Southern Two-Striped Stickbug

Anisomorpha buprestoides “Ocala”

Mixed nymphs: $15/each
Starter colony (12 mixed nymphs): $100

Detailed Species Stats -Click-

Adult Size: 50-100 mm.
Care Level: Easy.
Temperature Requirements: 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Air Humidity: Not picky.
Substrate Humidity: Not picky.
Favorite Foods: Bramble, oak, honeysuckle, privet.
Locality: Ocala, Florida, United States.

This a sizable, durable, native stickbug species for the budding phasmatodoculturalist (try saying that ten times fast!). Two-striped stickbugs are one of the easiest two work with, as they accept a wide range of common host plants, tolerate dryness with ease, and aren’t physically fragile. The one trade-off is a propensity to spray an eye-irritating liquid at would-be attackers, however I find this secretion quite pleasant smelling and captive reared stock does not seem to possess the same potency as wild-caught individuals. Behavior is an odd mix of “typical” stickbugs and cockroaches; at times many individuals will be about the enclosure on food branches and decor, while occasionally they will form a pile of bodies underneath bark or in the corners. The “Ocala” variant is arguably one of the coolest stickbugs and is sometimes called the “skeleton walkingstick”. This variety is found only around Ocala national forest in Florida, and this particular strain is from a secret spot for the best, highest-contrasting black and white individuals as brown/orange striped individuals are also present in some of the micropopulations.