Phasmatidae is a family

Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...

 of the stick insects (order

Order (biology)

In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...

 Phasmatodea

Phasmatodea

The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects , walking sticks or stick-bugs , phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects...

). They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea

Verophasmatodea

Verophasmatodea is a suborder of the Phasmatodea that contains the vast majority of the extant species of stick and leaf-insects.-Superfamilies and families:* Superfamily Anareolatae** Diapheromeridae** Phasmatidae* Superfamily Areolatae...

.

Like many of their relatives, Phasmatidae are capable of regenerating limbs and commonly reproduce by parthenogenesis

Parthenogenesis

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...

. Despite their bizarre, even threatening appearance, they are harmless to humans.

The Phasmatidae contain some of the biggest insect

Insect

Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...

s currently in existence.