Many insects eat leaves as their main food source. Stick insects and caterpillars can’t do without their own particular food plants. It is therefore very important that you can recognize the food plants so you can pick the correct leaves in your garden or forest area.

Blackberries (bramble)

The most important food plant for stick insects is blackberry (Rubus sp.). It is eaten by many species of stick insects and is an excellent food source. The extra bonus point for this plant is that is stays green in winter. Even if it is freezing or there is snow you can find fresh bramble leaves as long as the plants grow in a semi-protected area like along a wall or house.

The new bright green leaves of bramble can be poisonous to stick insects. It’s better to feed the older, darker leaves and wait for the new leaves to become bigger and less bright green.

Oak

Also an important food plant is oak. It is also eaten by a lot of stick insects and leaf insects, for example Phyllium sp. Phillipines and Extatosoma tiaratum. The leaves do not stay green in winter, so it is not a food source all year round.

 Hazel

Hazel is also a popular food source for stick insects. It unfortunately does not stay green all year round, so in winter it cannot be found.

Privet

Privet is eaten by some stick insects, for example Peruphasma schultei, and it is the main food source for caterpillars like Samia cynthia. It stays green in winter.

 Rose

The leaves of rose bushes are eaten by many stick insects, mostly by species that also eat bramble. Do not feed rose leaves that are bought in stores, because these are often sprayed with insecticide.

 Ivy

Some species of stick insect can live exclusively on ivy, but not all species do. Ivy is an easy food source because it stays evergreen and can be easily found. There are very few species that can live solely on ivy. The most common stick insect, the Indian Stick Insects, does do well on a diet of just ivy leaves.