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{{Short description|Species of insect}}
{{Speciesbox
{{Speciesbox
| image = Indische Stabschrecke auf einem Himbeerblatt im Terrarium.jpg
| image = Carausius_morosus.jpg
| image_caption = ''Carausius morosus'' from India
| image_caption = Carausius morosus
| image_upright = 1.2
[[File:Carausius morosus insect.jpg|thumb|Carausius morosus insect]]
| genus = Carausius
| genus = Carausius
| species = morosus
| species = morosus
| authority = [[Sinety]], 1901
| authority = [[M. Robert de Sinéty|Sinéty]], 1901
| display_parents = 4
| display_parents = 4
| synonyms = ''Dixippus morosus'' <small>Sinéty, 1901</small><ref name = "COL"/>
| synonyms = ''Dixippus morosus'' <small>Sinéty, 1901</small><ref name="COL"/><ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Sinéty |first1=Robert de |title=Recherches sur la biologie et l'anatomie des phasmes |date=1901 |publisher=J. van In & Cie |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OTtDAAAAYAAJ |language=fr}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Carausius morosus'''''<ref name = "COL"/> (the 'common', 'Indian' or 'laboratory' [[stick insect]]) is a species of [[Phasmatodea]] (phasmid) that is often kept by schools and individuals as pets. Culture stocks originate from an original collection from [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Like the majority of the Phasmatodea, they are [[nocturnal]]. Culture stocks are [[Parthenogenesis|parthenogenetic]] females that can reproduce without mating. There are no reports of males, although in captivity, [[gynandromorph]]s (individuals with both female and male characteristics) are sometimes reared.
'''''Carausius morosus'''''<ref name="COL"/> (the 'common', 'Indian' or 'laboratory' [[stick insect]]) is a species of [[Phasmatodea]] (phasmid) often kept as pets by schools and individuals. Culture stocks originate from a collection from [[Tamil Nadu]], India. Like the majority of the Phasmatodea, ''C. morosus'' are [[nocturnal]]. Culture stocks are [[Parthenogenesis|parthenogenetic]] females that can reproduce without mating. There are no reports of males, although in captivity, [[gynandromorph]]s (individuals with both female and male characteristics) are sometimes reared.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}


==Description==
==Description==
[[File:Eierenklein.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.6 |alt=Photograph of ''C. morosus'' eggs. |''C. morosus'' eggs.]]
Females are elongated and about 80–100&nbsp;mm in length, ranging from a light green to a darkish brown in colour. The front legs have red patches at the base of the forelegs, and similar but yellow patches on the mid-legs. Eggs are [[ovoid]] and brown, with a beige capitula at one end. When the eggs hatch, the plug opens and dark, tiny, string-like young crawl out of the opening. The eggs are [[haploid]].
Females are elongated and about {{cvt|80|–|100|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} in length, ranging from a light green to a darkish brown in colour. The front legs have red patches at the base of the forelegs, and similar but yellow patches on the mid-legs. Eggs are {{cvt|2|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} in length,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Floyd |first1=Dorothy |title=Keeping stick insects |date=1987 |publisher=D. Floyd |location=Cheadle Hulme |isbn=0951246607 |page=26 |chapter=Stick insects that are easy to keep}}</ref> [[ovoid]] and brown, with a beige capitula at one end. When the eggs hatch, the plug opens and dark, tiny, string-like young crawl out of the opening. The eggs are [[haploid]].


==Behaviour==
==Behaviour==
When disturbed, the major defence method is [[apparent death|feigning death]], the body becoming rigid, and the legs held along the line of the body. Other times, they may be found swaying to mimick the movement of foliage in wind.
When disturbed, the major defence method is [[apparent death|feigning death]], the body becoming rigid, and the legs held along the line of the body. They may also be found swaying to mimic the movement of foliage in wind.


Feeding occurs at night, when the insects are active. During the day, they rest (often with legs in line with the body) on their food plants.
The insects feed at night, when they are active. During the day, they rest, often with legs in line with the body, on their food plants.

==Care in captivity==
This is an easy species to rear, feeding on a number of fresh plants including [[privet]], [[ivy]], [[tradescantia|spiderwort]], [[bramble]], [[rowan]], and [[lettuce]]. They need to be kept in a cage around 25&nbsp;cm in height to allow for successful [[ecdysis|moulting]]. Females will lay eggs shortly after reaching adulthood, at the rate of several per night. These can be hatched by keeping them on dry paper towel, or in a dry dish. Eggs can take four months to hatch, depending on many factors, including temperature. This is species number one on the Phasmid Study Group Culture List.


