User:Nlowther/sandbox
| Prickly stick insect | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Family: | Phasmatidae |
| Genus: | Acanthoxyla |
| Species: | A. prasina
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| Binomial name | |
| Acanthoxyla prasina (Westwood, 1859)
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| Synonyms | |
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Acanthoxyla prasina, the prickly stick insect, is a stick insect in the order Phasmatodea and the family Phasmatidae.[1] It is native throughout New Zealand, although it is less frequently reported than "common" stick insect species. It has been introduced to Britain, predominantly Cornwall and Devon, and to the south-west region of the Republic of Ireland.[2][3] It has a thorny skin, which is used as camouflage.[4]
Identification
Acanthoxyla prasina is a large insect; their body length ranges from 7.5 to 11cm long when fully grown as adults.[5] Their bodies tend to be wider than other stick insect species. They come in two different colour forms: green and brown in various shades. There are eight subspecies, some of which have prominent dark spines on the top of the thorax and abdomen. [6]. Acanthoxyla prasina have various number and size of their spines (prickles) including one characteristic spine on the underside of their abdomen, at the base of their subgenital plate. Acanthoxyla prasina has black spines across the top of individuals of A. prasinas heads, mesothorax, metathorax, abdomen and femora. Their antennae are on average just slightly longer than the fore femora. The tail on the end of their abdomen is shorter and more circular than that of other subspecies.
Life cycle/Phenology
Acanthoxyla prasina has no male individuals; A. prasina are exclusively females. They reproduce through asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis. [7] Parthenogenesis occurs when a gamete grows and develops into an embryo, without the need for fertilization. Prickly stick insects lay eggs 4.2mm long and 1.8mm high. [8] Their eggs are brown/grey, oval shaped and are covered in small spines. Female stick insects lay their eggs on the ground, and they begin to hatch in spring when the weather warms. [9] Lee [10] found that each individual will lay hundreds of eggs in its lifetime. All the eggs that are laid have a 99% mortality rate. Despite the high mortality rate, their population still increases.
Hatchlings emerge as nymphs. At one day old they are approximately 2cm long. [11] Ananthoxyla prasina will moult approximately 5-6 times in roughly 6 months before reaching adult size.[12] They usually moult at night. Once emerged, they will likely eat their old skin. Chudleigh[13] found that most Acanthoxyla species’ life span is approximately 12-24 months.
Distribution and habitat
Native range
Acanthoxyla prasina can be found throughout New Zealand, where it was originally endemic.[14]
Introduced range
Acanthoxyla prasina has been introduced to the United Kingdom, predominantly Cornwall and Devon, and to the south-west region of the Republic of Ireland.[2] No male had ever been seen within the species or genus Acanthoxyla until 2016 when one was discovered within the introduced population from Cornwall.[15] This single male individual was the result of a rare mutation. It is unknown if the male was capable of producing sperm or inseminating females as the specimen was killed, dried and added to part of the collection at the Natural History Museum in London.[16]
See also
References
- ^ "Acanthoxyla prasina (Westwood, 1859)". phasmida.speciesfile.org. 2021. Archived from the original on 2016-03-29. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
- ^ a b "Acanthoxyla prasina (National Biodiversity Network Atlas)". nbnatlas.org. 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Insect poses prickly questions" on Otago Daily Times website, viewed 2013-10-16
- ^ "The Stick Insects of New Zealand". Reed. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help); Text "Reed" ignored (help) - ^ [Trewick, S., & Morgan-Richards, M "Stick Insects"]. Reed. 2005. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Stick insects (Phasmatodea)". Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|website=at position 15 (help) - ^ "The Stick Insects of New Zealand". Reed. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help); Text "Reed" ignored (help) - ^ "Stick Insects". New Zealand Geographic, 083. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "An updated survey of the distribution of the stick insects of Britain". Biodiversity Heritage Library, 7(1), 18–25. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "The Stick Insects of New Zealand". Reed. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help); Text "Reed" ignored (help) - ^ "PRICKLY STICK INSECT Acanthoxyla prasina". Entomological Society of New Zealand. 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ "Stick Insects". New Zealand Geographic, 083. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
- ^ "Species Details". New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2023-06-03.
- ^ 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.
- ^ ainge Roy, Eleanor (2018-02-06). "New Zealand female-only stick insect produces 'rogue' male in UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
External links
- Acanthoxyla prasina discussed on RNZ Critter of the Week, 17 September 2021