Walking Stick Invasion
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Walking Sticks From Asia Are Invading California
According to the California Gardening Forum, Walking Sticks from Asia are invading California and devouring gardens along the coast from San Diego to San Francisco. The suspected source is a young lad who ordered the insects from Asia over the Internet as pets and then released them where they multiplied quickly to the point where they are now a garden pest that no one is sure how to eradicate. The Walking Stick in the above photos was captured in my daughter's garden in Berkeley.
According to Wikipedia there are several varieties of Walking Sticks. They range in length from one inch to more than a foot in length and are found in the United States, South America and elsewhere in the world where they damage trees, shrubs and gardens.
An article on Walking Sticks from the California Gardening Forum is linked below.
Walking Stick--Phasmatodea Wikipedia
- Phasmatodea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phasmids are herbivorous, feeding mostly on the leaves of trees and shrubs, and a conspicuous component of many neotropical (South American) systems. Phasmatodea has been postulated as a dominant light-gap herbivore there. Its role in the forest ecos
Walking Sticks--Help!!! They're Eating Us to Ruin!!!
- Walking Sticks - Help!!!! They\'re eating us to ruin!!! - California Gardening Forum - GardenWeb
What a nightmare here!! My neighbors and I are going wild. We have been invaded by Walking Sticks. They come from India and southeast Asia. They are of the order Phasmida (formerly grouped with Orthoptera [grasshoppers and crickets]).
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Thanks for your comment.
So, boil or burn the used substrate, LOL. I'll stick to native pets. :O Or at least non-invasive ones that die in our winters.
I agree. And no bears, anacondas, tigers or pit bulls.
Hehe. Maybe a tiger. They're so cute when gnawing their owners' heads off. :O
Ralph, oh my goodness, I shall stop complaining about greenflies and slugs eating my hostas! They look absolutely huge!
I never knew walking sticks were harmful - I've always loved them. When camping in the Baton Rouge, LA area several years ago, we came across a walking stick that was 10 inches long. Thanks for the info.
Wow, what a strange story, and I hadn't heard about it as of yet. Usually I would like some cool bugs in the garden, but not if they are destructive like you mentioned. I hope they find something to help the situation. Thanks for sharing the information, and the photos.
Thanks, all, for your comments.
Wow. Oddly these are the only bugs that do not freak me out! California has been invaded by so many alien species that nothing is normal any more.
As a child, I longed to see a walking stick. I am sad to discover some boy followed his dream and destroyed California trees in the process. I enjoyed the photos... until I read the story. Well, they remain stunning. Moving hub.
What great camouflage artists!
Great shots . . . better than the ones I took. They are in Florida, too.
Sorry about the fan mail. I am a professional artist. I hate quark. I am allergic to it.
I believe I've seen a few of these in Pennsylvania...and not recently. Some time ago. It's amazing what can happen when introducing a few invasive creatures into a new area.
you never let us down
so beautifully presented and a subject matter i am terrified of-loved it
voted up up and away!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Kimberly. I think they're harmless to people.
Great pics! Thanks, Nancy Ann
davenmidtown Level 7 Commenter 6 months ago
Ralph Deeds: I loved this article. I would only add, that most of the blame for this invasion is placed on the pet industry. The general walking sticks that are invading are from India. They are A sexual so when people keep walking sticks as pets, clean their cages and toss out the debris they are in fact releasing viable walking stick eggs into the surrounding environment. I would assume that praying mantids would help to eradicate the walking sticks... the two are cousins.