Treasurer/Membership: Paul Brock (Phone 0753-79447)

"P a p i l l o n , 40 Thorndike Road, Slough, Berks SL2 1SR

Chair: Mrs J u d i t h Marshall

Department of Entomology, The Natural Histor y Museum,

Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD

The Phasmid Study Group

S e c r e t a r y : Ms Angela Parwani

64 Kingsway, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3BD

March 1991 NEWSLETTER NO. 46 ISSN 0268-3806

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING REPORT

Despite the d i s a p p o i n t i n g f a l l i n the numbers from across the Channel, about 50 members s t i l l attended. Some 23 species were given away - also 2 species of betting-shop b i r o and some h i s s i n g cockroaches! 1

P h i l Bragg (No. 445) displayed photos and drawings of some of the s t i c k s he has c o l l e c t e d from Sarawak, together w i t h a summary of h i s three t r i p s so f a r .

Paul Jennings (No. 80) showed 12 small l i v i n g species, f o r those of us who are short of cage space.

*

MONEY AND MEMBERS - Paul Brock (No. 26) reported a record 343 members at the end of 1990 - more than o n e - t h i r d from over 20 countries outside the UK. The recent trend of small "losses" has been replaced by a healthy £200 p r o f i t , as a r e s u l t of generous donations, higher i n t e r e s t rates and, s u r p r i s i n g l y , 14% lower p r i n t i n g costs. No changes were proposed f o r the s u b s c r i p t i o n rates f o r 1992. With the easier a v a i l a b i l i t y of back issues, i t i s hoped t h a t demand f o r these w i l l increase.

NEWSLETTERS - Michael Lazenby and Frances Holloway (No. 3) again reported t h a t the previous year had seen the l a r g e s t ever Newsletter. But, although each Species Report was intended t o include comments from the whole Group, once again the PSG was i n the unhealthy s i t u a t i o n of having t o depend on the work of only a very few members. However, there w i l l be no excuse f o r t h i s s i t u a t i o n continuing, since Reports should s t a r t soon on eight common species ( t o replace most of those i n the e a r l i e s t no-longer-available Newsletters).

LIBRARY - David Robinson (No. 29) i s s t i l l r e c e i v i n g h i s f o r t n i g h t l y p r i n t o u t of phasmid papers. He repeated h is request f o r members t o send i n a r t i c l e s from news-papers or books.

EXHIBITIONS AND MEETINGS - Paul Jennings (No. 80) reported t h a t i n 1990 the PSG had e x h i b i t e d at s i x major events spaced out around the country; the only one the Group missed was l a r g e l y snowbound!

Members' meetings included two on the Continent. Paul continued to hope f o r more l o c a l meetings; also f o r new ideas and o f f e r s f o r f u t u r e t a l k s , displays, etc.

LIVESTOCK CO-ORDINATION - P h i l Bragg (No. 445) reported t h a t the Species L i s t ( l a t e s t issue w i t h t h i s Newsletter) was expanding almost d a i l y : there were about 30 f u r t h e r species being attempted. Members should inform P h i l i f these become estab-l i s h e d so he can add them to the l i s t and avoid confusion when eggs are sent out.

As regards d i s t r i b u t i o n , demand g r e a t l y exceeded supply f o r PSG 2, 12, 20, 26, 38 and 84. The newer species from PSG 99 t o 105 were doing w e l l (except PSG 102). Wants should be phoned i n t o P h i l f i r s t (0602-222118) - these w i l l be taken o f f the w a i t i n g l i s t a f t e r 6 months. As reported i n Newsletter 45 (page 1), P h i l w i l l no longer accept l i v e i n s e c t s , but only eggs. However, i f you have any surplus l i v e -stock, you can s t i l l l e t P h i l know and he w i l l pass your name on i f he gets any s u i t a b l e requests. Further volunteers keeping several common species are needed fo r the Livestock Suppliers' Panel.

46:2

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE - The o f f i c e r s who gave the preceding f i v e r e p o r t s or who are

l i s t e d a t the t o p o f page 1 were e l e c t e d f o r 1991, t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g

Committee members: Adrian Durkin (No. 78), Mel Herbert (No. 232), Kim D'Hulster

(No. 372), Paul T a y l o r (No. 852) and E r i c van Gorkom (No. 250). I t was good t h a t two

new people o f f e r e d t o serve on the Committee.

NEXT PSG MEETING - The N a t u r a l H i s t o r y Museum on 27th J u l y - J u d i t h M a r s h a l l (No. 13)

had r e c e i v e d no suggestions f o r o t h e r London venues. Please send any Agenda items

t o the new Secretary, Angela Parwani (No. 419), t o reach her by 15th A p r i l .

TALK AND VIDEO - J u d i t h somehow managed t o make r e a l l y i n t e r e s t i n g the d i f f i c u l t s u b j e c t of the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f s t i c k i n s e c t s , u s i n g a h i s t o r i c a l approach t o the l i t e r a t u r e . The importance of knowing the standard s c i e n t i f i c languages L a t i n and German was emphasised by the f a c t t h a t no l i t e r a t u r e i n E n g l i s h was p u b l i s h e d u n t i l t he 1970s. J u d i t h a l s o d e s c r i b e d the t h r e e phasmid f e a t u r e s which are most u s e f u l f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n - even when i n c o r r e c t l y t r a n s l a t e d . Bed-time r e a d i n g of the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Commission on Z o o l o g i c a l Nomenclature Code r u l e s was recommended as a p e r f e c t cure f o r insomnia! F i n a l l y , t o remind us t h a t we were, a f t e r a l l , t a l k i n g about l i v i n g c r e a t u r e s , J u d i t h showed s l i d e s of 20 species of phasmid and two s t i c k -l i k e grasshoppers. (The t e x t of J u d i t h ' s t a l k can be found on pages 4-5.)

Pat Matyot's (No. 604) R a d i o - T e l e v i s i o n Seychelles' video (complete w i t h i n c i d e n t a l music) showed a l l t h e s i x species o f phasmid found on these i s l a n d s , w i t h examples of t h e i r f o o d p l a n t s , camouflage by. both s t i c k s and eggs, and a m u l t i p l e mating attempt. Two of the wingless species have close r e l a t i v e s i n I n d i a , and so presumably have been around s i n c e 66 m i l l i o n years ago when I n d i a was j o i n e d t o the Seychelles. But why are the c l o s e r e l a t i v e s of Graeffea s e y c h e l l e n s i s o n l y t o be found as f a r a f i e l d as the South P a c i f i c ? Pat ended w i t h a moral and i n t e l l e c t u a l p lea f o r the p r o t e c t i o n o f a l l these i n s e c t s .

FRENCH GEP PUBLICITY INITIATIVES - Pierre-Emmanuel Roubaud (No. 4.15), the GEP founder,

r e p o r t e d t h a t , i n a d d i t i o n t o the i n i t i a t i v e s d e s c r i b e d i n Le Monde des Phasmes

[summarised on page 10 of t h i s i s s u e j , the GEP i s seeking f i r m s t o sponsor a t r i p t o

Malaysia by 5-10 members.

DUTCH-BELGIAN PSG ACTIVITIES - This sub-group now has 60 members. To communicate

w i t h t h i s g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d number, and because o n l y a l i m i t e d p r o p o r t i o n of them read

E n g l i s h , a q u a r t e r l y Dutch n e w s l e t t e r c a l l e d Phasma has been s t a r t e d c o v e r i n g basics

on r e a r i n g , species, exchange, and quest i o n s and answers. The Dutch v e r s i o n of

Wa p i t i c h i l d r e n ' s magazine a l s o had an a r t i c l e about phasmids - some 50-60 people

wrote f o r eggs, advice, e t c , t o Johan van Gorkom (No. 250).

Johan i s a l s o o r g a n i s i n g f o u r cages o f s t i c k s as p a r t o f an e x h i b i t i o n o f

"Animals kept a t home" r u n n i n g from 29th March t o 7th A p r i l i n Z w i j n d r e c h t . The

next sub-group meeting i s on 20th A p r i l a t Hortus Haren ( c o n t a c t Kees Boele, No. 751).

EXHIBITIONS IN 1991 by Paul Jennings (No. 80)

T h i r t e e n t h Midlands Entomological F a i r - Sunday 28th A p r i l , 11a.m. -5p.m., a t

the Granby H a l l s L e i s u r e Centre, L e i c e s t e r . Two t a b l e s have been booked. Admission

30p j u n i o r s , 70p a d u l t s . Contact myself (0582-583954) f o r f u r t h e r d e t a i l s .

Second South London Entomological F a i r - Sunday 9th June, 11a.m. -4.15p.m., a t

the Arnhem G a l l e r y , F a i r f i e l d H a l l s , Park Lane, Croydon. Two t a b l e s have been booked.

Admission 30p j u n i o r s , 75p a d u l t s . Contact myself as above.

Possible e x h i b i t i o n s - Tables have not y e t been booked, so i f you are i n t e r e s t e d

i n a t t e n d i n g , please c o n t a c t the r e l e v a n t person f i r s t :

The Creepy Crawly Show - Sunday 9th June, 12 noon - 5p.m., a t the Queen E l i z a -

beth H a l l , Oldham Town Centre. I need someone t o o f f e r t o run a PSG stand before I

can book t a b l e s ! Contact myself as above.

Manchester Zoo F a i r - Contact David H e w i t t (0706-842355) f o r d e t a i l s .

Members w i s h i n g t o b r i n g a d i s p l a y o f l i v e s t o c k , photographs, e t c , t o any

e x h i b i t i o n should please c o n t a c t i n advance the a p p r o p r i a t e person above so t h a t they

know what t o expect. I f anybody knows about o t h e r s u i t a b l e e x h i b i t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y

i f he/she would l i k e t o run a PSG stand, please c o n t a c t me as e a r l y as p o s s i b l e .

Please ensure t h a t a l l l i v e s t o c k brought t o give away a t e x h i b i t i o n s i s p r o p e r l y

c o n t a i n e d , l a b e l l e d ( i n c l u d i n g person's name) and t h a t you check before l e a v i n g t h a t

your l i v e s t o c k has been given out. Enjoy your e x h i b i t i o n s i n 1991!

DERBYSHIRE ENTOMOLOGY SOCIETY EXHIBITION R e p o r t by P h i l B r a g g (No. 445)

As l a s t y e a r , t h i s w e l l - o r g a n i s e d l o c a l e x h i b i t i o n was a 2-day e v e n t h e l d a t

E l v a s t o n C a s t l e C o u n t r y P a r k j u s t o u t s i d e Derby. A t t e n d a n c e on t h e S a t u r d a y was

j u s t o v e r a hundred, a b o u t a s many a s t h e o r g a n i s e r s had e x p e c t e d . More e f f o r t had

been p u t i n t o p u b l i c i t y t h i s y e a r , b u t even so t h e a t t e n d a n c e o f o v e r a t h o u s a n d

on t h e Sunday was f a r beyond e x p e c t a t i o n s . P a u l T a y l o r (No. 852) p r o v i d e d some much

needed h e l p on our s t a n d on t h a t day. A l o t o f i n t e r e s t was shown, and q u i t e a few

membership forms, c a r e s h e e t s and phasmids were d i s t r i b u t e d .

HOW TO GIVE AWAY STICKS by M i c h a e l and F r a n c e s (No. 3)

S t i c k s c a n be g i v e n away t o members o r non-members a t m e e t i n g s o r e x h i b i t i o n s ,

t o o r g a n i s a t i o n s , o r by p o s t , so you have s i x d i f f e r e n t p o s s i b i l i t i e s i n a l l . What

and how t o p o s t s h o u l d be r e a d up c a r e f u l l y i n N e w s l e t t e r s 30 (pages 4-5) and 38

(page 7 ) .

