Stick insects are masters of camouflage and defense. They imitate branches, spray blinding chemicals, give off unpleasant odors, have spikes, change colors and even fake their own death. But despite all these defenses they are high susceptible to predators, and it is for this reason that they rarely build up enough critical mass to be form a plague.
However, they have had their moments, and in’63 a plague of stick insects descended on 650 square miles of forest in Southern Australia and stripped it bare. There have also been similar cases in the Pacific where coconut plantations have proved to be rich breeding grounds.
The rarity of a stick insect plague requires two main conditions: an absence of forest fires and a consistent climate. The steady climate supports the growth of the vegetation that stick insects feed on, and the lack of forest fires also allows this plant growth. Furthermore, a lack of forest fires allows stick insects populations to increase without the threat of mother nature.
If you have a pet stick insect you must be careful not to allow it to escape into the wild. The introduction of species into habitats where they do not naturally occur can cause an imbalance in the ecosystem. This type of imbalance could lead to a population surge and a plague.
Thus whilst stick insects face do have many predators (rats, birds, mammals, wasps etc.) they do sometimes breed and gather in sufficient numbers to form a plague. They can be devastating creatures. It’s an interesting thing to consider when you are next delicately handling your pet stick – unleashed in the wild as a plague theses can be creatures of mass destruction.
Learn more about exotic pets. Stop by this site where you can find out all about stick insects and more!
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