Breeding Set "Stick Insect", 3 pcs.

Golden-eyed stick insects (Peruphasma schultei) belong to the genus of ghost insects (phasmids). Due to their beautiful black colour, they are also called Black Beauty. Adding to their fascination is their contrasting colouration: their black velvety body, red upper lip, yellow eyes and yellow ringed antennae. Adult animals also have small bright red wings.

Stick insects are great for the classroom and for use in schools. Whether it's in primary school or any kind of secondary school – these fascinating insects are perfect for observation and are very easy to deal with. These stick insects do not bite or sting.

Development and reproduction:

• Stick insects hatch from small eggs that resemble flower seeds. When they hatch, they are called nymphs and are about 15 mm long. Stick insects undergo incomplete metamorphosis, which means they develop through several skin shedding phases from nymph to imago. There is no pupal stage.

• The animals mate when they become sexually mature, and within just 2-4 weeks the female lays eggs. After 4-5 months, the nymphs hatch from the eggs. They are still brownish at first, with greenish eyes and just a broad white ring at the tips of the antennae. After the first moult, their eyes glow yellow and their antennae show a yellow-ringed pattern. After the second moult, the red upper lip can be seen and after the third moult, males and females can be distinguished. However, the pretty red wings do not form until the final moult when the adult animal emerges.

Characteristics

• Males and females look very similar. However, the females are fatter, wider and, at 7 cm long, bigger than the males (5 cm). Stick insects live to be about 12 months old.
• Stick insects tend to move quickly, especially in the evening. During the day they like to hide between leaves.

Lifestyle
Their natural habitat is a small area in northern Peru. There they are mainly found on pepper trees, which have leaves that are the preferred food for these insects. If stick insects sense danger, they spread their wings, bend the end of their body upwards and flee quickly. They can also spray a defensive secretion to drive away their enemies.

Ideal environmental conditions

• Temperature: 18 °C to 28 °C, ideally 24 °C

Diet
Stick insects feed exclusively on plants. Suitable food includes leaves and twigs from privet (Ligustrum vulgare), lilac or forsythia. The evergreen privet is a common hedge plant and provides food even in winter.

If you spray the leaves with atomised water, you can see how the insects take in fluid via the droplets.

Note
If you put a container with water inside the net or the terrarium, you must cover the surface of the water. Stick insects cannot swim, and the nymphs are particularly prone to drowning in containers of water.

Since stick insects are not native to our region, they must not be released into the wild according to the German Law on Nature Conservation and Landscape Management (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz - BnatSchG, Chapter 5) and according to Regulation (EC) No. 338/97. Helpful information on this can be found in the instructions.

Education for sustainable development
Use the Hagemann stick insect breeding set to support education for sustainable development (ESD). Researching stick insects and their interesting behaviour helps children overcome any fear, aversion and prejudice towards insects and other creatures. Their initial anxiety about touching the insects often turns into amazement, appreciation and sometimes even enthusiasm. Children develop an interest in working to preserve and protect insects and their habitats.

• Golden-eyed stick insect (Peruphasma schultei)
• easily observable development (incomplete metamorphosis)
• easy to handle
• does not bite or sting
• can be integrated in lessons without significant additional work
• fascinating lesson content thanks to unusual insects
• taking responsibility for looking after the insects promotes social skills
• with suggestions for education for sustainable development (ESD)

Scope of delivery:

• 1 juvenile stick insect (nymph)
• approx. 10 eggs
• 1 panorama villa
• 1 pedagogical handbook with detailed instructions and worksheets