==Accidental introductions==
==Accidental introductions==
Due to their inconspicuous nature, accidental [[Introduced species|introductions]] of ''C. morosus'' have been recorded around the world, including [[Great Britain]], [[South Africa]] and the United States, where in some cases they have become a [[Pest (organism)|pest]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=E. |date=2015 |title=The worldwide status of stick insects (Insecta: Phasmida) as pests of agriculture and forestry, with a generalised theory of phasmid outbreaks |journal=Agriculture and Food Security |volume=4 |issue=22 |doi=10.1186/s40066-015-0040-6|doi-access=free |hdl=10141/615363 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Studies at the [[San Diego Zoo]] found the introduced species on a large number of ornamental plants.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=E. |date=2015 |title=Carausius morosus in San Diego|doi=10.6084/m9.figshare.1304202 |journal=Figshare|type=Data Set }}</ref>
[[Image:Carausius Gifford Pinchot State Park.jpg|thumb|left|80px|''C. morosus'' in [[Pennsylvania]]]]
Accidental [[Introduced species|introductions]] have been recorded around the world, including [[South Africa]], [[Great Britain]] and the United States; where in some cases they have become a [[Pest (organism)|pest]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=E. |date=2015 |title=The worldwide status of stick insects (Insecta: Phasmida) as pests of agriculture and forestry, with a generalised theory of phasmid outbreaks |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40066-015-0040-6 |journal=Agriculture and Food Security |publisher=BMC |volume=4 |issue=22 |doi=10.1186/s40066-015-0040-6 |access-date=21 December 2015}}</ref> Studies at [[San Diego Zoo]] found the introduced species on a large number of different ornamental plants.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=E. |date=2015 |title=Carausius morosus in San Diego |doi=10.6084/m9.figshare.1304202 |journal=Figshare}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Commons category|Carausius morosus}}
<references>
<references>
<ref name = "COL">{{webbref |url= http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2011/search/all/key/carausius+morosus/match/1|title= Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2014 Annual Checklist.|accessdate= 24 September 2012|author= Roskov Y., Kunze T., Orrell T., Abucay L., Paglinawan L., Culham A., Bailly N., Kirk P., Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Decock W., De Wever A., Didžiulis V. (ed)|year= 2014| publisher =Species 2000: Reading, UK.}}</ref>
<ref name="COL">{{cite web|title=Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist.|url=http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2011/search/all/key/carausius+morosus/match/1|author=Roskov Y.|author2= Kunze T.|author3=Orrell T.|author4=Abucay L.|author5=Paglinawan L.|author6=Culham A.|author7=Bailly N.|author8=Kirk P.|author9=Bourgoin T.|author10=Baillargeon G.|author11=Decock W.|author12=De Wever A.|editor=Didžiulis V.|publisher=Species 2000: Reading, UK.|year=2011|access-date=24 September 2012}}</ref>
</references>
</references>

==External links==
{{commons category|Carausius morosus}}
* [http://phasmid-study-group.org/taxonomy/term/6041 The Phasmid Study Group: Carausius morosus]
* [http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/insectsspiders/a/stickinsects_2.htm Indian Stick Insects as Pets Care Sheet]


{{Taxonbar|from=Q283518}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q283518}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Carausius Morosus}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carausius morosus}}
[[Category:Phasmatodea]]
[[Category:Lonchodidae]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1901]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1901]]
[[Category:Insect rearing]]
[[Category:Insect rearing]]

Latest revision as of 23:46, 26 October 2024

Carausius morosus
Carausius morosus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Infraorder: Anareolatae
Family: Lonchodidae
Subfamily: Lonchodinae
Genus: Carausius
Species:
C. morosus
Binomial name
Carausius morosus
Sinéty, 1901
Synonyms

Dixippus morosus Sinéty, 1901[1][2]

Carausius morosus[1] (the 'common', 'Indian' or 'laboratory' stick insect) is a species of Phasmatodea (phasmid) often kept as pets by schools and individuals. Culture stocks originate from a collection from Tamil Nadu, India. Like the majority of the Phasmatodea, C. morosus are nocturnal. Culture stocks are parthenogenetic females that can reproduce without mating. There are no reports of males, although in captivity, gynandromorphs (individuals with both female and male characteristics) are sometimes reared.[citation needed]

Description

[edit]
Photograph of C. morosus eggs.
C. morosus eggs.

Females are elongated and about 80–100 mm (3–4 in) in length, ranging from a light green to a darkish brown in colour. The front legs have red patches at the base of the forelegs, and similar but yellow patches on the mid-legs. Eggs are 2 mm (0.08 in) in length,[3] ovoid and brown, with a beige capitula at one end. When the eggs hatch, the plug opens and dark, tiny, string-like young crawl out of the opening. The eggs are haploid.

Behaviour

[edit]

When disturbed, the major defence method is feigning death, the body becoming rigid, and the legs held along the line of the body. They may also be found swaying to mimic the movement of foliage in wind.

The insects feed at night, when they are active. During the day, they rest, often with legs in line with the body, on their food plants.

Accidental introductions

[edit]

Due to their inconspicuous nature, accidental introductions of C. morosus have been recorded around the world, including Great Britain, South Africa and the United States, where in some cases they have become a pest.[4] Studies at the San Diego Zoo found the introduced species on a large number of ornamental plants.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Roskov Y.; Kunze T.; Orrell T.; Abucay L.; Paglinawan L.; Culham A.; Bailly N.; Kirk P.; Bourgoin T.; Baillargeon G.; Decock W.; De Wever A. (2011). Didžiulis V. (ed.). "Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist". Species 2000: Reading, UK. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  2. ^ Sinéty, Robert de (1901). Recherches sur la biologie et l'anatomie des phasmes (Thesis) (in French). J. van In & Cie.
  3. ^ Floyd, Dorothy (1987). "Stick insects that are easy to keep". Keeping stick insects. Cheadle Hulme: D. Floyd. p. 26. ISBN 0951246607.
  4. ^ Baker, E. (2015). "The worldwide status of stick insects (Insecta: Phasmida) as pests of agriculture and forestry, with a generalised theory of phasmid outbreaks". Agriculture and Food Security. 4 (22). doi:10.1186/s40066-015-0040-6. hdl:10141/615363.
  5. ^ Baker, E. (2015). "Carausius morosus in San Diego". Figshare (Data Set). doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.1304202.