The effects of different food plants (spinach, carrots, organic and non-organic lettuce, defrosted frozen oak leaves) on the longevity, growth rate and survival of the Annam stick insect Medauroidea extradentata (Brunner von Wattenwyl) were studied. Among the food plants tested, organic lettuce and defrosted oak leaves were the best food alternative during winter time for maintaining live cultures of M. extradentata.