Naturally fallen lichen-covered sticks

Lichen Sticks & Wood

Limited availability

Available to the contiguous United States. Shipping and availability are confirmed manually.

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Lichen Sticks & Wood! Lichen is an excellent and unique dietary staple for many invertebrates including isopods, millipedes, arboreal roaches, and more. All lichen from me will be the types of lichen that grow on hardwood trees such as oak, elm & hickory trees. All lichen will be 100% natural and free of dyes or wetting agents such as glycerin. While this lichen can add a nice aesthetic touch to your setups the primary goal with this product is to provide a high quality, safe food source for invertebrates. Lichen Sticks & Wood will most be in the form of twigs, small diameter branches (many of which will be in a state of white-rot, bonus!) and perhaps some bark pieces. All lichen sticks & wood pieces will have at least 60% lichen surface coverage, but most will be 80% coverage or more!

Heat-treated until core temperature reaches at least 160°F which is hot enough to kill harmful pest hitch hikers, while allowing the lichen to retain most of its original color and nutritional value. Most or all of the lichen will likely no longer be living, but will still look nice and be more vibrant in appearance when misted with water (I recommend distilled). All images included here are orders of Lichen Sticks & Wood in a dry state after being heat treated; as you can see they still look quite nice! Click here for more information.

Volume-Based Pricing

Lichen Sticks & Wood is sold by volume, not weight, ensuring consistent quantities regardless of seasonal fluctuations in moisture content.

Packaging & Order Sizes

Orders of Quart or Gallon Bagged Lichen Sticks & Wood (Any Quantity):

– Each bag is filled as completely as possible while still allowing the zipper to seal, minimizing excess air and empty space.

Photo gallery

Select a photo for a closer look.

Lichen Sticks in a dry state and after being heat treated.

An arboreal roach, Pseudoglomeris tarsalis "Thailand" (male) perched up high on a lichen stick.

A close-up of a nice thick patch of lichen.

Lichen Sticks being used as terrarium decor in an arboreal lizard tank.

A small Pseudoglomeris magnifica "North Vietnam Gold" nymph traversing a lichen stick.

A beautiful adult female Pseudoglomeris magnifica "Cuc Phuong" on a little piece of lichen stick.

Another anger of the adult female Pseudoglomeris magnifica "Cuc Phuong" (Magnificent Emerald Cockroach) on a lichen stick. Arboreal roaches such as this eat the lichen!

An adult male Pseudoglomeris magnifica "Cuc Phuong" (Magnificent Emerald Cockroach) grazing on some lichen.

A good illustration of how the colors of the lichen become more vibrant when wet, even after being heat treated.

A second arboreal roach setup showcasing freshly misted, vibrant lichen branches.

Another angle of wet lichen sticks being used as the primary climbing structure for a colony of arboreal roaches, Pseudoglomeris magnifica "Cuc Phuong" (Magnificent Emerald Roaches)

A handful of dry lichen sticks outside in natural lighting.

Freshly collected lichen sticks in the rain. These pieces have not yet been heat treated.

A closeup of freshly collected lichen sticks, wet from rain. These pieces have not yet been heat treated, but they will be before shipping.

A closeup of some dry, heat-treated lichen sticks.

Just look at all of the different shapes and textures of lichen!

A green anole perched on some dry lichen sticks.

A very spongy, thick patch of lichen. This pieces has not yet been heat treated, and though it will lose some color after heat treatment, it will still be rather vibrant any time it is wet.

Semi-dry lichen sticks that will soon be heat treated and shipped.

Lichen Sticks — Fully dry lichen sticks that have already undergone heat treatment.

An acrylic bug box featuring lichen sticks, bark slabs, and fall leaves.

A beautiful assortment of lichen sticks in a dry state.

About these botanicals

Q: Where do you source your products from?
A: All woodland products are collected legally from my own 20 acre private property right here in Missouri, USA which is primarily an Oak/Hickory/Elm forest with a scattering of other trees such as Osage Orange, Black Cherry, Hackberry, Eastern Redbud, etc.

Q: Are your products free from pesticides, herbicides or fungicides?
A: Yes they are! We do not use pesticides, herbicides or fungicides in our privately owned forest.

