Help! Cannibal Stick insects

[p.doyle]

After several months of keeping two successive generations of Phasmids (Indian
Green or Laboratory Stick Insects- the common kind) they have suddenly become
very agressive and are eating each others legs off. All are now in the adult
stage, and I am mystified as to why they might be doing this- there are
several dead now. Anyone have any ideas? Is it just one insect doing it?
Or do all stick insects get like this under certain conditions? They have had
a continuous supply of fresh ivy which they have been quite happy with until
now. I've checked through the cage for any sign of alien predators like beetles
etc., but nothing- and yesterday I witnessed one of the stick insects "in the act".
Paul Doyle, p.d...@abdn.ac.uk

[Susanne Fork]

Paul,

One of the first things that comes to my mind is whether there are too
many sticks in one cage. Overcrowding is one reason for "cannibalism".
Ideally sticks should have a fair bit of space around them (enough so
that each stick can move around freely without constantly bumping into
its stickmates). The fact that Indian (as well as other) Sticks are so
prolific could make overcrowding a possibility.

Hope this helps!

Susie