To a m p l i f y on some o f t h e l e s s - o b v i o u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s , n e a r b y o r g a n i s a t i o n s

s u c h a s zoos, b u t t e r f l y h o u s e s , f i e l d s t u d y c e n t r e s and p e r h a p s s c h o o l s may be g l a d

t o r e c e i v e p e r s o n a l l y ( o r e v e n p e r h a p s t o c o l l e c t ) q u i t e l a r g e numbers of s t i c k s .

But, when making a r r a n g e m e n t s , a l s o l o o k t o s e e t h a t t h e y d o / w i l l l o o k a f t e r i n s e c t s

w e l l - some don't!

A n o t h e r way o f g i v i n g away a c o n s i d e r a b l e s u r p l u s ( b u t by p o s t ) i s t o c o n t a c t

i n d i v i d u a l s by w r i t i n g a l e t t e r t o a p r o v i n c i a l p a p e r ( W i l l i n g s P r e s s Guide g i v e s a

l i s t o f a l l o f t h e s e i n t h e UK and i s a v a i l a b l e i n most p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s ) . I f you

b r i e f l y d e s c r i b e what and how many s t i c k s you have t o o f f e r , a s k f o r good homes and

o n l y c h a r g e f o r p o s t a g e ( s a y how much t h i s w i l l b e ) , we h a v e found t h a t p r o v i n c i a l

p a p e r s w i l l u s u a l l y p r i n t y o u r l e t t e r . O t h e r j o u r n a l s a r e more c h o o s y ! Make s u r e

you have enough u n c r u s h a b l e p o s t i n g b oxes i n a d v a n c e !

T h e r e a r e two o t h e r l e s s - c e r t a i n ways o f g i v i n g away s u r p l u s . One i s t o n o t i f y

t h e L i v e s t o c k C o - o r d i n a t o r , P h i l B r a g g (No. 4 4 5 ) , o f what you have; b u t he may not

g e t any " c u s t o m e r s " t o p a s s y o u r name on t o ( p l e a s e note t h a t P h i l c a n no l o n g e r

a c c e p t l i v e s t o c k h i m s e l f ) . Or you c a n a s k u s t o p u t a note i n t h e n e x t N e w s l e t t e r -

but a g a i n you may g e t no c u s t o m e r s , o r t h e N e w s l e t t e r may come o u t a t a t i m e

i n c o n v e n i e n t f o r you, o r we may n o t have s p a c e !

F i n a l l y , P a u l T a y l o r (No. 852) h a s r e c e n t l y t o l d us t h a t he h a s s p a c e f o r s u r p l

l i v e s t o c k f o r l a t e r d i s t r i b u t i o n - b u t c o n t a c t him f i r s t b e f o r e s e n d i n g a n y t h i n g .

T h i s method does mean t h a t y o u r u n f o r t u n a t e s u r p l u s i s l i a b l e t o be p o s t e d t w i c e !

( P a u l ' s 'phone number i s 0675-81578.)

LAZENBY'S LAW by M i c h a e l and F r a n c e s (No. 3)

From N e w s l e t t e r 4, page 1

E v e r y o n e ' s s t i c k s behave d i f f e r e n t l y from e v e r y o n e e l s e ' s , and from y e a r t o y e a

THERE ARE NO CORRECT ANSWERS! by M i c h a e l and F r a n c e s (No. 3)

From N e w s l e t t e r 4, page 2

D a v i d R o b i n s o n ' s (No. 29) comments (now s e e N e w s l e t t e r 44, page 8) t h a t one

s e l e c t s s t i c k s w i t h a g e n e t i c b a c k g r o u n d s u i t i n g t h e c o n d i t i o n s one s u p p l i e s , and

t h a t one has a s m a l l gene p o o l t o work w i t h , and a l s o some a p p a r e n t c o n t r a d i c t i o n s

between o b s e r v a t i o n s r e p o r t e d by d i f f e r e n t members make us f e e l more and more t h a t

t h e r e a r e no a b s o l u t e l y c o r r e c t a n s w e r s t o many t h i n g s l i k e c o l o r a t i o n ( i n c l u d i n g

e g g s ) , d e t a i l e d b e h a v i o u r , and optimum r e a r i n g c o n d i t i o n s f o r s t i c k s .

STOP PRESS - S T I C K MAKES I T TO THE CHARTS! by M i c h a e l and F r a n c e s (No. 3)

An a d u l t S i p y l o i d e a s i p y l u s c a n be b r i e f l y g l i m p s e d ( a p p a r e n t l y a t l a r g e i n

t h e E n g l i s h c o u n t r y s i d e ! ) on t h e C a n d y f l i p v i d e o o f " G o s s i p " .

D I E E I E R E I N I G E R CARAUSIUS-ARTEN UND E I N I G E BERMERKUNGEN ZU DIESEM GENUS,

BY BURGHARD HAUSLEITHNER

T h i s p a p e r ( i n German) i n E n t . Z e i t . , 100 ( 1990) (21 ), 393-400, d e s c r i b e s and i l l u s

t r a t e s f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e eggs o f n i n e C a r a u s i u s s p e c i e s and o f L e p r o c a u l u s r u d i s .

46:4

CLASSIFICATION OF STICK INSECTS: Talk at the PSG 1991 AGM by J u d i t h Marshall (No. 13)

C l a s s i f i c a t i o n i s the a c t or system of arranging i n c l a s s e s , and i s l i n k e d with

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , as i t i s the grouping of s i m i l a r genera together.

There are now about 2500 described s p e c i e s of phasmid i n about 360 genera, so

s o r t i n g them i n t o smaller, r e l a t e d groups would be u s e f u l .

I d e n t i f i c a t i o n i s often not an easy process - the a r t i c l e by Paul Brock (No. 26)

i n Newsletter 45 (pages 4-5) e x p l a i n s the problems involved here; i n order to

i d e n t i f y an unknown s p e c i e s , i t i s often necessary to undertake a lengthy search of

l i t e r a t u r e and c o l l e c t i o n s m a t e r i a l .

However, i n the e a r l y days of p u b l i c a t i o n there was l e s s of a problem because

so few s p e c i e s were known. . I t became e s t a b l i s h e d p r a c t i c e i n the seventeenth and

eighteenth c e n t u r i e s to give a d e s c r i p t i v e sentence for each p l a n t and animal. This

sentence would be i n L a t i n , the language used among s c i e n t i s t s then. During the

eighteenth century the great Swedish n a t u r a l i s t Linnaeus developed the system of

binomial nomenclature; t h a t i s , of g i v i n g two L a t i n or l a t i n i s e d names to every animal

or p l a n t s p e c i e s , as a s o r t of "short-hand" name. For animals, the tenth e d i t i o n

of h i s Systema Naturae, published i n 1758, i s the s t a r t i n g point.

Linnaeus had already e s t a b l i s h e d a s i m i l a r system for p l a n t s , and the p l a n t and

animal kingdoms are t r e a t e d s e p a r a t e l y . Thus the name B a c i l l u s , meaning "a l i t t l e

rod", i s used both for a group of s t i c k i n s e c t s and for the group of b a c t e r i a which

are commonly r e f e r r e d to i n the p l u r a l as " b a c i l l i " .

Linnaeus d e s c r i bed only two s t i c k i n s e c t s i n 1758, though under the generic

name Mantis; these were (Phasma) gigas and (Pseudophasma) p h t h i s i c a . During the

next few years other s p e c i e s were described, by Linnaeus, F a b r i c i u s , Thunberg,

de Geer and others, and i n 1796 the genus Phasma was described by L i c h t e n s t e i n .

From t h i s name Leach i n 1815 derived the name Phasmida for the'whole group.

By 1838 there were 15 described genera, to which Burmeister gave a key, i n

L a t i n , though h i s book was mainly p r i n t e d i n o l d German. The f i r s t couplet was

winged or wingless - one of the most obvious d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e s . (Though a

good point to bear i n mind here i s - i f wingless, i s i t a d u l t ? Some older d e s c r i p -

t i o n s are unfortunately of nymphs.)

The f i r s t major work on s t i c k i n s e c t s was published i n 1859 by Westwood; he was

able to l i s t 39 genera, comprising 471 s p e c i e s , i n two main groups - a d u l t s winged

or wingless. Westwood's work was based on the specimens i n the c o l l e c t i o n a t the

Natural History Museum i n London and other m a t e r i a l ; he p a r t i c u l a r l y mentions

"Mr Saunders' c o l l e c t i o n " , which now forms p a r t of the Hope Department c o l l e c t i o n

i n Oxford. The book i s p a r t i c u l a r l y v a l u a b l e for the many i l l u s t r a t i o n s , as Paul

has s a i d .

The f i r s t major work on the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of s t i c k i n s e c t s was that published

by S t a l i n 1875, which forms a key to the approximately 95 genera then described.

I t i s not easy to use, being i n L a t i n and about 60 pages long, and i t does not have

a s t r a i g h t couplet key but a c o l l e c t i o n of d e s c r i p t i v e paragraphs. However, S t a l

e s t a b l i s h e d the main f e a t u r e s of r e a l value i n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . He introduced the

terms "areola a p i c a l i s " and "segmentum medianum". The a r e o l a or a p i c a l area i s

the name he gave to the t r i a n g u l a r depression at the apex or t a r s a l end of the mid

and hind t i b i a e . The segmentum medianum, or median segment, i s the f i r s t abdominal

segment (named presumably because i t i s i n the middle of the body) and i t i s

compared i n length with the metanotum or t h i r d t h o r a c i c segment.

Brunner, i n 1893, d i s c u s s e d S t a l ' s work ( i n French) and gave a short key ( i n

L a t i n ) to f a m i l i e s .

Two f u r t h e r major works on s t i c k i n s e c t s were published e a r l y t h i s century:

Kirby's 1904 catalogue, and the immense monograph by Brunner and Redtenbacher,

1906-08. One might think t h a t t h i s would make i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s e a s i e r , but keys

and d e s c r i p t i o n s i n B. & R. are again i n L a t i n , and unfortunately there are many

taxonomic e r r o r s . Karny c o r r e c t e d many of these e r r o r s i n h i s 1923 paper. Other

problems e x i s t because B. & R. did not know of Kirby's catalogue, and Kirby had

included new names and other taxonomic changes.

46:5

The most u s e f u l taxonomic work t h i s c e n t u r y was t h e 1953 paper by Gttnther, i n

which he keyed out f a m i l i e s and lower ranks, and l i s t e d the i n c l u d e d genera w i t h

a p p r o p r i a t e comments. The paper i s i n German, but he r e f e r s t o t h e "area a p i c a l i s "

and a l s o t o the "segmentum medianum", immediately q u o t i n g = 1. Abdominal-Segment.

Beier used Gunther's key i n h i s p u b l i c a t i o n s on the Phasmida i n 1957 and 1968,

but u s i n g the term " m i t t e l s e g m e n t " f o r median segment.

