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Black Beauty Stick Insect (Peruphasma schultei)

Peruphasma schultei

The Peruphasma schultei, the Black Beauty Stick Insect. It is one of the most beautiful and sought-after phasmids in modern terrariums. Unlike brown or green mimetic ones, it shows off a breathtaking 'Aposematism' (warning colors): body and legs are of a very pure Velvety Black, with yellow eyes, blood red mouth and, if disturbed, throws open two micro-wings (not suited for flight) of a brilliant Scarlet Red or bright Pink. In addition to the terrifying chromatic show, it possesses a real chemical weapon: prothoracic glands capable of spraying an irritating and caustic liquid (white substance) if severely threatened or pinched (watch out for the eyes). Originating from northern Peru at 4900ft of altitude, it requires cool breeding (never above 77°F) and loves to feed on Privet and Lilac. Females are corpulent, males extremely small, thread-like and often permanently 'riding' on the back of the mating female.

Taxonomy
Class:Insecta
Order:Phasmida
Family:Pseudophasmatidae
Genus:Peruphasma
Species:Peruphasma schultei

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

50 - 60 %

Day temperature

20 - 24 °C

Night temperature

15 - 18 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: This recovery makes no geographic-origin or habitat statement beyond the cited facts above.
Taxonomy and Genetics: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy lists Peruphasma schultei Conle & Hennemann, 2005 at species rank. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy places Peruphasma schultei in the order Phasmida, family Pseudophasmatidae and genus Peruphasma. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts above.
Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts above.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts above.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: Zoo Zagreb lists Peruphasma schultei from a small mountainous part of northern Peru, with forests and montane grasslands as habitat. These are geographic and natural-habitat facts, not captive setup instructions.
Lighting and Heating: This recovery does not formulate a datum on lighting or heating beyond the facts cited above.
Humidity and Hydration: This recovery does not formulate a datum on humidity or hydration beyond the facts cited above.
Feeding and Supplementation: The profile lists leaves of trees in the genus Schinus as food in nature. This is a reported field diet fact, not a captive feeding or supplementation protocol.
Compatibility and Coexistence: This recovery does not formulate a datum on compatibility or coexistence beyond the facts cited above.
Health and Common Diseases: This recovery does not formulate a datum on health or common diseases beyond the facts cited above.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Sud America (Foreste montane secche e altipiani andini rocciosi in Perù).

Origin

Extra-Amazon South America

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
7.5 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 7.5 cm. The Zoo Zagreb — Peruphasma schultei source reports a maximum adult measurement of 7.5 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). The taxonomic record consulted is Peruphasma schultei. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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Last updated: 08/10/2026
Black Beauty Stick Insect (Peruphasma schultei) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium