Diapheromera femorata

Table of Contents

Common Names: Northern Walkingstick, Common American Walkingstick

Scientific Classification


Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmida
Family: Diapheromeridae
Genus: Diapheromera
Species: Diapheromera femorata

Conservation Status

Not Evaluated [NE] | (IUCN 3.1)

Identifying Features

Northern walkingsticks are excellent at blending in to their surroundings, but quick to identify once spotted! They are 3-4" long and brown to green in color. Their legs and body are long and slender, and look like a small twig or stick. They have long antennae and are wingless.

Habitat & Range

Northern walkingsticks live in forests on trees and shrubs in the Eastern and Midwestern United States. They can be found Southeastern Canada.

Behavior

These insects feed on fluids from plants and leaves.

Life Cycle

Northern walkingsticks have three life stages, starting as an egg, hatching into a nymph, and molting until they are adults. Young are green in color, and turn brown when they are adults.

Featured image by James Dake

Acanthocephala terminalis