A small, agile brown stick insect with pink-tinged wings that allow short fluttering glides. It is parthenogenetic and very easy to keep, making it a favorite for beginners and classrooms.
ℹ️
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Slender; females about 3-3.5 in (7.5-9 cm) with short pink-flushed wings.
Lifespan
1 years
Social needs
group
Native region
Madagascar and Southeast Asia
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Lonchodidae
Genus
Sipyloidea
Part of the Stick & Leaf Insects
Phasmids (order Phasmatodea) kept as gentle, low-cost display insects prized for their twig- and leaf-mimicking camouflage. Most are herbivorous, non-venomous, and harmless to handle, feeding on bramble and other foliage, though many non-native species are regulated (a USDA PPQ 526 permit is required for many in the US) and must never be released outdoors.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Tall mesh enclosure
12 × 12 × 18 in (≥ 3× body length tall)
Sipyloidea sipylus is medium-sized (~8 cm) and flighty as adults — secure mesh enclosure required. Height at least three times body length with bramble or oak stems for perching and feeding.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Planted mesh terrarium
16 × 12 × 24 in, mesh sides
A larger mesh terrarium with fresh bramble/rose/oak in water tubes, daily misting, and a litter floor. Low-density groups co-exist; clip wings is not appropriate — secure the enclosure instead.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Planted bioactive display
24 × 18 × 30 in, planted, mesh top
A tall planted display with live host plants, varied climbing branches, and a bioactive floor. Shows off the species' pink flight wings when startled.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Insects begin as eggs, laid singly or in clusters on or near a food source. Egg size, shape, and incubation time vary widely; some are glued to surfaces, others inserted into plant tissue or soil.
Photo coming soon
Larva / Nymph
The immature stage either looks grub- or caterpillar-like and very different from the adult (a larva, in beetles, flies, and butterflies) or like a wingless miniature adult (a nymph, in roaches, mantises, and stick insects). It eats and molts repeatedly as it grows.
Photo coming soon
Pupa
In insects with complete metamorphosis, the larva pupates — often in a cocoon, chrysalis, or sealed cell — and its body is reorganized into the adult form. Nymph-developing insects skip a true pupa and molt straight to the adult.
Adult
The adult is the sexually mature, usually winged stage with the species' full coloration and form. Adults are typically the dispersing and reproducing stage, and in many insects do not grow further once mature.
Habitat & enclosure
House in a ventilated mesh or glass enclosure at least 30 cm tall to allow safe vertical molting (a 30x30x45 cm terrarium holds a small colony). Keep at 68-78F (20-26C) with humidity around 60-70%, maintained by light daily misting. This species can flutter and glide, so a secure, escape-proof lid and fine mesh are important. No UVB or special lighting is required; a normal day/night cycle suffices. Provide twigs and foliage for climbing and molting.
Substrate
A thin layer of coco fiber, soil, or paper towel kept lightly moist works well; it buffers humidity and collects the small, seed-like eggs the female flicks around the enclosure. Eggs can be gathered off the substrate floor for incubation. Spot-clean frass and replace substrate periodically.
Equipment & setup
A tall, fine-mesh or screen-topped enclosure (to contain a flighty insect), a hand mister, and a spill-proof container for cut foliage are the essentials. No heat mat is needed at room temperature. No UVB or special lighting required. A small hygrometer is a useful optional extra.
Diet
An herbivore feeding readily on bramble (blackberry/raspberry), rose, eucalyptus, hawthorn, and oak. Bramble is the reliable year-round staple. Stand cut foliage in a plugged water container and refresh before it wilts. Hatchlings need soft young leaves. Mist leaves so insects can drink the droplets; they will not use a standing water dish.
Behavior & temperament
A nocturnal, mostly placid insect, though more active and quicker than many stick insects and capable of short flights when startled. It is non-venomous and harmless, but if threatened it can release a faint defensive scent from glands behind the head; this is mild and not dangerous. Handle gently and over a safe surface, as a startled insect may flutter off or drop legs. Sociable and best kept in groups.
Health
Hardy and prolific. Watch for molting failures linked to insufficient height or low humidity, and for mold or mites from poor airflow or stale food. Adults live only a couple of months after maturing. Lost limbs in nymphs partly regenerate at later molts. Keep ventilation high and remove frass and wilted leaves promptly to avoid fungal problems.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Being parthenogenetic, lone females produce fertile female offspring, so populations build quickly; rehome surplus responsibly and never release insects or eggs into the wild, as non-native phasmids can become invasive and are regulated (a USDA PPQ 526 permit is required to keep many in the US). Mist in the evening to match nocturnal activity, and keep the lid secure because this winged species can glide out of an open enclosure.
