Meet our Black Beauty Stick Insects

The black beauty stick insect (Peruphasma schultei) is a velvety black insect with bright yellow eyes and striking red hindwings. Native to a tiny, critically endangered habitat in northern Peru, it is also a popular pet due to its distinctive appearance and relatively easy care

Range

Black Beauty Stick Insects were only discovered in 2005 in a small, 5-hectare (12-acre) area in the Cordillera del Condor region of Peru making them an endemic species, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world naturally.

Diet

In its native range, the black beauty stick insect feeds on a single, currently unidentified species of pepper tree (Schinus genus) but can be fed a variety of different garden leaves in captivity, such as privet or bramble species.

Lifespan

These insects typically live for around 1 year although the exact range is estimated around 9-12 months. 

Conservation status

Black Beauty Stick insects are considered critically endangered

Did You Know?

  • They’re critically endangered in the wild, found only in a tiny mountainous region of northern Peru.

  • Despite having wings, they can’t fly—their red wings are vestigial and used only for display.

  • When threatened, they spray a defensive chemical from glands behind their head that smells faintly of peppermint and can irritate predators.

  • Their velvety black bodies and golden eyes make them one of the most visually striking stick insects in captivity.

  • Unlike many stick insects, they are not parthenogenic - meaning females need males to reproduce.

  • They’re part of a global conservation effort, with captive breeding programs helping to protect the species from extinction.

Plan Your Visit to See Them Up Close!