Red-winged stick insect
Phaenopharos khaoyaiensis

It was first described as late as 2000. The red-winged stick insect can be found in Thailand. It has tiny vibrant red wings, which it only spreads when roused. This species consists only of females and gynandromorphs. Females grow up to 15 cm in length, whereas the young are only about 2 cm long after hatching. Gynandromorphic specimens are infertile. They have green legs, big yellow compound eyes and are only up to 11 cm long. They have extremely long antennae: up to half the body length. They’re active at dusk and during the night, whereas in the daytime they remain motionless, in catalepsy. The imago stage can last as long as 6–7 months for females; they moult a total of 6 times in their lifetime. Their favourite foods are sprouts and leaves of raspberries and blackberries. Adult specimens like to chew on terrarium ornaments.

Giant spiny stick insect
Eurycantha calcarata

They inhabit humid mountainous tropical rainforests, riversides and lower forest parts. Females reach 12–16 cm in length, males: 10–14 cm, weighing up to 25 g. They resemble their Indonesian cousins to a deceiving extent. During the day, they usually remain hidden. They have thorns on the femur and tibia, which are much larger in males. Thorny devils are active from dusk until early dawn. When well cared for, females can live up to a year in captivity – slightly longer than males can. The best food to feed them are shoots and leaves of blackberries and raspberries. They typically reproduce sexually, although females are capable of parthenogenesis in the case males are missing. A terrarium for these insects should be large, owing to the territorialism of the males.

Sungaya
Sungaya inexpectata

Females of this species were described in 1996, whereas males were first discovered in 2008. They have become very popular as pets. This species is capable of reproduction by parthenogenesis. Females reach 8 cm in length; males – 4 to 5 cm. At the end of the abdomen, female specimens have an ovipositor, which is used to lay eggs in the soil. Many colour variations of this species exist in nature, apart from the most common one: spotted (brown and white), found on forest terrain; black-and-brown close to the sea; as well as yellow-and-green between these two locations. Females can change their colouring depending on the amount of light and humidity. In captivity, they eat mainly blackberry, raspberry and oak leaves.

Spiny leaf insect
Extatosoma tiaratum Macleay, 1826

An insect from the order of Phasmatodea (stick insects) that originates in Australia. Its lifespan is dependent on the living conditions. It is very popular as a pet. Juvenile specimens, called nymphs, moult numerous times, thus growing in size, until they reach the imago (mature) phase. Male specimens have a shorter lifespan than female ones, which in captive conditions can lead to reproduction problems, owing to the necessity of an “alignment” of imago phases in both specimens for procreation to take place. Females are easy to recognise thanks to the V-shaped pattern on the back, behind the front legs. Stick insects are mimics, which means that they strongly resemble their surroundings; dry sticks or leaves in this case. In their natural environment spiny leaf insects feed on eucalyptus leaves, while in captivity they should be fed leaves of the following plants: blackberries, raspberries, ivy, oak, rose, black locust, or even spiderwort as a last resort. It is important that the terrarium be of the right size so as to avoid problems with moulting; its height should be such as the length of at least 2–3 insects.

Body length:
male: up to 10 cm
female: up to 16 cm

Body weight: up to 25 g