Megacrania batesii

Megacrania batesii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Phasmatodea
Family:	Phasmatidae
Subfamily:	Platycraninae
Genus:	Megacrania
Species:	M. batesii
Binomial name
	Megacrania batesii; Kirby, 1896
Synonyms
	Megacrania batesi Redtenbacher, 1908 ;

Megacrania batesii, commonly known as the peppermint stick insect, is a bluish-green coloured stick insect that only lives on the midribs of the leaves of the "screwpine" Pandanus tectorius. If disturbed during the day, it emits a fine spray of a milky substance with an odor resembling peppermint.[1] They do not use their hind legs for locomotion.[2][3]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by William Forsell Kirby in 1896.[4] Another Megacrania species, M. alpheus should possibly be included in M. batesii.[5]

Distribution

The species occurs in Queensland, as well as several islands in the Pacific Ocean, for example the Solomon Islands, Ambon Island, New Guinea, the New Hebrides and the Philippines.[6]

References

Costa, James T. (2006). The Other Insect Societies. Harvard University Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-674-02163-1.
"Peppermint Stick Insect (Megacrania batesii)". www.ozanimals.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
Miller, Peter (12 February 2003). "Megacrania batesii". home.swiftdsl.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
Kirby, W. F. (1896). "On some new or rare Phasmidae in the Collection of the British Museum". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 2. 6 (6): 447–475. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1896.tb00546.x – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Hsiung, Chia-Chi; Yang, Jeng-Tze (December 2000). "Systematic Study of Megacrania Species of Australia (Cheleutoptera: Phasmatidea)". Journal of Orthoptera Research (9): 71–75. doi:10.2307/3503636. JSTOR 3503636.
Cermak, M; Hasenpusch, J W (2000). "Distribution, biology and conservation status of the peppermint stick insect, Megacrania batesii (Kirby) (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae), in Queensland". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 46: 101–106 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

External links

Phasmid Study Group: Megacrania batesii

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[Costa-1] Costa, James T. (2006). The Other Insect Societies. Harvard University Press. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-674-02163-1.

[2] "Peppermint Stick Insect (Megacrania batesii)". www.ozanimals.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.

[3] Miller, Peter (12 February 2003). "Megacrania batesii". home.swiftdsl.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 2019-05-17.

[4] Kirby, W. F. (1896). "On some new or rare Phasmidae in the Collection of the British Museum". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 2. 6 (6): 447–475. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1896.tb00546.x – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

[5] Hsiung, Chia-Chi; Yang, Jeng-Tze (December 2000). "Systematic Study of Megacrania Species of Australia (Cheleutoptera: Phasmatidea)". Journal of Orthoptera Research (9): 71–75. doi:10.2307/3503636. JSTOR 3503636.

[6] Cermak, M; Hasenpusch, J W (2000). "Distribution, biology and conservation status of the peppermint stick insect, Megacrania batesii (Kirby) (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae), in Queensland". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 46: 101–106 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.