these fellas when they were the size of large fire ants - tiny! (Forgive me, I do not know much about growth patterns of these guys). This was in April. They have now ballooned in size and they were identical until about 4 weeks ago.

This is the one that has not changed in shape or color:

This is the one that is confusing the daylights out of us:

What's going on here?? I was told that these are asexual and will reproduce on their own so this can't be a sex difference, can it?
Any help appreciated!
Thanks

ecooper · Jul 23, 2014

These insects can reproduce sexually or, in the absence of a male, via parthenogenesis: where the egg develops without fertilization. The second photo is of a mature male. Consider yourself lucky!

EC

CitizenNumber9 · Jul 23, 2014

WOW!!! Those are terrific!!!

laurenkane · Jul 23, 2014

ecooper said:
These insects can reproduce sexually or, in the absence of a male, via parthenogenesis: where the egg develops without fertilization. The second photo is of a mature male. Consider yourself lucky!

EC

Oh, awesome! Thank you!

sr20det510 · Jul 24, 2014

You have a male and female. The male is not as common, but needed in order for the female to produce both males and females. Without the male your female will only produce females.

Has she started producing eggs for you?

Smokehound714 · Jul 24, 2014

Lol omg the males look so hilariously derped out. Hahaha!

klawfran3 · Jul 24, 2014

I don't mean to be a dan the downer, but it says you're in SoCal, which means these guys are VERY illegal.
isn't it a felony?

Smokehound714 · Jul 25, 2014

klawfran3 said:
I don't mean to be a dan the downer, but it says you're in SoCal, which means these guys are VERY illegal.
isn't it a felony?

I dont think it's a felony, but it's probably a federal misdemeanor, which is MUCH worse than a state/county misdemeanor.

Only native stick insects are legal to possess.

laurenkane · Jul 25, 2014

Maybe I WISH I lived in Socal. Got them at a local pet show where they were selling tons!

bugmankeith · Aug 1, 2014

The male has wings, does he fly? Don't these come in green too?

The Snark · Aug 1, 2014

bugmankeith said:
The male has wings, does he fly? Don't these come in green too?

So here we gots critter exotica maxima decked out with it's best Thursday 'paint the town purple' party attire and in you cruise asking what other colors it comes in.
:

:

Cooper · Aug 2, 2014

The males do fly! You are lucky to have one! They can reproduce through parthenogenesis, but the hatch rate will be many times higher with a male in the crowd. Loved my time working with these, enjoy

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What is going on with these Australian walking stick insects??

laurenkane

Arachnosquire

ecooper

Arachnoknight

CitizenNumber9

Arachnobaron

laurenkane

Arachnosquire

sr20det510

Arachnoknight

Smokehound714

Arachnoking

klawfran3

Arachnolord

Smokehound714

Arachnoking

laurenkane

Arachnosquire

bugmankeith

Arachnoking

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods

Cooper

Arachnoangel