Australian ghost insect
| Australian ghost insect | ||||||||||||
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Australian stick insect ( Extatosoma tiaratum ), ♂ |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Extatosoma tiaratum | ||||||||||||
| ( MacLeay , 1827) |
The Australian ghost insect ( Extatosoma tiaratum ) is a species from the order of the ghost insects (Phasmatodea) native to the tropics and subtropics of Australia .
features
The Australian ghost insect is characterized by a long and thin body. It has small spines on its leaf-like limbs. The body resembles parts of plants, especially leaves . This makes it very difficult for predators to discover ( mimetic ). It reaches a height of approx. 140 mm. In adult animals, the color can be yellow to brownish or green. The coloration varies due to various environmental conditions, such as: B. Food and temperature. Australian ghosts can also change color in the course of their lives. Specimens are known which take on the color of Australian lichens in order to optimally protect themselves from predators.
The males have fully developed wings with which they can fly, the females only have stub wings. Adult females are considerably thicker than the males. In contrast to the males, the females have spines arranged in pairs on their backs. Females have the abdomen as Imagines bent scorpion-like over her head. In males this is prevented by the long wings after the last moult.
The Australian ghosts have the ability to throw off extremities at designated break points between the thigh and thigh ring ( autotomy ) and to partially replace them again during the next larval moult ( regeneration ).
Australian ghosts can reproduce virginly ( parthenogenesis ). They drop their eggs one by one on the floor. The development time of the embryos is approx. 5 to 6 months and that of the nymphs approx. 4 to 6 months. During development, skinning the animals five (males) or six times (females). The newly hatched young animals have a small black, graceful body and a red head. With their appearance and movement, they imitate the Australian ant genus Leptomyrmex .
Adult females live up to a year, males can reach an age of 3 to 5 months.
Behavior
The Australian ghosts walk around slowly to move. Mostly they move around at night and stay in the same place during the day. In addition, they rock back and forth as they move in order to imitate parts of plants moved by the wind. The same rocking effect occurs when parts of plants or animals move in the vicinity of the ghosts. In addition to their appearance, the ghosts also camouflage themselves from their predators. Adult males are also able to fly.
Australian ghosts are leaf-eating animals and feed on eucalyptus in their home . However, they also eat blackberry , raspberry , currant , rose , oak , beech , hawthorn or hawthorn leaves . However, blackberry leaves are the most popular in terrarium keeping, as they are eaten with pleasure and are evergreen.
The eggs are flung out of the abdomen by the females and land on the floor. Australian fire ants of the genus Leptomyrmex collect these eggs, which look like plant seeds, and transport them to their storage chambers in the ant nest. The ants cannot crack the shell because it is too thick. Due to the climate in these buildings, the nymphs can develop and hatch there. In the first two to three days, they look very similar to fire ants. That is, her body is black and her head is red. In this way they manage to escape unscathed from the buildings. The young run around at a fast pace for a few days before they rest on a suitable food plant.
Systematics
The species has already been described several times, which has led to various synonyms . At times it was divided into two subspecies , each subspecies being given a synonym:
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Extatosoma tiaratum bufonium Westwood , 1874
( Syn. = Extatosoma elongatum Froggatt , 1922) -
Extatosoma tiaratum tiaratum ( MacLeay , 1827)
(Syn. = Extatosoma hopii Gray, GR , 1833)
In the meantime, all local forms are only regarded as variants of Extatosoma tiaratum and thus all other names have become synonyms.
The Australian ghost bug is listed by the Phasmid Study Group under PSG number 9.
swell
- ↑ How to get the lichen color morph of the Giant Prickly Stick Insect Extatosoma tiaratum. In: https://www.keepinginsects.com/ . February 14, 2017, accessed May 29, 2018 .
- ^ Paul D. Brock : Phasmida Species File Online . Version 2.1 / 3.5. (accessed June 26, 2009)
- ^ Paul D. Brock: Phasmida Species File Online . Version 2.1 / 4.0 (accessed October 14, 2010)
- ↑ Phasmid Study Group Culture List ( Memento from December 5, 2012 in the web archive archive.today ) (English)
Web links
- www.phasmidenwelt.de.tl Information on Extatosoma tiaratum