Phasmatodea

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Phasmatodea

Heteropteryx dilatata from Malaysia

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Subclass:	Pterygota
Infraclass:	Neoptera
Superorder:	Exopterygota
Order:	Phasmatodea Jacobson & Bianchi, 1902

Suborders

Agathemerodea
Timematodea
Verophasmatodea

The Phasmatodea are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects (Europe), walking sticks (in the Unites States of America), ghost insects^{[citation needed]} 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 meta-thorax that can causes an intense burning irritation of the eyes (and in some cases temporary blindness) and mouth of potential predators on contact.

1 Taxonomy
2 Species
3 Stick insects as pets
4 Notable species
5 Classification
6 Trivia
7 References
8 Gallery
9 External links

[edit] Taxonomy

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 Cheleutoptera is now considered outdated.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.

[edit] Species

There are presently around 2,800 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.

[edit] Stick insects as pets

Many stick insects are easy to look after making them excellent first pets. The Indian (or Laboratory) stick insect, Carausius morosus, requires a tall (25cm+) 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.

To find out more about this hobby visit the Phasmid Study Group website - a group dedicated to the study of phasmids or stick insects.[1]

[edit] Notable species

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 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 inches) from head to tip of abdomen.

Adult female Heteropteryx dilatata may weigh in excess of 50g, but are considerably lighter than some of the largest Coleoptera species.

The most famous and well known of all the stick insects has to be the Indian or Lab stick insect (Carausius morosus). These insects grow to roughly 4" or 10cm. They reproduce parthenogenically and males are very rare.

[edit] Classification

Ctenomorpha chronus

Medauroidea extradentata

Leaf insect (Phyllium sp.) from the Western Ghats

The classification of the Phasmatodea is complex and confusing. There are many people, including many amateur entomologists, currently studying the order, and revisions are commonplace. The best source for information on the current arrangement is the Phasmida Species File which is continually updated.

[edit] Trivia

David Hyde Pierce voiced the character of a stick insect named Slim in the movie A Bug's Life.
Fairies disguised as stick insects play prominent roles in the film Pan's Labyrinth.
Several species are featured in the Indiana Jones films

[edit] References

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)