Local primary school teacher Erin Hammerton opens her home for an afternoon chat with Jessica Cornish to share her love of her pet Australian stick and leaf insects. Pictures: Carmel Zaccone

EVERY day, local primary school teacher Erin Hammerton carefully opens the large mesh enclosure door that sits in the corner of her living room and hunts through frass (also known as droppings) and remnants of shriveled gum leaves as she delicately collects tiny speckled eggs.