Walkingstick

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Walkingstick

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Subclass: Pterygota Infraclass:: Neoptera Superorder: Exopterygota Order: Phasmatodea
Families
Superfamily: Timematoidea Timematidae Superfamily: Phyllioidea Phylliidae Pseudophasmatidae (striped walking sticks) Korinnidae Aschiphasmatidae Heteropterygidae (Obrimidae) Northern walkingstick Pygirhynchidae Bacillidae Superfamily: Phasmatoidea Tropidoderidae (Podacanthidae) Phasmatidae (winged walking sticks) Eurycanthidae Xeroderidae Platycranidae Bacteriidae (Cladomorphidae = Phibalosomatidae) Palophidae Necrosciidae Pachymorphidae (Clitumnidae) Lonchodidae (Prisomeridae) Diapheromeridae

Walkingsticks are any of the species of insects belonging to the taxonomic order Phasmatodea (sometimes called Phasmida). They are also commonly known as the stick bugs, ghost insects, and leaf bugs. It is called these because of its slender, cylindrical, and cryptically colored body that was made to look like a twig or blend in with the leaves. They are terrestrial, nocturnal, phytophagous insects that can be found anywhere in the world.

The name Phasmatodea is Greek which means phantom. The largest of these insects is the Giant Stick Insect that was measured up to 33 centimeters in length (13 inches). Over 3,000 different types of Phasmatodea have been found, yet scientists still claim they are finding more every day. All Phasmatodea are herbivores. Most walking sticks are slow moving creatures that match their lifestyle. In very few tropical species the adults have well-developed wings. Most Phasmatodea are brachypterous (which means reduced wings),or they may also have no wings at all. These insects are most populated in tropical regions. They are solitary and are infrequently encountered because of their secretive nature. When they are disturbed they pretend to become dead and fall while blending into their backgrounds. They are known as weak clumsy fliers do to their short journeys from here to there. [1]

Anatomy

leaf phasmatodea that belongs to the phyllium subcategory

The body type varies with in each species. For example some of them may have a horns, spines and lobes on the abdomen or the legs, while others can be completely absent from all those features. Every species has a green or non-green form. What really determines their body shape and color is their environment. Phasmatodea have great camouflage and are often mistaken for leaves or twigs, leaving their predators to search for hours. When found or disturbed the Phasmatodea freezes up and falls down or sways in the breeze just like a leaf or twig. Members of the Timemidae family tend to resemble leaves. The abdomen is broad and flat, large lateral extensions for the legs, and 3 primary colors that consists of green, brown, and yellow. Many of tropic stick bugs can get up to 30 centimeters in length.[2]

What separates phasmatodea from other phylum and shows they are in the monophyletic group is the following:

All posses a pair of exocrine glands inside the prothorax. Some species have a gland that will discharge an irritating tear gas-like spray used for defense.
The intestine has unique filament bearing glands
The dorso-ventral muscles are arranged in parallel, short, and numerous around the abdomen.
Males develop a unique sclerite termed the vomer. This body part is located among the genitalia. It allows the male to grasp the female when reproducing.

Reproduction

phasmatodea

Males tend to be smaller and more gracile then the females. Reproduction usually occurs sexually. However many female Phasmatodea's do not need to mate in order to create eggs. This is called parthenogenesis, but when the eggs hatch all the offspring produced will be female. Females do not have a strong ovipositor, therefore they cannot insert their eggs into a host plant like many of the other Orthoptera. As a result to this the eggs are dropped onto the ground, many times from great heights. Each egg is distinctively shaped, possessing both a operculum also known as a lid, and a micropylar plate. The eggs are large and often mistaken for plant seeds. The egg can be laid singly, dropped, flicked, buried, glued to a surface, or riveted to a leaf. Most of the eggs that are dropped the female relies on the ants to pick it up and disperse them among the land. A full cycle from egg to adult can vary from a few months to a few years depending on the species.[3]