Acanthoxyla prasina

Prickly stick insect
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phasmatidae
Subfamily: Phasmatinae
Tribe: Acanthoxylini
Bradley & Galil, 1977
Genus: Acanthoxyla
Species: A. prasina
Binomial name
Acanthoxyla prasina

Acanthoxyla prasina or prickly stick insect is a stick insect in the order Phasmatodea and the family Phasmatidae. It is found throughout New Zealand, although it is less frequently reported than "common" stick insect species. It has a thorny skin, which is used as camouflage.[1]


The species reproduces by parthenogenesis, producing eggs without the help of a male, and no male prickly stick insects have been found. Although native to New Zealand, the insect has been accidentally introduced into England, where it breeds well.[1]

Acanthoxyla prasina egg illustration by Des Helmore.

See also

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.