Northern Walkingstick

Photo of walkingsticks during outbreak
Scientific Name
Diapheromera femorata
Family
Diapheromeridae, in the order Phasmida (sometimes Phasmatodea) (walkingsticks)
Description

The northern walkingstick is Missouri's most common species of walkingstick. It is very slender, and the antennae are two-thirds the total body length. Males are brown; females are greenish brown and larger. The pincerlike circi at the tip of the abdomen are not segmented. Immatures are green.

Like other stick insects, the northern walkingstick eats leaves. It is perfectly camouflaged for a life in trees and shrubs. Walkingsticks not only look like twigs but also sway their bodies to mimic the motion of branches in a breeze. This species prefers the foliage of oaks and hazelnut. With Missouri’s many oak-hickory forests, it is no surprise it is common here.

Learn more about this and other walkingsticks on their group page.

Other Common Names
Common Walkingstick
Walking Stick
Size

Adult length (not counting antennae or other appendages): 3 inches (males) to 3¾ inches (females)

Media Gallery
Photo of walkingsticks during outbreak
Because they eat tree leaves, any occasional peaks in walkingstick populations can defoliate trees. Unless this happens repeatedly, the trees usually recover with no problems.
Jim Rathert
1/4
Photo of a northern walkingstick on autumn dogwood leaves
Walkingsticks are long, slender insects that are perfectly camouflaged to look like brown or green twigs. Most species are tropical, but some types are found in Missouri.
Jim Rathert
2/4
Photo of mating walkingsticks on tree trunk
Walkingsticks mate in late summer and autumn. As with many insects, female walkingsticks are larger than males.
Jim Rathert
3/4
Photo of a walkingstick on a tree trunk
Walkingsticks are long, slender insects that are perfectly camouflaged to look like brown or green twigs. They chew tree leaves. In Missouri, they “stick” mostly to deciduous trees such as oaks, hazelnut, locusts, walnut, and cherry.
Jim Rathert
4/4
Photo of walkingsticks during outbreak
Photo of a northern walkingstick on autumn dogwood leaves
Photo of mating walkingsticks on tree trunk
Photo of a walkingstick on a tree trunk
Similar Species
About Land Invertebrates in Missouri
Invertebrates are animals without backbones, including earthworms, slugs, snails, and arthropods. Arthropods—invertebrates with “jointed legs” — are a group of invertebrates that includes crayfish, shrimp, millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, and insects. There may be as many as 10 million species of insects alive on earth today, and they probably constitute more than 90 percent all animal species.