In the 1970s two E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s were p u b l i s h e d : C l a r k (No. 48) i n 1975

t r a n s l a t e d Beier's 1968 key and i n c l u d e d a most u s e f u l drawing o f the a p i c a l area

(see Ent. Rec, 87, 104-7), and i n 1977 a comprehensive t r a n s l a t i o n of Gtlnther's

key was p u b l i s h e d by Bradley and G a l i l . U n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e t r a n s l a t o r s d i d not

a p p r e c i a t e the n a t u r e of the median segment, and i n both p u b l i c a t i o n s the median

segment i s r e f e r r e d t o as the mesonotum, t h e m i d - t h o r a c i c segment. However, as

l o n g as one i s aware o f t h i s , i t does not d e t r a c t from t h e value o f the t r a n s l a t i o n s

There are a l s o o t h e r e r r o r s i n t h e Bradley and G a l i l paper, i n the i n t e r p r e t -

a t i o n of e a r l i e r works and usage o f f a m i l y - g r o u p names e t c , but s a d l y Bradley d i e d

w h i l s t w o r k i n g on the t r a n s l a t i o n , and though G a l i l v a l i a n t l y completed the work,

she d i d not have Bradley's knowledge o f taxonomy. ( I have been c o m p i l i n g a l i s t of

problems over the years, o n l y some of which do I b e l i e v e I have s o r t e d o u t ! )

The most r e c e n t work t o discuss t h e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of the s t i c k i n s e c t s i s

t h a t o f Kevan (No. 441) i n Parker, 1982 (see a l s o N e w s l e t t e r 39, pages 3-5). Kevan

has worked on o r t h o p t e r o i d i n s e c t s f o r many years and has a good knowledge of the

group, though he seems t o enjoy i n v e n t i n g e x t r a names! He has e l e v a t e d t h e ranks

of e x i s t i n g f a m i l y - g r o u p s , d i v i d e d the order i n t o two suborders and i n s e r t e d i n f r a -

o r d i n a l names - w h i l s t o m i t t i n g t r i b e s a l t o g e t h e r and dropping some su b f a m i l y

names. Re c o g n i t i o n o f t h e d i f f e r e n t groups i s i m p o r t a n t , however, whatever t h e i r

rank or name may be.

W h i l s t checking through papers and books d u r i n g the l a s t few days, I read

Kevan's pages on the "Phasmatoptera" i n Parker. I am ashamed t o say t h a t , a l t h o u g h

I had noted h i s arrangement o f f a m i l i e s e t c , I had not a c t u a l l y read every work he

had w r i t t e n . Near t h e bottom o f t h e second page, r e f e r r i n g t o the B a c i l l i d a e , I

read t h a t the " f i r s t abdominal segment i s s h o r t e r than the t h o r a c i c mesonotum" -

a t y p i n g e r r o r ! - p a r t i c u l a r l y as i n t h e next column, on Bacunculidae, metanotum i s

c o r r e c t l y used. However, on t h e next page, on t h e Necrosciidae and Heteronemiidae,

the " t h o r a c i c mesonotum" i s compared i n l e n g t h w i t h , t h e metanotum. Kevan was

o b v i o u s l y i n i t i a l l y aware of the c o r r e c t usage here, but f a i l e d t o spot the mis-

usage which c r e p t i n l a t e r .

Brunner and Redtenbacher used t h e names A r e o l a t a e and Anareolatae f o r the

major groups or d i v i s i o n s d e s c r i b e d by S t a l . L a t e r a u t h o r s , i n c l u d i n g Karny,

Gunther and B e i e r , have used t h e s u b f a m i l y names P h y l l i i d a e and Phasmatidae.

Family-group names are s u b j e c t t o t h e r u l i n g s of the Code - the r u l e s f o r m u l a t e d by

the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Commission on Z o o l o g i c a l Nomenclature. One,of t h e r u l e s of the

Code i s t h a t f a m i l y - g r o u p names are d e r i v e d from the g e n i t i v e p l u r a l stem of the

generic name on which t h e f a m i l y i s based: hence the f a m i l y name Phasmatidae,

from phasma, phasmata; not Phasmidae. However, names above f a m i l y - g r o u p l e v e l

are not s u b j e c t t o any r u l e s . Thus t h e f i r s t name proposed and s i n c e used f o r the

Order - Phasmida - i s a v a l i d name. I t a l s o has the advantage o f being s h o r t and

e a s i l y s p e l t .

Various o t h e r names have been proposed and are i n use f o r t h e Order; Phasmatode

was proposed by Jacobson and B i a n c h i , 1902, as b e i n g c o r r e c t l y d e r i v e d from Phasma,

and the name Phasmatoptera i s d e r i v e d from t h e Phasmoptera o f Crampton, 1915, as

u s i n g the c o r r e c t stem. £~See a l s o N e w s l e t t e r 38, pages 5-7. - EdsJ

SCIENTIFIC NAMES ON THE SPECIES LIST by P h i l Bragg (No. 445)

The form used i s e i t h e r "Genus species Author" or "Genus Author sp."

The genus always comes f i r s t and s t a r t s w i t h a c a p i t a l l e t t e r . The species

always comes second, i f i t i s known, and always s t a r t s w i t h a s m a l l l e t t e r . This i s

then f o l l o w e d by the name of t h e person who f i r s t d e s c r i b e d the species.

I f the second word begins w i t h a c a p i t a l l e t t e r , then i t i s the name of the

person who i n v e n t e d t h e genus. This w i l l then be f o l l o w e d by "sp.", showing t h a t

the species i s unknown.

I n some cases the a u t h o r ' s name i s i n b r a c k e t s . This i s because t h e i n s e c t has

been moved t o another genus si n c e b e i n g f i r s t d e s c r i b e d .

46:6

NOTES ON THE S P E C I E S L I S T , JANUARY 1991 by P h i l B r a g g (No. 445)

T h i s l i s t was b r o u g h t up t o d a t e a t t h e end o f J a n u a r y . The main changes s i n c e

t h e l a s t update ( i n N e w s l e t t e r 45, page 1) a r e a s f o l l o w s :

1. PSG 27 and PSG 66 - P a u l B r o c k (No. 26) h a s examined t h e t y p e s p e c i m e n o f

C a r a u s i u s s a n g u i n e o l i g a t u s ( B r u n n e r ) and has found t h a t PSG 66 i s C. s a n g u i n e o -

l i g a t u s and not PSG 27, w h i c h shows s l i g h t d i f f e r e n c e s . H o p e f u l l y d e t a i l s w i l l

be g i v e n i n t h e n e x t N e w s l e t t e r . PSG 27 was r e p o r t e d a s l o s t s e v e r a l y e a r s

ago but some c u l t u r e s have been r e p o r t e d t h i s y e a r . I have shown PSG 27 a s a

" l o s t " c u l t u r e u n t i l i t i s p o s s i b l e t o c h e c k t h e i d e n t i t y o f t h o s e c u l t u r e s

r e p o r t e d t h i s y e a r . PSG 66 i s c e r t a i n l y s t i l l i n c u l t u r e .

2. F o o d p l a n t s - T h i s s e c t i o n h a s been expanded by r e f e r e n c e t o t h e S p e c i e s R e p o r t s

and a s a r e s u l t o f a few t r i a l s o f my own.

3. S p e c i e s R e p o r t s - F o r t h e b r i e f r e p o r t s o n l y , I have i n c l u d e d t h e page number

a f t e r t h e N e w s l e t t e r number.

4. F o u r new s p e c i e s have been added t o t h e l i s t .

5. PSG 103 a p p e a r s t o be a S i p y l o i d e a s p .

S P E C I E S CENSUS RETURNS 1991 A n a l y s i s by P h i l B r a g g (No. 445)

The f o l l o w i n g i s a summary o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e s p e c i e s c e n s u s w h i c h was s e p t

out a t t h e bottom of t h e membership r e n e w a l * form.

A t o t a l o f 118 c e n s u s forms were r e t u r n e d . Of t h e s e , 12 p e o p l e s t a t e d t h a t

t h e y do n o t have any phasmids i n c u l t u r e a t p r e s e n t . A f u r t h e r 23 p e o p l e who r e t u r n e d

t h e form had n o t c o m p l e t e d i t . More t h a n t w o - t h i r d s o f 1990 members have not

co m p l e t e d a c e n s u s form.

T h e r e a r e 76 s p e c i e s r e p o r t e d a s b e i n g i n c u l t u r e (PSG 59 and 60 a r e t h e same

s p e c i e s ) , p l u s 29 s p e c i e s n o t on t h e S p e c i e s L i s t w h i c h p e o p l e a r e a t t e m p t i n g t o r e a r .

The most p o p u l a r s p e c i e s i s r e p o r t e d t o be PSG 4 ( S i p y l o i d e a s i p y l u s ) , f o l l o w e d

f a i r l y c l o s e l y by PSG 1 ( C a r a u s i u s morosus) and PSG 9 ( E x t a t o s o m a t i a r a t u m ) . The

w o r r y i n g a s p e c t of t h e c e n s u s i s t h a t t h e r e a r e o n l y 35 s p e c i e s w h i c h a r e r e p o r t e d

a s e s t a b l i s h e d by f i v e o r more members.

s p . C T s p . c I s p . C >

s p . C s p . C s p . c 1 s p . c T

1 47 1 17 5 3 31 19 53 0 81 0 2 100 4 12 112 2 1

2 6 9 18 24 22 32 2 57 1 82 12 101 10 113 3

3 7 10 19 <

35 5 58 0 1 84 24 « 102 4 114 1 0

< 53 2 20 37 > • 59 2 85 I 103 12 2 115 2 0

26 3 22 26 2 38 2 60 2 86 104 9 3 116 0

2 2 23 34 »

39 2 3 61 5 89 2 105 4

46 12 25 • 2 44 12 66 3 2 90 2 106 0 1

10 6 26 2 45 3 3 69 12 5 92 3 2 107 1 2

12 6 « 27 2 47 1 72 4 5 94 12 108 2

13 13 15 28 3 3 48 2 73 10 96 3 109 0 1

15 2 3 29 *

51 1 2 74 1 97 0 2 110 0 2 .

I B 5 2 30 1 2 52 8 10 80 1 3 99 12 10 111 0 2

Key: s p. = PSG s p e c i e s number; C = Number o f e s t a b l i s h e d c u l t u r e s ;

T = Number o f t e n t a t i v e c u l t u r e s .

46:7

THE DIFFICULTY OF KEEPING IN AN ASSOCIATION A LARGE NUMBER OF CULTURES WITH A MINIMUM OF BREEDERS by Serge Mallet (No. 706)

Some p r e t t y or spectacular species are kept by many members, and these are not i n danger. Many other species are kept by only a few members. These species are c e r t a i n l y i n t e r e s t i n g f o r science but are s i m i l a r t o other species and not p r e t t y or spectacular; the beginner does not ask f o r them and the "b e t t e r " breeders have many other new and/or rare speces t o breed. I f you want a species not t o disappear from the Species Census reports, don't stop your own c u l t u r e . I f you want t o change f o r another species, you can't be sure t h a t another member w i l l keep the species and the c u l t u r e may be l o s t . One hundred and sixteen species on the PSG l i s t ; how many i n 1992? And how many breeders f o r a l l these species?

[in the 1991 Census (see page 6) there are 76 species i n c u l t u r e and 582 estab-l i s h e d c u l t u r e s . I f we guess t h a t we need 5 established c u l t u r e s per species t o keep i t securely i n the Group, t h a t means we need only 380 established c u l t u r e s to keep a l l 76 species; so t h i s could be done, at le a s t i n theory. But i t would need both a vast amount of a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o set up and keep running (who would do t h i s work?) as w e l l as a l o t more co-operation than members have so f a r given. And 582 estab-l i s h e d c u l t u r e s i n c l u d i n g many easy-to-keep species may not be equivalent t o as many as 380 cult u r e s i n c l u d i n g p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y many more harder-to-keep species. - Eds]

MEMBERS SHOULD STOP COLLECTING PHASMIDS IN THE WILD An opinion by Michael and Frances (No. 3)

What i s the p o i n t of PSG members c o l l e c t i n g phasmids i n the wild? Now t h a t more and more of the Group's energies are being devoted t o c o l l e c t i n g , we f e e l we must speak out about t h i s - at the r i s k of l o s i n g some valued f r i e n d s , and not f o r g e t -t i n g the steady g r i n d of administering the Group nor the serious independent studies being c a r r i e d out by a few members.

