Black beauty stick insect
Peruphasma schultei
The black beauty stick insect is characterized by its strong, velvety black body, yellow eyes, yellow-curled antennae and red hind wings. The rudimentary, leathery cover wings (tegmina), which are raised when threatened or during courtship, are striking. Although they have wings, the animals are unable to fly. In case of danger, they can spray an irritating secretion that briefly irritates the eyes and nose. A remarkable behavior is the long-lasting mating, in which the female carries the male on her back for weeks.
Classification | Insect, Phasmatodea (approx. 3400 species) | |
Habitat | Tropical and subtropical forest of Peru | |
Behaviour | Dusky and nocturnal | |
Diet | Leaves of the pepper tree | |
Weight | Few grams | |
Body length | Females up to 7 cm, Males up to 5 cm | |
Brood | 1.5 cm long eggs are laid on the ground | |
Duration from egg laying to hatching | The young (nymphs) hatch from the eggs after 4-5 months. | |
Life expectancy | 5 months as nymphs, 9-12 months as adults | |
Use | Terrarium animal | |
Current population | Unknown, decreasing | |
At Zurich Zoo since | 2024 |
Distribution