Q: Do you heat treat your products before shipping them?
A: Yes! All KingCampy's wild-collected botanicals undergo a heat-treatment process and are verified to reach a minimum internal temperature of 160°F for at least 60 minutes before packaging.

Q: Why do you heat treat products?
A: Wild-collected leaves, bark, branches, and decaying wood can harbor hitchhiking organisms such as insects, isopods, slugs, snails, eggs, and larvae. Some of these organisms may be regulated as plant pests by USDA APHIS, making their unauthorized interstate movement unlawful—even when accidentally transported inside another product. Furthermore, unwanted hitchhikers could be harmful to the animals already living in your enclosure!

Q: What about beneficial bacteria? Isn't it best not to heat treat for that reason?
A: The benefits of heat treatment far outweigh the drawbacks. Your isopods, millipedes, and other inhabitants already carry established communities of microorganisms in their digestive tracts, on their bodies, and throughout their enclosure, which can readily colonize new botanical material. I'd rather provide clean, heat-treated botanicals that become incorporated into your enclosure's microbiome than arbitrarily preserve an unknown forest microbiome from my property—including any potential pathogens or other unwanted organisms that could otherwise come along with it. And hey, if you want to add some extra microbial diversity to your enclosure's microbiome, toss in some Nocticola vagus micro-roaches—they'll co-hab with dang near anything!

Q: Do you have other products not listed on this webpage?
A: Yes! I often have other misc. products available in limited quantities. Examples include: acorns, hickory nut husks, oak galls, dried Missouri native gourds, and more! Feel free to contact me by clicking the "INQUIRY" button at the top or "CONTACT!" sign at the bottom of this page for more information. OR! Send me a message via Instagram @king.cam.p

Botanical shipping

The following shipping policies apply to KingCampy's botanical products only. Live invertebrates are subject to separate shipping policies.

Q: When will my package ship?
A: I strive to ship orders as quickly as possible, usually within 2–3 business days of payment. Some botanical products are collected, heat-treated, and/or dried to order, so please allow up to 5–7 business days for these orders to ship. If I expect your order to take longer than usual, I'll keep you informed along the way.

Q: What carrier(s) do you ship with?
A: Botanical orders are shipped via USPS Ground Advantage, UPS Ground Saver or UPS Ground (per my discretion) by default. Tracking information will be provided when your shipping label is created.

Q: How much does shipping cost?
A: For botanical orders under $100, shipping is based on the actual carrier rates to your address, plus approximately $5 to help cover boxes, packing materials, and other shipping supplies. Botanical orders of $100 or more after discounts and before shipping qualify for FREE Ground Shipping (either USPS or UPS)!

Q: Can I choose a faster shipping service or a different carrier?
A: Absolutely! If you'd like faster shipping, just let me know before your order ships. USPS Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, and various FedEx options may be available for an additional charge based on the actual difference in shipping cost. I'm happy to help you choose the best option for your order.

Q: My package is delayed, now what?
A: Unfortunately, occasional carrier delays are outside my control, and estimated delivery dates are not guaranteed unless the selected shipping service specifically includes a delivery guarantee. If your tracking hasn't updated for an unusual amount of time, feel free to contact me and I'll help determine the best next step. If your package is ultimately declared lost or is returned to me, I'll work with you to make it right.

Q: My package shows as delivered, but I didn't receive it. What do I do?
A: First, check around the delivery location, with other members of your household, and with nearby neighbors in case the package was left somewhere unexpected. If it still can't be located, contact me promptly so we can determine the appropriate next step with the carrier. I insure botanical shipments for their full purchase value whenever eligible for carrier coverage. Depending on the carrier and circumstances, either you or I may need to provide information or documentation for a claim. I'll work with you throughout the process to help locate the package or pursue an eligible insurance claim.

Q: My package arrived damaged or opened. What do I do?
A: Please contact me as soon as possible and send clear photos of the shipping box, shipping label, packing materials, and any damaged contents. Do not discard the box, packaging, or damaged products until the issue has been resolved, as the carrier may require them for an insurance claim or inspection. I insure botanical shipments for their full purchase value whenever eligible for carrier coverage, and I'll work with you to file the appropriate claim and find a resolution.

Q: Do you ship anywhere?
A: I currently ship botanical products within the contiguous United States (the Lower 48). Certain plant materials may occasionally be subject to federal, state, or local restrictions, so some products may not be available for shipment to all destinations.