Differences Between Male/Female Australian Stick Bug

I have raised the Australian Stick Bug (Extatosoma tiaratum) for seven years now. The females are massive, and do not need a male to reproduce. In securing fresh stock I got some Australian ova from England, and in that stock received two males. Males are rare in the USA, and I have been fortunate enough to get two of them. First is a picture of the female:

And here is the picture of the male:


Cheers!

Nick Barta

So if you start getting some male offspring will you be selling them in the future? I really like the one I got from you my son has taking it to school kids think it's the coolest thing ever. Even had one of his teachers borrow it for a class on insects.

Very cool. Thanks for posting the photo of the male. Definitely don't see them very often!

At what size were you able to differentiate the males from the females?

Chris

Jonr78 said:

So if you start getting some male offspring will you be selling them in the future? I really like the one I got from you my son has taking it to school kids think it's the coolest thing ever. Even had one of his teachers borrow it for a class on insects.

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I was surprised to find 2, they are with my females now, but it will be months before any start hatching. Once I get enough, I will sell the males.

CHEERS!

Nick

Chris Anderson said:

Very cool. Thanks for posting the photo of the male. Definitely don't see them very often!

At what size were you able to differentiate the males from the females?

Chris

Click to expand...

Chris,

At the time these hatched out I had several hundred at all stages of growth. I didn't spot them until we were doing the weekend food replacement, and I thought a wasp got in the cage! He was probably 5th molt or so.

CHEERS!

Nick

Hey Nick ,
Very cool looking male, do they have wings? The kids and I like playing with the females we got from you , they throw a lot of eggs as adults ! Congratulations on the rare males! Bugs are 1/2 the fun of this hobby.
Dave