The Group's c o l l e c t i n g seems t o us almost p o i n t l e s s when so l i t t l e e f f o r t i s being put i n t o s e r i o u s l y studying the phasmids c o l l e c t e d - only s i x members have ever completed a Study Sheet. Further, o l d species are now being " l o s t " nearly as f a s t as new ones are c o l l e c t e d (compare recent Species Census reports), so there i s l i t t l e o v e r a l l gain t o the Group's c u l t u r e s . And then there i s the c r u e l t y t o the s t i c k s , when i n general so many of them die i n t r a n s i t , some even before leaving t h e i r country of o r i g i n . (A more caring strategy f o r the c o l l e c t o r i s t o make enough time t o stay i n one spot, so t h a t the insects can be kept i n t h e i r n a t u r a l environment u n t i l they have l a i d s u f f i c i e n t eggs f o r a c u l t u r e before being released.)

Rather t h a t the Group c o l l e c t i n g phasmids l i k e so many postage stamps, we thi n k i t s energies would be be t t e r devoted t o studying our present stocks - what do they look l i k e , how do they behave, and why do they die so often?!

WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH OUR SURPLUS? - Replies

We have had two r e p l i e s t o our a r t i c l e under the above t i t l e i n Newsletter 45 (page 2) - from Serge Mallet (No. 706) and Matthew Gale (No. 770).

As these r e p l i e s would take up several times the space of the o r i g i n a l a r t i c l e , and also overlap each other t o a considerable extent, we have decided t o summarise the main po i n t s they make, as f a i r l y as we are able.

Both Serge and Matthew argue t h a t , because only a small number of s t i c k s survive i n the w i l d , the small number which survive i n the PSG i s acceptable. But we f e e l t h a t the s i t u a t i o n s i n nature and i n the PSG are not comparable because i n nature the deaths are f o r s u r v i v a l of predators and i n e v i t a b l e , whereas i n the PSG most of the deaths could be avoided by t a k i n g more care and none are necessary fo r s u r v i v a l (of the s t i c k s or us). We agree t h a t i f we k i l l eggs we are denying these s t i c k s the chance t o survive, but we s t i l l t h i n k i t c r u e l t o allow s t i c k s to hatch i n t o more or less uncaring conditions.

I t i s pleasing t o be able t o say t h a t both Matthew and Serge appear t o be among our few "welcome exceptions" and, u n l i k e our experience, most of Serge's given-away nymphs do w e l l .

46:8

WHY DO EXTATOSOMA TIARATUM HAVE EXTRA EYES? Comments by Matthew G a l e (No. 770)

C o n c e r n i n g N i c h o l a s Wadham's (No. 358) a r t i c l e i n N e w s l e t t e r 45 (page 1 5 ) , t h e

t h r e e e x t r a e y e s on m a l e s ' f o r e h e a d s a r e o c e l l i . T h e s e a r e " s i m p l e e y e s " , w h i c h a r e

r e a l l y n o t h i n g more t h a n c l u s t e r s o f l i g h t - s e n s i t i v e c e l l s f o r p e r c e i v i n g t h e d i r e c -

t i o n and i n t e n s i t y o f l i g h t ; t h e y do n o t form images a s compound e y e s do. N i c h o l a s

i s r i g h t about t h e s e e y e s b e i n g u s e f u l f o r winged s p e c i e s ; t h e y may h e l p t o

o r i e n t a t e t h e i n s e c t s ( t h r o u g h t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e sun/moon - t h e most i n t e n s e l i g h t

s o u r c e s d u r i n g t h e d a y / n i g h t ) . However, m a l e s o f s p e c i e s s u c h a s A c r o p h y l l a

w u e l f i n g i , E. t i a r a t u m and Aplopus s p . would p r o b a b l y depend more on pheromones t o

f i n d f e m a l e s ( a s , I s u s p e c t , most s p e c i e s d o ) . T h e i r a n t e n n a e a r e l o n g e r and,

e s p e c i a l l y w i t h Aplopus sp. and E. t i a r a t u m , more complex s t r u c t u r a l l y t h a n t h e

f e m a l e s ' , h a v i n g more h a i r s , segments, e t c .

PSEUDO-MOULTING IN ACROPHYLLA WUELFINGI?

A p o s s i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n by Matthew G a l e (No. 770)

H a v i n g t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e - r e a d t h e a r t i c l e I w r o t e on t h e h a p l e s s A. w u e l f i n g i

nymph w h i c h c o n t i n u e d t o t r y t o moult even though s h e ' d a l r e a d y done so ( N e w s l e t t e r

45, page 6 ) , c a u s e d me t o t h i n k about why t h i s might have happened. Changes s u c h

as e c d y s i s i n i n s e c t s a r e u s u a l l y governed by t h e c o r p o r a a l l a t a ( p a r t of t h e " b r a i n " )

and, w h i l e I c a n ' t e x p l a i n why, I b e l i e v e t h a t t h e c o r p o r a a l l a t a must have c o n t i n u e d

to c h u r n out t h e hormones w h i c h govern e c d y s i s , r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s

p r o c e s s s h o u l d become dormant a f t e r a moult. The c o r p o r a a l l a t a a l s o g o verns t h e

number of m o u l t s n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e i n s e c t t o become a d u l t and, i f s o m e t h i n g was

wrong w i t h t h i s nymph's c o r p o r a a l l a t a , h e r p r o m i n e n t abdomina l p r o t u b e r a n c e s and

l a r g e r t h a n n o r m a l wing-buds f o r a f o u r t h - i n s t a r f e m a l e A. w u e l f i n g i c o u l d have been

a r e s u l t o f t h i s , i n t h a t h e r development was somehow speeded up.

DEFENSIVE STRIDULATION IN HETEROPTERYX DILATATA PARKINSON, BY ULF CARLBERG

T h i s p a p e r i n Z o o l . Anz. (223 (1989) 3/4, 165-73) s t a t e s t h a t t h e sound i n

a d u l t f e m a l e s i s p r o d u c e d by t h e r e d d i s h h i n d wings, w h i c h a r e exposed, t h e g r e e n

f o r e wings p r o b a b l y b e i n g u s e d a s sound r e f l e c t o r s . The peak sound l e v e l s u r p r i s -

i n g l y r e a c h e s a l m o s t 100 dB(A) 10 cm from t h e i n s e c t , f a l l i n g t o 75 dB(A) 100 cm

away - t h e maximum sound l e v e l o c c u r s a t f r e q u e n c i e s from 8 t o 13 kHz. The sound

c o n s i s t s of a s h o r t and weak h i s s ( i n i t i a l l y ) f o l l o w e d by a s t r o n g c l i c k , and ends

w i t h a s e r i e s o f h i s s e s and some weaker c l i c k s - t h e whole l a s t i n g about 2 s e c o n d s .

The d e f e n s i v e p o s t u r e of c o u r s e mimics s c o r p i o n s and t h e sound p r o b a b l y a l s o mimics

t h a t of s c o r p i o n s (and p e r h a p s r a t t l e s n a k e s ) , and c a n f r i g h t e n b i r d s and mammals.

The r e f e r e n c e s i n c l u d e t h r e e t o t h e N e w s l e t t e r !

EURYCANTHA CALCARATA MALE DOMINANCE SHIFTING by R o b e r t L i n d (No. 315)

I had a p a i r o f a d u l t s and one l a r g e male nymph. The nymph mou l t e d t o become

a s l i g h t l y l a r g e r male t h a n t h e f i r s t one. From o b s e r v a t i o n i t was q u i t e c l e a r

t h a t t h e o l d male was dominant o v e r t h e new one: ihe would s i t on t o p of t h e fe m a l e

and c h a s e o f f t h e new male.

Then I took t h e new male and t h e f e m a l e t o c o l l e g e f o r a week's "showing".

D u r i n g t h i s t i m e t h e o l d male a t home became v e r y r e s t l e s s , even b r e a k i n g out of

the c a g e !

I n t h e p e r i o d a t c o l l e g e t h e new male and t h e f e m a l e had a c h a n c e t o p a i r ,

p r o b a b l y f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . When I b r o u g h t t h e p a i r back home, a f i g h t broke out

between t h e m a l e s ; a l l dominance had been f o r g o t t e n a b o u t . The dominance changed

and t h e new male became dominant o v e r t h e o l d one: s i t t i n g o v e r t h e f e m a l e and

c h a s i n g ( a t s p e e d ) t h e o l d male away. Then a few days a f t e r t h e i n i t i a l f i g h t i n g ,

t h e o l d male d i e d ( p e r h a p s from e x h a u s t i o n ) . .-

The f i g h t i n g went on a l l n i g h t and most o f t h e day f o r s e v e r a l days; i t was so

n o i s y , owing t o g e n e r a l f i g h t i n g on newspaper and a l s o t o t h e s t r a n g e " t a p p i n g "

p r o d u c e d by t h e m a l e s b e a t i n g t h e i r h i n d q u a r t e r s , t h a t i t was d i f f i c u l t t o s l e e p

t h r o u g h !

I t was i n t e r e s t i n g t o s e e how t h e dominance s h i f t e d .

46:9

STRANGE EURYCANTHA SP. (PSG 44) BEHAVIOUR by Daniel I s a a c (No. 803)

I took one out of the tank and h i s mouth foamed up with a white creamy l i q u i d .

L a t e r he was a c t i n g a l l r i g h t .

HOW TO PRESS A PHYLLIUM NYMPH by A l a i n Deschandol (No. 238)

Moulting a c c i d e n t s occur very frequently with Phyllium nymphs. I f the i n s e c t

i s caught i n i t s old s k i n for a long time, the new s k i n hardens and the i n s e c t

cannot emerge normally. Many Phyllium phasmids die owing to t h i s .

One of my male Phyllium nymphs (fourth i n s t a r ) was caught i n t h i s way. I freed

i t by c u t t i n g the old s k i n with s c i s s o r s , but h i s l e a f y abdomen was crumpled. So

I decided to p r e s s i t !

I l a i d the nymph on a p i e c e of polystyrene

and held h i s thorax with needles ( o u t s i d e ! ) . I

covered h i s abdomen with transparent paper tape

and very d e l i c a t e l y pressed i t . A f t e r some

minutes I r e p l a c e d the paper tape by S e l l o t a p e cut

to the r i g h t o u t l i n e ; the S e l l o t a p e h e l d h i s

abdomen spread out. The nymph kept h i s "bandage"

for s e v e r a l weeks. When I decided to remove the

S e l l o t a p e , t h i s proved very easy because i t was

somewhat d r i e d . The abdomen r e t a i n e d i t s spread-

out shape without damage! Thi s nymph i s i n good

health i n h i s cage.

ABOUT PHYLLIUMS BRED IN EUROPE by A l a i n Deschandol (No. 238)

So f a r as I know, there are s e v e r a l Phyllium s p e c i e s i n c u l t u r e i n Europe.

