The French Stick Insect (Clonopsis gallica) is an insect in the Bacillidae family of stick insects. It is a phasmid.
The French Stick Insect has an oblong light-brown body with spikes. It also has spikes on its strong hind (back) legs. The female has more spikes than the male. The spikes and colour help it to camouflage itself in plants and bushes. It has also has wings.
It measures up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in length. The female is larger than the male.
It is found in France, Croatia, Jersey, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Madeira, Tenerife, and north-western Africa.
It is herbivorous, and eats plant leaves.
The life cycle is egg, nymph, and adult.
The nymphs are diurnal, active during the day. As they become adults, they are mainly nocturnal, active at night.
The female French Stick Insect has an ovipositor, which is a tube that she uses to lay eggs. She lays eggs while hanging from a branch. The eggs land on leaves, and hatch after about 270 days. The female can have eggs without the presence of a male. This is called parthenogenesis.
Location of photographs: Parc Zoologique de Paris in Bois de Vincennes, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM