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Prickly stick insect
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Genus: Acanthoxyla
Species:
A. prasina
Binomial name
Acanthoxyla prasina
(Westwood, 1859)
Synonyms
  • Acanthoderus prasinus Westwood, 1859
  • Acanthoxyla speciosa Salmon, 1955

Acanthoxyla prasina, the prickly stick insect, is a stick insect in the order Phasmatodea and the family Phasmatidae.[1] The name Phasmid or Phasmatid means phantom, referring to the way that stick insects tend to disappear in their surroundings. .[2]It is found throughout New Zealand, although it is less frequently reported than "common" stick insect species. It has been introduced to Britain, predominately Cornwall and Devon, and to the south-west region of the Republic of Ireland.[3][4] It has a thorny skin, which is used as camouflage.[5] The Acanthoxyla species most likely arose via hyrbidization from what was found due to genetic studies. .[6]

The species Acanthoxyla prasina reproduces by parthenogenesis, producing eggs without the help of a male, and the population is entirely female. No male had ever been seen until 2016 when one was discovered in the introduced population in Cornwall.[7] He was likely the result of a rare mutation and is now part of the collection at the Natural History Museum in London.[8]


Acanthoxyla prasina egg illustration by Des Helmore

See also

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List of 8 currently recognised species in the genus Acanthoxyla

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Acanthoxyla prasina (Westwood 1859) • Acanthoxyla geisovii (Kaup 1866) • Acanthoxyla fasciata (Hutton 1899) • Acanthoxyla suteri (Hutton 1899) • Acanthoxyla intermedia Salmon 1955 • Acanthoxyla inermis Salmon 1955 • Acanthoxyla speciosa Salmon 1955 • Acanthoxyla huttoni Salmon 1955


Description:

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Stick insects are the largest insects in New Zealand.[2] The prickly stick insect are large brown or green insects that are from 8 to 11cm long [6] Adult stick insects are relatively large cylindrical in shape incased in a hard outter exoskeleton. [9] Unlike other species they don't have any wings and are flightless [2]Black or brown spines are sometimes present in the Acanthyloxa prasina species, on their head and most of it’s body .[9] The family walking sticks is where the Acanthoxyla prasina species arises from.[10]

Distribution:

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The prickly stick insect are found in New Zealand and England. Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).They are found from north of Auckland to the lower south Island at Stewart Island.[11] They can be found in highlands up to heights of 4,000 to 5,000 feet and on low lands. Some are found on high mountains, shrub, tussock, forests and wetlands.[11]

Life cycle:

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Acanthoxyla prasina lay eggs from January and continue till May or June until they die.[2] No male has been found in New Zealand only female, reproducing parthenogenetically or via asexual reproduction.[11]Healthy female Acanthoxyla prasina lay three to six eggs daily in the night or the day.[2] Female stick insects drop their eggs wherever they are situated with no deliberate placement.[2] Eggs differ from species to species but within a species are much more consistent in appearance than the animals that lay them, which makes them useful for identification.[2]The eggs hatch during the night when temperatures begin to warm in Spring. [2] The stick insects always hatch as a green colour but after they undergo their first moult they can change colour to brown.[2]

Hatchlings emerge from the eggs as nymphs at a size of barely 10mm. [2] The small hatchlings then find their way to the nearest food plant and climb up avoiding predators.[2] As they stick insects grow they moult due to hard exterior of their cuticle which doesn’t allow room for growth.[9] The process of moulting is called incomplete metamorphosis.[9] Moulting occurs at night time when the hard cuticle splits down the middle and allowing the insect to increase in its size almost immediately.[2] The process of moulting occurs five to six times, that spans over half of a year until it develops into a full size adult.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Females tend to produce offspring identicial to themselves without mating.[9] Unless given the correct diet stick insects will survive 24-48 hours.[11]


Interactions:

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Acanthoxyla prasina feeds on foliage like all Phasmatids.[2]Acanthoxyla prasina have the widest range of plant species to feed on compared to other species of stick insects.[2] They are not limited to only native plant species, they have been found on Cypress trees, roses, Japanese cedar, bramble and pines. [12] These plant species seem to provide an adequate diet for the Acanthoxyla prasina species. [13]Acanthoxyla prasina if confined on Manuka will slowly die unless they can feed off other specific food plants.[2] Some of the native plant species that Acanthoxyla prasina feeds on is Rimu, Totara, Rata or Pohutakawa.[2] The Acanthoxyla prasina can be found to be on more extotic species of plants instead of natives.[2] There are many predators of Acanthoxyla prasina such as introduced bird species, native bird species, mustelids, possums and rats.[2]


Behavior

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Acanthoxyla prasina has a fascinating behaviour where the stick insect dances, in a motion the insect starts swaying from side to side; there is no apparent reason why this dance occurs and it can last up to half an hour. [11] Acting as sticks or branches is one of the behaviors of the stick insect so they can avoid being eaten from predators.[14] Stick insects are cataleptic so they are in a state of marked loss of voluntary motion in which the limbs remain in whatever position they are placed. [14] If disturbed will release thier hold and slide down the foliage they are on to the ground, remaining motionless for hours. [11] Prickly stick insects during the day sit where they are least visible and generally don't eat, trying to remain still and move slowly. [14] When individuals ofAcanthoxyla prasina walk they walk in a swaying motion fairly rapidly.[11] They will travel considerable distances only for the urge of migration.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Acanthoxyla prasina (Westwood, 1859)". phasmida.speciesfile.org. 2021. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Chudleigh, Brian (Jan-Feb 2007). "Stick Insects. The skinny world of stick insects". New Zealand Geographic (083). Retrieved 08/04/22. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. ^ "Acanthoxyla prasina (National Biodiversity Network Atlas)". nbnatlas.org. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ Lee, Malcolm (1998). "An updated survey of the distribution of the stick insects of Britain" (PDF). Phasmid studies. 7 (1): 18–25. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  5. ^ "Insect poses prickly questions" on Otago Daily Times website, viewed 2013-10-16
  6. ^ a b "Classification and identification". Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research. Manaaki Whenua - Landcare and Research. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  7. ^ Brock, Paul D; Lee, Malcolm; Morgan-Richards, Mary; Trewick, Steven A (2017). "Missing stickman found: the first male of the parthenogenetic New Zealand phasmid genusacanthoxyla uvarov, 1944, discovered in the united kingdom". Acropos (60): 16–23. ISSN 1478-8128. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  8. ^ ainge Roy, Eleanor (2018-02-06). "New Zealand female-only stick insect produces 'rogue' male in UK". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  9. ^ a b c d e Trewick, Steve (2005). Stick insects. Reed Publishing. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  10. ^ "Acanthoxyla prasina (Westwood 1859)". National museum of natural history. Encyclopedia of life. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference Journal was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Clark, J.T (1974). Stick and leaf insects. Barry Shurlock and co. publishers ltd. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  13. ^ Clark, J.T (1974). Stick and leaf insects. Barry Shurlock and co. publishers ltd. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  14. ^ a b c Trewick, Steve. "Stick insects- Forest phantoms". Te Ara. Te Ara Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22/03/22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)