Ph. giganteum (from M a l a y s i a ) , Ph. celebicum ( T h a i l a n d ) , Ph. s i c c i f o l i u m (Malaysia),

Ph. p u l c h r i f o l i u m ( J a v a ) , Ph. scythe ( S r i Lanka), Ph. agathyrsus ( S r i Lanka) and

d i f f e r e n t s o r t s of Ph. bioculatum (Malaysia, the S e y c h e l l e s , S r i Lanka, Java, e t c ) .

The f i r s t s i x s p e c i e s are e a s i l y i d e n t i f i e d because of t h e i r shapes and

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c eggs. But there i s great confusion about Ph. bioculatum. This i s due

to numerous forms taken by t h i s s p e c i e s and the lack of complete c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s made

by " s p e c i a l i s t s " . Some of them think t h a t Ph. bioculatum, Ph. c r u r i f o l i u m and

Ph. scythe are the same s p e c i e s , because there are few d i f f e r e n c e s between t h e i r

shapes and between t h e i r eggs. Others w r i t e t h a t any s p e c i e s of Phyllium can take

many shapes ( i n c l u d i n g the eggs). A f t e r 2 years of study I do not agree with t h i s .

In my c u l t u r e s I have "Ph. bioculatum" of s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t s p e c i e s or sub-species,

and the lengths, shapes, nymphs, a d u l t s and eggs are a l l d i f f e r e n t . The colours are

a l s o d i f f e r e n t , but t h i s i s not a good c r i t e r i o n for s e p a r a t i n g l e a f i n s e c t s p e c i e s .

As I wrote before (Newsletter 41, page 20), i t i s necessary to s p e c i f y the

country of o r i g i n when speaking about Phyllium s p e c i e s . Ph. bioculatum from the

S e y c h e l l e s i s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t from Ph. bioculatum from Malaysia, and the l a t t e r i s

quite d i f f e r e n t from Ph. bioculatum from S r i Lanka, e t c .

Dealers are supplying eggs from d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s a l l under the name

Ph. bioculatum and, as these eggs look n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l to the naked eye, confu-

sions a r i s e . A c t u a l l y the most widespread s p e c i e s i n c u l t u r e i s the Ph. bioculatum

from S r i Lanka, because the nymphs feed on bramble a t the f i r s t stage. Breeders

think t h i s i s number 10 i n the PSG Species L i s t , but t h i s i s not c o r r e c t for two

reasons:

1. PSG 10 i s s a i d to o r i g i n a t e from Java.

2. The s p e c i e s described by Mel Herbert (No. 232) i n the Species Report i n

Newsletter 37 does not look l i k e a Ph. bioculatum s p e c i e s but l i k e a

Ph. p u l c h r i f o l i u m s p e c i e s . I am breeding both these s p e c i e s . The curved-in t i p

of the abdomen of Ph. p u l c h r i f o l i u m i s very c h a r a c t e r i s t i c .

I have no information about PSG 59 and 60, a l s o Ph. p u l c h r i f o l i u m , so I would be

pleased to get eggs, or specimens, drawings, photos, e t c . Who i s breeding these

two s p e c i e s ?

46: 10

LE MONDE PES PHASMES: SUMMARIES AND HIGHLIGHTS by M i c h a e l and F r a n c e s (No. 3)

NUMBER 9-10 ( O c t o b e r 1990)

Foreword by P. E. Roubaud (page 2)

The GEP sub-committee s on r e a r i n g , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and l i t e r a t u r e w i l l e n c ourage

a l l members t o s t u d y t h e i r p h asmids.

I d e n t i f i c a t i o n and b i o l o g y o f F r e n c h phasmids by P h i l i p p e L e l o n g (pages 3-12)

F r e n c h v e r s i o n o f a r t i c l e on pages 18-24 o f N e w s l e t t e r 38.

C l o n i s t r i a s a n c t a e l u c i a e ( R e d t e n b a c h e r ) - A C a r i b b e a n phasmid

by A. Salzemann (pages 13-14)

B r i e f S p e c i e s R e p o r t ( w i t h o u t i l l u s t r a t i o n s ) on a 1 5 - y e a r - o l d c u l t u r e . A d u l t

f e m a l e s a r e g r e e n o r brown.

Parapachymorpha s p i n o s a B r u n n e r , 1893 by P. E. Roubaud (pages 15-16)

See p ages 5 (und e r F i r s t s p e c i e s ) and 6 o f N e w s l e t t e r 40.

E x u v i a e and s h e d d i n g i n Ex t a t o s o m a t i a r a t u m by I s a b e l l e D e l s c h l a e g e r (pages 17-19)

T h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e s h e d d i n g p r o c e s s i n c l u d e s d r a w i n g s made under a m i c r o -

scope o f t h e v a r i o u s " s k i n " l a y e r s b e f o r e , d u r i n g and j u s t a f t e r s h e d d i n g . ( F o r

t r a n s l a t i o n s e e pages 12-13 o f t h i s N e w s l e t t e r . )

C o l o u r s o f t h e e x u v i a e of phasmids by Dorothy F l o y d (page 20)

Th e s e a r e u s u a l l y w h i t e b u t e x c e p t i o n s a r e t h o s e o f Baculum e x t r a d e n t a t u m ,

which a r e p i n k , and t h o s e o f l a r g e H e t e r o p t e r y x d i l a t a t a f e m a l e s , w h i c h a r e gr e e n .

The c o l o u r s do n o t change w i t h t i m e .

The i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f phasmids by P. Br o c k ( p a g e s 21-24)

F r e n c h v e r s i o n o f a r t i c l e on pages 4-5 o f N e w s l e t t e r 45.

GEP c o m m i t t e e s on i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and l i t e r a t u r e ( p a g e s 25-26)

R e p o r t s work on t h e GEP phasmid r e f e r e n c e c o l l e c t i o n and l i b r a r y .

S m a l l ads (p a g e s 27-29)

L i v e s t o c k w a n t s .

E c d y s i s (page 29)

T h i s new A4 monthly j o u r n a l c o n s i s t s o f a d v e r t i s e m e n t s o f i n s e c t s u r p l u s e s and

exc h a n g e s . F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t N oel Mai (No. 3 9 5 ) .

L i s t o f s p e c i e s i n c u l t u r e and f o r exchange ( p a g e s 30-33)

The Commentary a t t h e end by A. D e s c h a n d o l p o i n t s out t h a t t h e t h r e e F r e n c h

s p e c i e s a r e b a r e l y r e p r e s e n t e d . The " H i t P a r a d e " o f e i g h t s t a r t s w i t h E. t i a r a t u m ,

k e p t by 78% on t h e l i s t , and i n c l u d e s O r e o p h o e t e s p e r u a n a s , k e p t by 43%.

NUMBER 11 (December 1990)

Foreword by P. E . Roubaud (page 2)

The a r t i c l e i n W a p i t i ( s e e N e w s l e t t e r 45, page 2) a t t r a c t e d 1500 r e q u e s t s f o r

eggs and 50 new GEP members. F u r t h e r a r t i c l e s w i l l a ppear i n two o t h e r F r e n c h

m a g a z i n e s . The GEP showed phasmids a t f o u r r e c e n t . e x h i b i t i o n s , c o v e r i n g n e a r l y

40 d ays i n 2 months!

46: 11

Carausius morosus "males" by F. Gagneraud (pages 3-7)

Discusses t h e i r chromosomal s t r u c t u r e , production by heating the eggs, and external and i n t e r n a l sexual organs, mainly based on Bergerard's paper i n B u l l . b i o l . France e t Belgique, 95 (1961) ( 2 ) , 273-300.

A new phasmid from Thailand: Baculum t h a i i n. sp. by Burghard Hausleithner (pages 8-11)

A t r a n s l a t i o n by Monique Vergne of the paper i n German i n Ent. Z e i t . , 95 (1985) (15), 216-9 describing and naming t h i s species.

Pharnacia acanthopus (PSG 25) by D. Faux and L. Zancarli (page 12)

A short Species Report, w i t h sketches of the eggs only.

Extatosoma ti a r a t u m by D. Faux (page 13)

Suggests t h a t i n c r e a s i n g problems of f i r s t - i n s t a r m o r t a l i t i e s and reduced sizes are due t o b r o t h e r - s i s t e r interbreeding. This problem (which i s w e l l known t o breeders of f i s h or b u t t e r f l i e s ) could be avoided by exchanging eggs.

Description and r e a r i n g of Acrophylla w u e l f i n g i by F. Oterelo (pages 14-18)

Includes the lengths and shedding dates of the eight i n s t a r s of a female.

Eggs of Phyllium species - a c o n t r i b u t i o n t o the systematics of "le a f insects" by Burghard Hausleithner (pages 19-22)

A t r a n s l a t i o n by Monique Vergne of the paper i n German i n Ent. Z e i t . , 94 (1984) (17), 241-5 g i v i n g a key t o s i x species based on the form of t h e i r eggs.

Sub-committee meetings of 18th November 1990 by P. E. Roubaud (page 23)

Discusses the co r r e c t names f o r pre-adult phasmids ("jeunes" rather than "larves or "nymphes") and the corre c t s t y l i n g f o r species names.

Small ads (page 24)

Wants.

L i s t of species i n c u l t u r e and f o r exchange (page 25)

Continuation of the l i s t i n Number 9-10.

Each cover now has a detachable coloured photograph on i t . With the standard acetate cover, t h i s makes t h i s j o u r n a l very a t t r a c t i v e .

TWO ARTICLES IN "IMAGO" Review by Michael and Frances (No. 3) s

This q u a r t e r l y French j o u r n a l i s s u b - t i t l e d "Biology e t elevage des insectes", and issue Number 40 ( p r i c e Fr. 30) f o r July 1990 contains two a r t i c l e s on phasmids.

"Des insectes aux moeurs par f o i s . . . s p e c i a l e s ! " by Ala i n Deschandol on pages 9-11 covers foodplants, egg la y i n g , mating and defence methods.

"Observations sur une espece dominicaine d'Aplopus" by Ray and Miguel Adams on pages 13-14 i s a b r i e f Species Report adapted from the German paper "Beobachtungen an einer dominikanischen Aplopus-Art" i n Ent. Z e i t . , 92 (1982) (19), 263-4.

PARIS INTERNATIONAL ENTOMOLOGICAL EXHIBITION Report by A l a i n Deschandol (No. 238)

This was a great success. Only two tables had l i v i n g m a t e r i a l , the GEP and an arachnid dealer. French TV was present and Pierre-Emmanuel Roubaud (No. 415) was interviewed. Ten new members were r e c r u i t e d .

46: 12

THE STORY OF AN EXTATOSOMA TIARATUM SKIN SHED by I s a b e l l e Delschlaeger

T r a n s l a t e d by Margaret Day (No. 635) from Le Monde des Phasmes Number 9-10

For the b e n e f i t of those people who may s t i l l be wondering whether the s k i n shed

begins at the head or the t a i l , or f o r those who have trouble "digesting", not t h e i r

s k i n , but terminology which i s a b i t too s p e c i a l i s e d , I have been leaning over my

phasmid cage, equipped with a p r i c k l y commentary (!) and a l o t of patience. I have

thus t r i e d to draw a p a r a l l e l between s c i e n t i f i c d e s c r i p t i o n s and my own observations.

