Timema californica Scudder, a wingless phasmid, is found on live oaks, Quercus agrifolia , in coastal California. It was maintained in the laboratory on oak leaves liberally sprinkled with drops of water from which the insects drank. Adults lived 2–3 months, feeding on less than 1 leaf each per day and dropping 6–8 fecal pellets. Males remain mounted dorsally on the females almost continuously; copulation appears to be initiated at night and to last for hours. Eggs are laid (usually dropped) at night; total egg production is 60–80 per female in a 2 month period, with highest production in the first 2 weeks.