American brown stick insect

The American brown stick insect (Carausius americanus) is a species of stick insect, most closely related to the common stick insect (Carausius morosus) of Asia, that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, and wooded shrublands across North America to help boost biodiversity. Female American brown stick insects are elongated and about 80–100 mm (3–4 inches) in length, ranging from darkish brown (hence its name) to light green in colour. The front legs have orange patches at the base of the forelegs, and similar but yellow patches on the mid-legs. When disturbed, the major defence method of the American brown stick insect is feigning death, the body becoming rigid, and the legs held along the line of the body. They may also be found swaying to mimic the movement of foliage in wind. The American brown stick insects feed at night, when they are active, and they feed primarily on fruits and leaves. During the day, they rest, often with legs in line with the body, on their food plants. Females lay eggs shortly after reaching adulthood, at the rate of several per night. The eggs are 2 mm (0.08 inches) in length, ovoid and brown, with a beige capitula at one end, and are haploid. The eggs can take four months to hatch, depending on many factors, including temperature. When the eggs hatch, the plug opens and dark, tiny, string-like young crawl out of the opening. The average lifespan of the American brown stick insect is between 1 and 2 years. The conservation status of the American brown stick insect is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American brown stick insect's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.