The phenomenon of shedding i s the s o l u t i o n found by nature to remedy the problem

which the exoskeleton ( s i n c e the skeleton i s e x t e r n a l ) poses to the growth of the

i n s e c t . Because the organs are completely contained i n t h i s r i g i d envelope, they

cannot grow without "pushing out the w a l l s " . The i n s e c t , t herefore, sheds i t s s k e l e -

ton repeatedly i n order to grow bigger, and at the same time manufactures a new one

which i s more becoming and s e v e r a l s i z e s l a r g e r ,

Looked at under a microscope, the process unfolds as f o l l o w s :

Stage 1 - The c u t i c l e (exoskeleton), composed of three l a y e r s of d i f f e r e n t t h i c k n e s s

and strength, detaches i t s e l f from the body as the shed begins.

Stage 2 - The detached s k i n i s p a r t i a l l y digested from the i n s i d e by the e x u v i a l

F l u i d , while the glands s e c r e t e a new s k i n i n i t s p l a c e . To be more s p e c i f i c for the

p e r s p i c a c i o u s who may ask why the o l d s k i n i s eaten away but not the new one, despite

the f a c t that they are both i n contact with the e x u v i a l f l u i d : the two upper l a y e r s

of the s k i n , which are the f i r s t formed, are a l s o the strongest, and they p r o t e c t the

t h i r d l a y e r from the greedy proteinaceous d i g e s t i v e enzymes.

Stage 3 - During shedding, the i n s e c t i s covered by i t s new skeleton, which i s s o f t .

I t f r e e s i t s e l f from the o l d s k i n (exuviae) and s t a y s hanging for some time to l e t

i t s new s k i n absorb a i r , which hardens i t . As soon as the phasmid i s strong enough,

i t catches hold of i t s o l d shed s k i n and eats i t .

7

• ' • • • • *• •••**

C u t i c l e = exoskeleton

• 1st l a y e r : e p i c u t i c l e

•2nd l a y e r : e x o c u t i c l e

•3rd l a y e r : e n d o c u t i c l e

*— Break + e x u v i a l f l u i d

Body c e l l s

S p e c i a l c u t i c l e - f o r m i n g

gland

Stage 1

Old c u t i c l e

3rd l a y e r (eaten away)

New c u t i c l e m v.* J

•Alt:.:

• •

New

• f i n i s h e d

c u t i c l e

Stage 2 Stage 3

Getting down to b a s i c s , t h i s i s what happens. The phasmid r e s t s immobile, hanging

head downwards. I t bends i t s head hard forwards u n t i l i t b u r s t s i t s o l d s k i n at

the neck, the s p l i t continuing up to the head. The back of the neck and the head are

therefore f r e e d f i r s t . Then the legs f r e e themselves very gradually from the envelope,

as though t a k i n g o f f a glove; t h i s can be seen through the transparency of the shed

s k i n . I t i s funny to see the " l e a f y " and r a t h e r l a r g e p a r t s of the legs passing

through the c o n s t r i c t i o n s of the old j o i n t s . Once the limbs are freed, the i n s e c t

hangs only by i t s abdomen from i t s shed s k i n , and i t spends i t s hardening time l i k e

t h i s . A f t e r a short time you can c l e a r l y see the d i f f e r e n c e i n s i z e between the i n s e c t

and i t s shed s k i n . F i n a l l y , our l i t t l e c r e a t u r e performs some a c r o b a t i c s i n order to

catch hold of i t s old s k i n and devour i t i n "mandiblefuls".

The shed s k i n can sometimes be recovered as a memento of t h i s phenomenon which i s

over so q u i c k l y . As f a r as the e a r l y i n s t a r s are concerned, while the i n s e c t s are

very young, I have never found a t r a c e of the shed s k i n s ; perhaps the i n s e c t s shed

very q u i c k l y and do not leave a shred. (Could i t be because the very small body

volume i n proportion to i t s s u r f a c e area makes i t necessary for the young c r e a t u r e s

46: 13

to reabsorb the elements of the shed skin owing t o lack of reserves?) As they grow, I have of t e n found some f e e t , and I have f i n a l l y been able t o r e t r i e v e and keep i n t a c t some shed skins of the f i n a l moult, as they were abandoned. Since the skins are f a i r l y s o f t at f i r s t , one can arrange the p o s i t i o n of the limbs. Personally, I wedge the three legs on each side w i t h a support t o keep them looking more n a t u r a l , other-wise they look flattened.. The shed skins harden afterwards and are best kept i n a transparent box as they become very b r i t t l e .

My advice, t h e r e f o r e , t o those who want t o keep a souvenir of t h e i r "guests" without launching i n t o the preservation of complete insects i s : a l i t t l e skin i s better than nothing!

Now I must thank Blandine Andre, my v e t e r i n a r y student f r i e n d , f o r lending me her course notes, without which I could not have w r i t t e n t h i s a r t i c l e .

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO APLOPUS SPECIES by Matthew Gale (No. 770)

F i r s t - i n s t a r nymphs are very s i m i l a r i n appearance except t h a t PSG 48 nymphs have green m o t t l i n g on t h e i r legs while PSG 61 nymphs have white markings. Also a t f i r s t i n s t a r , my PSG 61 females seem t o have s l i g h t l y larger sub-genital plates than PSG 48 females, while PSG 48 males appear t o have lar g e r sub-genital "bumps" than PSG 61 males.

Morphologically, both species are very s i m i l a r throughout t h e i r development! PSG 48 nymphs, however, tend t o have slimmer mesothoracic segments than PSG 61 nymphs. In my experience, PSG 61 nymphs tend t o be a l i g h t e r , b r i g h t e r green i n colour than PSG 48 nymphs.

PSG 61 nymphs take t o bramble more r e a d i l y than PSG 48 nymphs. Adults are also very s i m i l a r i n appearance, although PSG 61s seem to be more

uniform i n colour. My PSG 61 males are more glossy or waxy than those of PSG 48. PSG 61 males also seem t o have a more prominent f a c i a l mask; t h e i r antennae are also a red/brown colour.

The ova are about the same size, but those of PSG 61 have what appears t o be a semi-hollow c y l i n d r i c a l capitulum, u n l i k e those of PSG 48. The micropylar plates are b a s i c a l l y the same, except t h a t the PSG 61 p l a t e o f t e n reaches from one end of the ovum t o the other. PSG 61 ova seem q u i t e varied i n colour, o f t e n w i t h p i n k i s h patches; they are not as h a i r y as those of PSG 48. I found t h a t PSG 48 ova tend t o go mouldy e a s i l y while PSG 61 ova do not.

FOODPLANTS FOR BACTERIA SP. (PSG 47) by I n g r i d L o r r a i n (No. 539)

This species i s doing w e l l on a mixturezyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA o f oak and bramble (of these two, they c l e a r l y p r e f e r oak). My nymphs are now at t h i r d and f o u r t h i n s t a r s - from the 12 that hatched only two have died, and these because o f malformations at b i r t h .

IVY AS A FOODPLANT by P h i l Bragg (No. 445)

I have rec e n t l y found t h a t both Lamponius g u e r i n i (PSG 101) and Parapachymorpha spinosa (PSG 105) w i l l happily eat i v y as adults and large nymphs. ( I have not t r i e d small nymphs of these species on i v y . )

PYRACANTHA AS A FOODPLANT by P h i l Bragg ( No . 445)

Recent t r i a l s have shown t h a t the f o l l o w i n g species w i l l eat Pyracantha sp.: PSG 22, 52, 69, 99, 100, 101, 105, 109, 110, and Haaniella g r a y i .

jjPSG 9, 13, 32 and 73 can be reared e x c l u s i v e l y on P. coccinea, according to D. Collignon i n the GEP Revue No . 2 (page 7). - EdsJ

UNUSUAL STICK INSECT "FOOD" by Stan Pack ( No . 99)

This year many species of my s t i c k s have been eating the wet white kitchen r o l l t h a t I put i n t o my cages t o provide humidity. This i s not caused by lack of f o l i a g e , s o I wonder why.

/Perhaps the s t i c k s are r e a l l y a f t e r the moisture rather than the r o l l . - EdsJ

46: 14

4

SOME EAST AFRICAN PHASMIDS by C h a r l y e Woolman (No. 2)

From N e w s l e t t e r 7, pages 2-3

The montane f o r e s t on Mount K i l i m a n j a r o was v e r y r i c h i n i n v e r t e b r a t e l i f e o f

a l l t y p e s , i n c l u d i n g a t r u l y a t t r a c t i v e s t i c k i n s e c t . The p a r t y ' s main o b j e c t i v e

was t o c l i m b t h e mountain (40 m i l e s w a l k from t h e b a s e ) and so t h e r e was n o t much

time t o s t u d y t h e f a u n a .

E v e n so, w h i l e c l i m b i n g t h r o u g h t h e f o r e s t a t 6000-8000 f e e t , my f r i e n d

Dr M e r r e t t showed me a male and f e m a l e s t i c k i n s e c t c o p u l a t i n g - on h i s b u t t e r f l y

n e t ! The f e m a l e had a body l e n g t h o f 38 mm and was q u i t e stumpy, and had f o u r

s t r i k i n g d a rk b l o t c h e s on e a c h s i d e o f t h e body, a f e a t u r e found l a t e r on nymphs a s

w e l l . The l e g s were o f a moderate l e n g t h and t h e mid p a i r were c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y

h e l d p o i n t i n g t o t h e f r o n t . The ba c k g r o u n d c o l o u r s v a r i e d from f e m a l e t o female

and r a n g e d from brown t o g r e e n t o b i r d - d r o p p i n g c o l o u r e d . The ma l e s were s h o r t e r ,

26 mm, and much t h i n n e r . A l l males were f o u n d c o u p l e d t o f e m a l e s , w h i l e t h e l a t t e r

were ' e q u a l l y l i k e l y t o be found unaccompanied. The ma l e s were brown and m o t t l e d

l i k e a p i e c e o f b a r k . v

The f o o d p l a n t was u s u a l l y a s h r u b w i t h p i n n a t e l e a v e s , t h e i n d i v i d u a l l e a f l e t s

b e i n g r a t h e r s i m i l a r t o be e c h l e a v e s . T h e r e were up t o f i v e p a i r s o f l e a f l e t s on

a p i n n a . I a l s o found one i n s e c t on a l e a f s i m i l a r t o w i t c h - h a z e l .

W h i l e i n c a p t i v i t y , e a c h f e m a l e l a i d s e v e r a l eggs p e r day, dropped l o o s e on

the ground. The eggs were v e r y p a l e brown o v o i d s 2 mm l o n g and had a s m a l l , r a t h e r

d a r k e r , o p e r c u l u m a t t h e b l u n t end.

On 2 5 t h F e b r u a r y , a t 15,000 f e e t , two f e m a l e s , a male and a nymph s u r v i v e d i n

t h e i r t i n i n my camera bag w h i c h I l e f t a t t h e t h i r d h u t . The a i r t e m p e r a t u r e i n

the h u t went down t o about -5 C and even i n t h e i n s u l a t e d bag t h e y must have come

c l o s e t o f r e e z i n g . I r o n i c a l l y , t h e s t i c k s w h i c h s u r v i v e d t h e low t e m p e r a t u r e s

succumbed t o t h e h e a t and v i b r a t i o n i n t h e La n d Rover on t h e j o u r n e y back t o

D a r - e s - S a l a a m .

( T h i s s p e c i e s seems n e v e r t o have come i n t o c u l t u r e i n t h e Group i n t h e UK. - Eds!

