Q.  Are Indian walking sticks considered pests in the garden? 
-Rhonda Kohler, San Luis Obispo

A. The ultimate expert in camouflage, the Indian walking stick exhibits crypsis, the ability to change color, shape and behavior to blend into their environment. Adult specimens reach up to 4 inches in length. Their long, wingless body is generally brown-colored. When confronted, this amazing creature retracts its legs alongside its body, adding to its appearance as a stick. In fact, if it were a bit longer, you might accidentally pick it up and throw it to your dog for a game of fetch. Considering its ability to remain hidden, however, it is a wonder that these curious insects, often kept as pets, often seen as pests, are even discovered.
Originally native to southern India, Indian walking sticks are a familiar attraction in elementary classrooms because they can survive on lettuce, making them an easy pet to care for.  Their dramatic appearance and slow swaying motion that mimics a branch in the wind, make these bugs a conversation piece no matter where they perch.  These insects became established outside of India as a result of their popularity as pets. The female walking stick is an interesting character that does not require the benefit of male attention to reproduce. Combine that with the ability to lay a significant number of eggs, which often go unnoticed as waste products and you have a recipe for easy breezy reproduction. When kept as pets, it is recommended that cage waste be placed in a tightly sealed bag and thrown away. This should limit the possibility of infestation.
While the Indian walking stick is generally not a major pest, it has become more of a nuisance in recent years. Springtime is typically the time when the most damage occurs. This is because the nymphs hatch and search voraciously for the insect version of a "Twinkie"  Small-leafed varieties of ivy and privet are prize catches for these insects, but beware, they will also enjoy azalea, bramble, camellia, geranium, hawthorn, hibiscus, jasmine, oak, pyracantha, rose and of course, your veggies are not immune. In some locations defoliation of plants and significant damage to valued specimens has occurred.
Control of the Indian walking stick is limited. Pesticides are not recommended. Hand removal, though it can be a challenging game of hide and seek, is the best management strategy.  
Have a Gardening Question?
Contact the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners: at 781-5939 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday and Thursday; at 473-7190 from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday in Arroyo Grande; and at 434-4105 from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday in Templeton. Visit the UCCE Master Gardeners Web site at groups.ucanr.org/slomg/or e-mail mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu


Photo Cutline: Photo Courtesy of UC Regents, by Ryan K Perry