About the PSG

We are an international community with the common interest of rearing and studying phasmids (stick insects and leaf insects, or "walking sticks" as known in the USA). Many members are just hobbyists and amateur entomologists, but our membership also includes some of the most knowledgeable professional entomologists in the world including several authors on the subject!

We have members in countries all around the world and are always looking for more people to join us!

Mission Statement

To study and culture stick insects and leaf insects (phasmids), publish results and foster the free exchange of species, allowing members to share livestock appropriate to their experience.

Benefits of Membership

Become a member! As a member, you'll be invited to our twice-yearly meetings held at the Natural History Museum in London, receive a fantastic Newsletter with articles, photographs and useful info, have online access to our more formal publication, Phasmid Studies, plus get to meet with other enthusiasts and our super-knowledgeable panel of experts to discuss culturing techniques, environmental conditions and best food plants for various species. Also as a member, you'll have access to a whole host of species that are not commercially available - however, we operate a strict "no selling" policy on all PSG stock and anyone found violating this policy will be instantly banned.

Our website also provides the only fully authoritative version of the Phasmid Study Group Culture List (sometimes called the PSG Species List).

We're on Facebook too - join the fun and "like" our page!

History of the PSG

The PSG was formed in 1980. The first newsletter mentions that there were ten members. The Group had grown to 26 members by the second newsletter, and by early 1982 the 100th member had joined.

Originally the PSG's logo was a drawing of a female Sipyloidea sipylus. This was changed in March 1988 to a drawing of a female Extatosoma tiaratum by Austin Crompton. It was first published as just a drawing in PSG Newsletter 33:7 and was adopted as the new logo in the following Newsletter.

Details of the PSG publications can be found in the section on phasmid serials.