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Phasmatodea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- "Phasmid" redirects here. For the cloning vector used in genetics, see phagemid.
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The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects (in Europe), walking sticks (in the United States of America), ghost insects and leaf insects. The name is derived from the Greek "phasma" meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. Some species (e.g. Anisomorpha) are capable of secreting a substance from glands on the metathorax that can cause an intense burning irritation of the eyes (and in some cases temporary blindness) and mouth of potential predators on contact.
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The Phasmatodea were considered a suborder of Orthoptera, although most authors now consider them to form an order of their own. There is much confusion over the ordinal name, with Phasmida being preferred by many authors, although it is incorrectly formed. Phasmatodea is correctly formed, and is gaining in popularity. Cheleutoptera is now considered outdated.
They are closely related to the orders Mantophasmatodea and Grylloblattodea. Together, they are the sister taxon of the groups sometimes united in the superorder Dictyoptera.
There are presently around 3,000 described species, with many more yet to be described, both in museum collections, and in the wild. The order has a world-wide distribution, but most species are found in the tropics. These species vary from the common Indian or laboratory stick insect to pink winged flying stick insects and Vietnamese thorny stick insects.
Many stick insects are easy to care for, and make excellent first pets. The Indian (or Laboratory) stick insect, Carausius morosus, requires a tall (25+ cm) vivarium (even a jar with a few holes punched in the top), some bramble, ivy, or privet and an atmosphere at room temperature. Indian stick insects are all female and reproduce by parthenogenesis and seem content living on their own. Occasionally part-male part-female individuals are reared in captivity, but never true males. The stick insects molt and may eat the shed skin. By the sixth molt the stick insect will lay eggs.
One Australian species, the Lord Howe Island stick insect, is now listed as critically endangered. It was believed extinct until its rediscovery on the rock known as Ball's Pyramid. There is a large effort in Australia to rear this species in captivity.
Females of Phobaeticus serratipes are the world's longest insects, measuring up to 33 cm (13 in) from head to tip of abdomen.
Adult female Heteropteryx dilatata may weigh in excess of 50g.[citation needed]
The best known of the stick insects is the Indian or Lab stick insect (Carausius morosus). These insects grow to roughly 10 cm (4 inches). They reproduce parthenogenically and males are very rare.
To breed stick insects, spray the eggs with water lightly and wait for them to hatch. Use a paint brush to handle the babies (nymphs). Take care not to leave pools of water where they could drown. If the egg is still attached to the insect's tail then gently pull off with paint brush.
The classification of the Phasmatodea is complex. There are many people, including amateur entomologists, studying the order, and revisions are commonplace. The most authoritative source for information on the current taxonomy is the Phasmida Species File which is continually updated.
- Cameron, Stephen L.; Barker, Stephen C. & Whiting, Michael F. (2006): Mitochondrial genomics and the new insect order Mantophasmatodea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 274–279. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.09.020 (HTML abstract)
Insects at the Open Directory Project