Black Beauty” Peruphasma schultei stick insect nymphs

“Black Beauty” Peruphasma schultei is a species of stick insect found in the Cordillera del Condor region of northern Peru. In the wild the insect feeds on Schinus plants, but will feed on privet, Aucuba japonica and honeysuckle in captivity. In Peru they are only known to exist in a region of less than 5 hectares, but since their discovery they have become increasingly popular as pets worldwide due to their unusual colouration and they are now bred regularly in captivity.

A large and compact species, females  large and compact species,females can reach 5.5 cm and are larger than males, which measure 3.8 to 4.3 cm.[2] They have a black body, yellow eyes and red/brownish mouth parts, with adults having bright redvestigialwings. When disturbed, adults of this species are able to spray a defensive liquid from glands at the rear of the head which can be irritating to the skin and eyes.can reach 5.5 cm and are larger than males, which measure 3.8 to 4.3 cm.^[2] They have a black body, yellow eyes and red/brownish mouth parts, with adults having bright redvestigialwings. When disturbed, adults of this species are able to spray a defe nsive liquid from glands at the rear of the head which can be irritating to the skin and eyes.