Abstract: Phasmatodea is a group of insects with strong regeneration ability of leg autotomy. Results of our experimental studies on 3 species of genus Sinophasma Günther indicate that this ability is closely related with time and number of legs amputated: (1) If 1 or 2 legs were amputated at 1～4 instar, length of the regenerated legs of the adults or of the last instar, are close to those of the normal insects (the control); (2) If the same amputation (1 or 2 legs) was done at beginning of 5 instar, lengths of the regenerated legs of the adult insects are shorter than those of the control; (3) If legs were amputated at 6 instar or adult stage no regeneration is possible, (if at 6 instar legs regenerated as usual , the nymph stage will prolong to 7 instar). Other results are: (1) When 3 or more legs amputed, the insects can not survive, death follows within 2 or 3 days. (2) Rate of growth of the regenerate legs is faster than that of the normal legs and rate increases with the increase of instar stage. (3) Either regenerated or normal legs elongate only when molting.

Key words: Phasmatodea, Heteronemiidae, Sinophasma, autotomy, artus regeneration