MARMESSOIDEA MARMESSUS ( ? ) by P a u l B r o c k (No. 26)

From N e w s l e t t e r 8, page 2

Two dozen eggs were s e n t t o me from T a i p i n g , ' M a l a y s i a , w h i c h were l a i d i n

M a r c h / A p r i l . Kept a t 70 F t h e y h a t c h e d i n l a t e May, b u t t h e nymphs d i d not s u r v i v e

on t h e normal s e l e c t i o n o f f o o d p l a n t s w h i c h I t r i e d them w i t h .

4 6 : 15

The eggs were 1.2 mm x 3 mm long and had an unusual shape. They were grey, w i t h the operculum darker than the r e s t , and the underside was a very l i g h t cream/ grey. They were l a i d glued on t o surfaces.

The newly hatched nymphs had l i g h t green bodies (dark grey underneath), with black eyes, brown legs, and long black and white antennae. The body was 1.7 cm long and the antennae were 1.8 cm. They were very fond of water droplets, and tended t o stop at the top of the l i d (perhaps because they didn't have a food which suite d them).

1 have had a t r y at i d e n t i f y i n g the species at the Natural History Museum and i t i s probably a Marmessoidea species, l i k e l y t o be M. marmessus, but as t h i s i s from the males only, i t could be another r e l a t e d species.

ANOTHER DOMINICAN PHASMID by Miguel Adams (ex No. 72) From Newsletter 12, page 4

I found i t while searching f o r the Aplopus species (PSG 48): i t also feeds on guava. This species i s much smaller than the other one, being about 10 cm long, b r i g h t green and wingless. The ova are a b i t smaller than those of B a c i l l u s rossius, but they have a s i m i l a r micropylar p l a t e and colour. They hatch i n less than a month.

[This species seems never t o have come i n t o c u l t u r e i n the Group i n the UK. - Eds.

LIFE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC by Miguel Adams (ex No. 72) Abbreviated from Newsletter 8, page 3

This country i s very b e a u t i f u l and abounds i n a wealth of exotic p l a n t s , flowers and t r e e s . There i s always a l o t of r a i n during the months of November, December and May, but these rainstorms are q u i t e u n l i k e anything seen i n England - t h i n k of the hardest rainstorm i n England and m u l t i p l y by 10i The h o t t e s t months are July, August and sometimes December. Temperatures vary l i t t l e , ranging from about 80°F to 95°F.

I have confirmed t h a t s t i c k insects e x i s t here. The natives c a l l them "Maria P a l i t o " , which roughly t r a n s l a t e d means "Mary's l i t t l e s t i c k s " . I have been t o l d not t o look f o r them since they are poisonous and can k i l l people!

46: 16

PSG No. 85: PARAPHASMA RUFIPES (REDTENBACHER) by Paul Jennings (No. 80)

C l a s s i f i c a t i o n : This species was described i n 1906 as Phasma r u f i p e s . The PSG cu l t u r e was i d e n t i f i e d by Burghard Hausleithner (No. 132).

Culture h i s t o r y : The o r i g i n a l specimens were c o l l e c t e d i n the region of Tarapoto i n Peru by Didier Mottaz (No. 45) i n August/September 1984.

Adults: The o r i g i n a l c u l t u r e had both sexes - sadly the male escaped very e a r l y on and the c u l t u r e i s now parthenogenetic. The female i s an a t t r a c t i v e , small, unspined i n s e c t . Her general appearance resembles t h a t of a male Creoxylus spinosus but she i s 1*j times as large. Her body i s very mottled w i t h l i g h t , medium and dark brown - i t i s not possible t o d i s t i n g u i s h the ground colour. The dorsal area covered by her wings i s very dark shiny brown w i t h only a few markings. Her head i s dark brown; the eyes are also dark brown but w i t h a few l i g h t brown patches. Between the two eyes there are two small shiny round mounds, presumably simple eyes. There i s a f a i n t l i g h t brown s t r i p e running from j u s t behind the eyes down t o the prothorax. Her antennae are made up of c o n t r a s t i n g l i g h t and dark brown segments. Behind the head on the prothorax there are two small p i t s . Her e l y t r a are f a i r l y small and resemble those of a male Extatosoma t i a r a t u m i n shape. They are f i n e l y veined i n the c e n t r a l p o r t i o n and edged i n a very dark brown. Her wings are very w e l l developed and run the e n t i r e length of her body. When folded they appear f i n e l y veined and are a milky coffee colour, w i t h darker markings. When she opens her wings they are a b e a u t i f u l b r i g h t c a r r o t orange colour. She i s q u i t e a c t i v e when d i s -turbed and f l i e s w e l l w i t h a c l i m b i n g path. A l l three p a i r s of legs are q u i t e s i m i l a r i n shape and colour, being a very dark brown t o j u s t before the knee j o i n t s , where they change t o an orange-brown colour. Her g e n i t a l operculum i s q u i t e short, not reaching beyond the t i p of the abdomen, and her c e r c i are j u s t v i s i b l e . The average dimensions ( i n mm) of my current generation are: body length 67, t o t a l length 117, antennae 50, f r o n t legs 45, middle legs 33, hind legs 46, and abdomen width 6. Redtenbacher gives body lengths of 78 mm f o r the female and 52 mm f o r the male.

The l i f e - s p a n of the ad u l t female i s 4-5 months,. perhaps longer.

Nymphs: Newly hatched nymphs are very dark brown. Their t o t a l length i s 23 mm w i t h a body length of 12 mm. The legs have the same colour scheme as the a d u l t female. The antennae are 13 mm long and have only one l i g h t

4 6 : 17

1cr\

patch, j u s t before the t i p . At t h i s stage, the nymphs are very a c t i v e and run very f a s t when disturbed. This makes g e t t i n g the l i d on the cage very d i f f i c u l t , and I us u a l l y f i n d at l e a s t one crawling up my sleeve! The nymphs also c u r l t h e i r abdomens upwards.

As the nymphs grow they take on the colours of the adult ins e c t . I n the penultimate i n s t a r the b r i g h t colour of the wings i s v i s i b l e i n the wing buds. At t h i s stage the nymphs resemble adult female Anisomorpha buprestoides i n shape and the way they move. The nymphs grow slowly and the f o l l o w i n g periods a t each i n s t a r were recorded: f i r s t i n s t a r 38 days, second 45 days, t h i r d and f o u r t h combined 60 days, and f i f t h 33 days - so the f i r s t adults appeared approximately 180 days a f t e r hatching.

The nymphs were kept at 20-25 C and the cage was sprayed once every one or two days. I t r i e d keeping some f i r s t - i n s t a r nymphs unheated at 15-20 C, but these died.

Ova:

1 n\m

These are 3 mm long, 2 mm wide and 2h mm t h i c k , dark brown i n colour and w i t h a wizened t e x t u r e d surface (a b i t l i k e a p a s s i o n - f r u i t s k i n ) . The f l a t operculum i s e n c i r c l e d by a rim, and there i s no capitulum. The almost round, nearly smooth, micropylar p l a t e i s c e n t r a l l y p o s i t i o n e d and also e n c i r c l e d by a rim. The micropyle i s a small raised r i p p l e .

Hatching takes about 4 months when the eggs are kept a t on s l i g h t l y moist t i s s u e i n a closed p l a s t i c box. The hatching rat e i s qu i t e high - about 75%. Under these conditions mould can be a problem, and i t may be necessary t o change the t i s s u e and wash the eggs.

The a d u l t female does not s t a r t l a y i n g u n t i l she i s 2-24 months ol d , the eggs being simply dropped t o the ground. The egg production r a t e i s not very high, as i s usual w i t h a large egg t o body size r a t i o .

22-27°C

Foodplants: I have t r i e d only p r i v e t , on which a l l stages feed w e l l . U l r i c h Ziegler (No. 233) reports i n Newsletter 32 (page 10) t h a t he has used i v y , but only one nymph reached adulthood. Alan Longhurst (No. 862) has noticed them s h e l t e r i n g on the underside of eucalyptus leaves, but doesn't know i f t h i s i s an a l t e r n a t i v e food.

Defence: The adu l t females do not appear t o use camouflage as a means of defence. When kept warm the adults r e a d i l y take f l i g h t i f disturbed. They also f l a s h t h e i r wings, presumably as a warning. As already mentioned, the nymphs run f a s t i f disturbed. I have also very occasionally noticed a spray, presumably from the two p i t s j u s t behind the head. The smell was qu i t e a c r i d , a b i t l i k e t h a t from A. buprestoides, which i s i n the same fa m i l y .

Comments: This i s an i n t e r e s t i n g and a t t r a c t i v e species, which does not require a l o t of room f o r a c u l t u r e . I t i s not too d i f f i c u l t i f kept at. 21-25 C and humid. Unfortunately, i t does not eat bramble, but p r i v e t i s quite common, evergreen, and l a s t s w e l l i n a cage.

Acknowledgements: Thanks are due t o Paul Brock (No. 26) f o r h i s comments.

FORTHCOMING SPECIES REPORTS - Lonchodes amaurops, Acrophylla w u e l f i n g i and Baculum t h a i i . Please send a l l your information on a l l these species ( p a r t i c u l a r l y the l a s t two common ones) t o the Editors (address below) t o reach us by 15th A p r i l .

NEXT NEWSLETTER - Please send a l l other c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o the Ed i t o r s : Michael Lazenby and Frances Holloway, a t 9 Oaklands Court, N i c o l l Road, London NW10 9AU, t o reach us by 1st May, or pre f e r a b l y e a r l i e r .

A l l c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o the Newsletter w i l l be deemed t o be submitted also to the French GEP Le Monde des Phasmes and t o the Dutch-Belgian PSG Phasma, f o r t r a n s l a t i o n .

46: 18

SUBJECT INDEX (To Newsletters 38-45)

45 (underlined) = Species Report i n Newsletter 45. 45:5 (with colon) = Newsletter 45, page 5. 44:20* (w i t h a s t e r i s k ) = s o l e l y from an e a r l i e r Newsletter. Entries on a p a r t i c u l a r species can usually be found under t h a t species and not under a general heading. For f u r t h e r notes, see the Index i n Newsletter 21, page 7. For f u r t h e r indexes, see the end of Newsletters 21, 29 and 37.

