# French stick insect (*Clonopsis gallica*)

The French stick insect is a clever little creature that looks just like a stick! It can stay very still to hide from birds and other animals that might want to eat it.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![French stick insect](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Clonopsis_gallica01.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Entomart, Attribution · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clonopsis_gallica01.jpg)

## Appearance

The French stick insect is a slender, twig-like insect, typically green, brown, or grayish. It has a long, cylindrical body and thin legs, making it appear almost indistinguishable from plant stems. This species is notably wingless and lacks any prominent markings.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Phasmida
- **Family:** Bacillidae
- **Genus:** Clonopsis

## Interesting facts

- Did you know nearly all French stick insects are female? Males are super rare!
- Their eggs are disguised as tiny plant seeds, dropped right onto the forest floor!
- These insects don't fly! They walk everywhere, perfectly blending into their surroundings.
- When threatened, they often sway gently, just like a twig blowing in the wind!

## Special abilities

- **Virgin Birth Power:** French stick insect can lay eggs that hatch into new females without needing a male, because of this unique ability that helps them reproduce quickly.
- **Master Disguise:** French stick insect has a super slim body and earthy colors that help them perfectly mimic twigs and leaves, making them nearly invisible to predators.
- **Escape Artist Limb Drop:** French stick insect can shed a leg if caught by a predator, because this allows them to escape danger and survive.

## Measurements & details

- **Size:** 60-90 mm
- **Lifespan:** 180-365 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

These herbivores munch on fresh leaves and small plants, especially from shrubs and trees.

- **Primary Foods:** Holly oak leaves, Bramble leaves, Privet leaves, Ivy leaves
- **Foraging Method:** Grazing

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds are common predators of stick insects.
- **Eaten by:** [Common Wall Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-wall-lizard) (*Podarcis muralis*) — Lizards hunt small insects in their habitat.
- **Eats:** Holly Oak (*Quercus ilex*) — Feeds on the leaves of this Mediterranean tree.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always watch stick insects from a distance so you don't scare them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify French stick insect?

Look for six legs, antennae, three body sections and the shape of the wings. Beetles have hardened front wings; flies have just one working pair. Tiny insects may need a close view before their group is clear. Insect Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How big is French stick insect?

60-90 mm

### How long does French stick insect live?

180-365 days

### What does French stick insect eat?

These herbivores munch on fresh leaves and small plants, especially from shrubs and trees.

### Where is French stick insect usually found?

Forests

### How does French stick insect hunt?

Grazing

### How many legs does French stick insect have?

6

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [French stick insect: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/french-stick-insect)