Towards the end of last term our Y11 Animal Care class welcomed some tiny new additions into the world of Oathall Farm. Eleven Indian stick insect nymphs – which you might be able to see in the photos above if you look closely – were successfully hatched from eggs that students Harry B and Harry T have been carefully tending to over the last five months. The Harrys, also pictured, could be considered proud grandparents, as the new babies represent the second generation of stick insects they have collected and hatched while at Oathall.
Our bushel – the collective noun for stick insects – of Indian stick insects are all female, and naturally lay eggs continuously without male involvement in a process called parthenogenesis. Their eggs need a careful balance of heat and humidity for the next 3-6 months before they hatch, and the young nymphs will eat privet, bramble and ivy leaves as they moult and mature into adults.
As Indian stick insects only live for a year, we are immensely proud of our students for having a hand in nurturing the next generation of nymphs for future students to appreciate.
