Life Cycle of a Peppermint Stick Insect

The Egg

• The life cycle begins with an egg laid on a pandanus plant, a type of palm. The leaves form a protective cover for the egg.

The Nymph

• After about four months, the egg hatches and a tiny stick insect, called a nymph, will emerge and begin to feed off the pandanus plant.

Nymph Growth

• The nymph will shed its skin several times while growing. After three to six months, it will eventually become an adult--often spending its entire life on the same plant it was born on.

Mating

• When ready to reproduce, adult female peppermint stick insects will emit a strong attractant called a pheromone to attract males. Males are smaller and have larger wings than females, allowing them to follow the female's scent trail.

Egg Laying

• Once the insects have mated, the female will lay eggs on a pandanus plant. The leaves will roll down over the egg to form a sort of incubator, protecting it until it hatches to start the life cycle again.