Phasmida

Phasma means phantom, highlighting this groups most famous characteristic , the ability to look like leaves and disappear into the background.

They are herbivorous and the young are nymphs. Many are parthenogenic (do not require a male )

They are either long and thin like sticks or broad and flat like leaves. This reduces the risk of predation. Many have other defence mechanisms as well , such as spines or toxic secretions.

Phobaeticus genus has the longest insects (55 cm) and Heteropteryx dilatata is probably the heaviest phasmid .

The thorax is long in those species that can fly (contains flight muscles)

They all have mandibles to chew vegetation, and they have long antennae . The number of eye facets increases with every moult in the nymphs , such that the adults are more sensitive too light and are mainly nocturnal, whilst the nymphs can forage in daylight.

They have 2 types of foot pads . the heel pads are covered in hairs which creates friction for walking without requiring much energy to unpeel, whilst the sticky toe pads give extra grip on climbing