Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: CLOSED: What kind of bug is this?? Ple, 1 by MichaelxB

MichaelxB wrote:
Hi all, new member here. I have come to get info on this strange bug that comes to our property every summer.

I'll include some of its characteristics: Brown, stick like, don't fly, have pincher like things, sometimes they stack on top of a larger one, I usually find them living where animals are kept (Chicken coop, cat living area).. All info I have.

I live in Southern Illinois, in the Shawnee National Forest if that helps any.

My grandfather says they suck blood from animals, but I'm not sure if that is true.
Anyway, I find them a lot where my cats stay.. there is usually always a large one, with a smaller one sitting on its back. I kill them, because I don't know what they are or what they are capable of. They are kind of hard to kill actually, one time I cut one in half, and one half of it ran away.. it was disgusting.
They don't seem like the walking stick bug, they are different you can see.

Anyway, I'll include a pic I have of them, in the pic if you look closely there is a large one in the corner with one on it's back, and there is another one sitting by them. Please help me identify this bug and give me any info you can.. as if they are dangerous are not.. so what are they? Thank you all kindly.