Phasmid Study Group

Adults may live from several weeks to a few years. Males generally have a shorter lifespan than females. Males of Phyllium bioculatum often only live for around three weeks as adults. Dares verrucosus may have a lifespan of up to five years (Brock, 1999).

Some indigenous people do use Phasmids as a food, notably Stone (1992) reports Extatosoma tiaratum is eaten by natives of Papua New Guinea (although as E. tiaratum is not found in this region the author probably refers to Eurycantha or Extatosoma popa). The insects eat the leaves of the sago palm, which are used as a thatching material. When the leaves are collected any tiaratum found are skewered on appointed sticks pushed from the abdomen up through the head. The insects are then spit roasted on any open fire until the legs fall off.

Bragg (1990) reports that villagers of the Bideyuh tribe in Sawawak eat the eggs of Haaniella grayi grayi that are removed from the abdomen of adult females, boiled for 30 seconds, shelled and eaten. Bragg (2001) also reports the Iban tribe in Sarawak eat Haaniella echinata, not just the eggs.