Acanthoxyla inermis i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 45:5 Acanthoxyla prasina food, p l a s t i c , 39:8 Acanthoxyla species r e a r i n g , 40:18 Achrioptera species drawings, 40:9 Acrophylla w u e l f i n g i ,

l i f e - s p a n , differences between sexes, 44:9

shedding, pseudo, 45:6 African species,

eggs, gluing, 40:19 u n i d e n t i f i e d , 40:3-4

Anchiale maculata l a y i n g record?, 44:20* Anisomorpha buprestoides, 42:5

eggs, unusual, 40:19, 42:5 f l a t t e n e d , 45:5* forms, 45:5 gregariousness evidence, 45:6* la y i n g , 40:19, 43:10 l i g h t , e f f e c t on l a y i n g , 43:11 nec r o p h i l i a i n , 40:4 rearing, 40:18 sway, 43:10 tapping by adu l t males, 43:10

A n t i l l o p h i l u s b r e v i t a r s u s , see Lamponius g u e r i n i

Aplopus species (PSG 48), 45_, 45:20 Aplopus species (PSG 61) mating damage,

40:4

Ba c i l l u s rossius, colours, 43:15, 43:16* eggs, differences from Clonopsis

g a l l i c a , 43:15 i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 38:18-24

Bac i l l u s species d i s t r i b u t i o n , 38:12-14 Back issues, 42:2, 43:20 Baculum impigrum, competition w i t h

Sipyloidea s i p y l u s , 39:14 Baculum i n s i g n i s , 39 Baculum t h a i i foodplants, 41:20, 43:12* Behaviour,

mating, m u l t i p l e , maximum?, 43:10 piggyback, 43:10 sways, unusual, 43:10 t e r r i t o r i a l , 39:14, 40:7 see also i n d i v i d u a l species

Book review, Malaysian insects, 43:2 Bostra aetolus, 41:3 Breathing mechanism, 43:11, 45:11 Burghard Hausleithner's papers, summaries,

39:8, 43:14

Cages, 40:13, 44:15-16, 45:14 f o r Dares species, humid, 42:16 heaters, underfloor, 38:4 f o r small nymphs, 43:11 summary of paper on, 44:18 temperature c o n t r o l , 45:17* thermometer, 40:13

Canadian s t i c k s , summaries of papers on, 44: 18

Carausius a l l u a u d i , m u l t i p l e mating maximum?, 43:10

Carausius morosus, foodplants, 41:19, 43:12* males, 38:3, 39:5, 41:4 mating, 42:5 regeneration of fe e l e r s as f e e t , 40:17

Carausius s c o t t i i n Seychelles, 44:6-7, 45:7-9

Carausius sechellensis d i s t r i b u t i o n and foodplants, 45:9

Carausius species (PSG 66), 44 Census of species r e s u l t s , 39:2, 45:3 C l a s s i f i c a t i o n of s t i c k s , 39:3-5 Clonopsis g a l l i c a , 38

d i s t r i b u t i o n , 38:14-16 eggs, differences from B a c i l l u s

rossius, 43:15 foodplant broom, 41:19 i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 38:18-24

Creoxylus spinosus, 43 foodplant skimmia, 41:19 la y i n g medium preferences, 44:19 t e r r i t o r i a l behaviour, 39:14

Ctenomorphodes briareus foodplant, rubber p l a n t , 43:12*

C u l t u r i n g , see Rearing

Dares nolimetangere, 44 Dares species (PSG 69),

behaviour, 39:14 hatching delay, 40:19, 41:4 l i f e , long, 44:9

Dares species r e a r i n g , 42:16 Diapheromera femorata hatching mechanism,

summary of paper on, 43:14 Diapheromera species, aggression by matin

males, summary of paper on, 43:2

Dyme rarospinosa, 44:9

Eggs, a c t i v a t i o n , and parthenogenesis, 43:14

46: 19

Eggs - continued dormancy, and l i f e cycles, 43:16* hatching, 38:9, 39:13, 44:19, 45:10 la y i n g media, 38:4, 39:13, 40:19 mould i n h i b i t o r (MHB), 38:9 s o r t i n g from frass, 43:11*

European s t i c k s , d i s t r i b u t i o n , 38:12-17 i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 38:18-24

Eurycantha calcarata, aggression,

against other species, 40:7, 41:7 between adu l t s , 41:7-9, 42:13,

43:3-9, 44:10*, 44:11-13 behaviour, 42:6-8, 44:10

adult, t h e s i s , 41:3, 42:3 time v a r i a t i o n , 44:14 unusual, 42:11-13, 45:6

foodplant i v y , 39:9 gregariousness and f e c a l odour, 42:8-9 handling, 43:9*, 45:2 hatching, 38:9 hissing, 44:10* layi n g , 44:10 mating, 41:10-12, 44: 1 1 p i t s i n , 44:9 shelter preferences, 42:10, 43:9 tapping by a d u l t males, 42:13 Ulf Carlberg's papers on, summaries,

42: 13 Eurycantha species,

interbreeding, 41:7 r e s t i n g places, 40:7

Eurycantha species (PSG 44), aggression, 41:7, 42:13 behaviour, unusual, 42:13 darker, 39:14 food polystyrene, 40:17 foodplant i v y , 39:8 gynandromorph?, 40:17 handling f o r c h a r i t y , 45:2 learning by, 42:5 newcomers to c u l t u r e s , 41:7 parthenogenesis?, 41:7 p i t s i n , 44:9 regenerated legs, 40:17 smell, 41:7

Extatosoma species, new, 45:2 Extatosoma tiaratum, 45:15, 45:16

aggression between males, 39:12 c l i c k i n g , 39:12 colour, 39:12, 45:15 eggs, 44:20*, 44:21* feet loss, 39: 1 1, 42: 15 mating, 39:12, 40:4 sway, 43:10 t e r r i t o r i a l behaviour, 40:7 Ulf Carlberg's papers on, summaries,

39: 12 v i b r a t i o n s e n s i t i v i t y , 40:7

Film w i t h Sipyloidea sipylus, 41:3 F l o r i s t s ' moss, see Moss Foodplants,

apple s l i c e s , 43:12* bramble,

c o l l e c t i n g p e r i l s , 41:19 v a r i e t i e s , 44:5-6 winter p r o v i s i o n , 44:6

flowers, 40: 17, 41 : 19, 43:13* oaks, 39:8 rhododendron, 45:9 stems, keeping moist, 38:4, 45:10 see also i n d i v i d u a l s t i c k species

Foods, a r t i f i c i a l , 39:7-8, 40:10-12 French s t i c k s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 38:18-24

Gene pools, 43:11 GEP ru l e s , 41:2

Haaniella echinata, death f e i g n i n g , 45:6 foodplant bramble, new shoots, 43:12

Haaniella m u l l e r i , 44:18 Hatching, see Eggs, hatching Hermarchus species (PSG 57), egg l a y i n g

number v a r i a t i o n , 38:8 Heteropteryx d i l a t a t a ,

colour, 40:12, 41:4, 45:2 dying females, 40:12, 41:4 f e e l e r movement, sudden, 45:6 foodplant i v y , 39:8 gynandromorphs, 39:6, 40:12, 42:3 l a y i n g medium, 42:16 , rearing, large, 42:16 sex r a t i o , unusual, 40:22 spray, 44:9 s t r i p e d males, 40:12, 42:5

I d e n t i f i c a t i o n of s t i c k s , 45:4-5 Insectarium, Hortus Haren i n Holland, 44 I n s t a r s , denoting, 44:28*

Lamponius g u e r i n i , 40 (see A n t i l l o p h i l u s b r e v i t a r s u s ) , 41:4

Law, and rel e a s i n g s t i c k s , 41:2 Laying, see Eggs, l a y i n g Le Monde des Phasmes summaries, 43:17,

44:17-18, see also Revue summaries Learning by s t i c k s , .42:5 Leptynia hispanica, 45

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , 38:18-24 Leptynia species d i s t r i b u t i o n , 38:16-17 Libethra r e g u l a r i s , 44

jumping, 40:7 wallowing, 42:5

L i f e cycles and egg dormancy, 43:16* Life-span, differences between sexes, 44 Lonchodes brevipes,

b i t i n g by nymphs, 43:10 t e r r i t o r i a l behaviour, 39:14

46:20

Malaysian insects, book review, 43:2 Malaysian s t i c k s , c o l l e c t i n g t r i p ,

45:12-14 Mating, m u l t i p l e , maximum?, 43:10 Menexenus species (PSG 96), see

Staelonchodes species Moss, f l o r i s t s ' ("Oasis"),

f o r eggs, 39: 13, 45:10 f o r foodplant stems, 38:4, 45:10

Museum c o l l e c t i o n s , 38:3, 40:2-3, 45:3

Names,

corrected, 38:4, 41:3, 41:4, 45:1 o r d i n a l , 38:5-7 seychellensis or sechellensis?, 40:13

Newsletter back issues, 42:2, 43:20

Oncotophasma m a r t i n i , 45:6 Oreophoetes peruanas, 39

h u m i d i f i c a t i o n using sphagnum moss, 40:18

Orxines m a c k l o t t i i , 45:11* sway, 43:10

Papers, summaries of, see Summaries Paramyronides perakensis, 40 Parapachymorpha spinosa, 40:5 (see F i r s t

species), 40:6, 44:1 Parthenogenesis, 43:14* Pets, p o p u l a r i t y of s t i c k s , 44:2 Pharnacia acanthopus, Ulf Carlberg's papers

on, summaries, 40:16 Phasma species b i t i n g , 38:2 Phenacephorus cornucervi,

mating, 40:4 rea r i n g , 42:16

Photographing s t i c k s , 44:5 Phyllium bioculatum(?), 38:10-11

behaviour, 40:8, 44:8* re a r i n g , 40:8, 44:8* i n Seychelles, 42:4 shedding, 41:20 sway, 45:6 see also Phyllium species

Phyllium giganteum hatching, 38:9 Phyllium species, 38:10-11

colour of hatchlings, 43:16, 44:8 d i s t r i b u t i o n , 40:8 foodplants, 42:3 i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , by o r i g i n , 41:20

Posting s t i c k s , 38:7, 44:1 Potatoes f o r foodplant stems, 38:4 Preserving s t i c k s , 45:17* Pseudophasma flavipenne i d e n t i f i c a t i o n

45:5

Rearing,

drowning danger, 43:11 s p l i n t f o r bent s t i c k , 39:13 surplus disposal, 45:2 thermometer, 40:13 tweezers f o r p i c k i n g up s t i c k s , 39:13 see also i n d i v i d u a l species

I t * Revue summaries, 39:9-11, 40:14-15,

41:13-14, 42:14-15, see also Le Monde des Phasmes summaries

Rhaphiderus scabrosus, dark a d u l t females, 43:16 foodplants, 41:20, 43:12

p o l l u t i o n danger, 40:18 mating, before adulthood, 40:4

Rules, GEP, 41:2 S c i l l y I s l e s s t i c k s , 40:17 seychellensis or sechellensis?, 40:13 Seychelles s t i c k s , 41:5

d i s t r i b u t i o n and foodplants, summary of paper on, 43:1

Shedding, f e e l e r s , bad, 42:16 Sipyloidea s i p y l u s ,

attacked by wasp, 43:13 colour preference, 43:13 competition w i t h Baculum impigrum, 39:14 defence, 43:13* eggs, gluing, 40:19, 41:4 foodplants, 41:20, 43:13* males, 38:3, 43:13*, 44:9

Size differences between sexes, summary of paper on, 43:2

Species L i s t updates, 39:3, 41:3, 42:3, 44:1, 45:1

S p l i n t f o r bent s t i c k , 39:13 Staelonchodes species (PSG 96), 41 Summaries of a r t i c l e s , 41:3, 42:3,

43:2, 43:14, 44:18, 45:1, 45: by Burghard Hausleithner, 39:8, on Canadian s t i c k s , 44:18 i n Le Monde des- Phasmes, 43:17,

44:17-18 i n Revue, 39:9-11, 40:14-15, 41:13-14,

42: 14-15 by U l f Carlberg, 39:12, 40:16, 42:13

Surplus disposal, 45:2 Sways, unusual, 43:10, 45:6

Teaching, use of s t i c k s , 44:4-5 T e r r i t o r i a l behaviour, 39:14, 40:7 Thailand species, 40:5-7, 41:15-19

PSG 103 f l y i n g , 43:10 i n Species L i s t , 42:3, 44:1, 45:1

Thermometer, 40:13 Tirachoidea species (PSG 58), regenerated

legs, 40:16 TV Really Wild Show, review, 44:2 Tweezers f o r p i c k i n g up s t i c k s , 39:13

Ul f Carlberg's papers, summaries, 39:12,

40:16, 42:13 U n i d e n t i f i e d species, 41:3

A f r i c a n , 40:3-4, 40:19

Thailand, 40:5-7, 41:15-19, 42:3, 43:10, 44:1, 45:1

Weather, books, 41:3 Caribbean, 40:20-22

43: 1, :2 43: 14