In the wild, Carausius morosus—commonly known as the Indian stick insect—is native to southern India, where it inhabits warm, humid forests and shrublands. It’s a master of camouflage, mimicking twigs and stems to evade predators. Remarkably, this species reproduces parthenogenetically in the wild as well as in captivity, meaning females can lay fertile eggs without mating. Males are extremely rare and have only been documented sporadically in natural populations.
 
Due to its ease of care and reproductive reliability, C. morosus has been widely introduced to other countries through the pet trade and educational programs. It’s now established in parts of Europe, North America, and Australasia, often in controlled environments but occasionally as feral populations in greenhouses or subtropical gardens. Its global spread has made it one of the most recognizable phasmids, though it remains ecologically benign outside its native range thanks to its limited mobility and host specificity