Phasmatodea
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 Heteropteryx dilatata from Malaysia
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Phasmatodea is an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects, walking sticks (the larger forms), ghost insects and leaf insects. The name is derived from the Greek "phasma" meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the cryptic appearance and mimetic behavior of these insects. Some species are capable of secreting a substance from the shoulder joints of the front legs that is similar to pepper spray in that it causes an intense burning irritation of the eyes and mouth of potential predators on contact. The Giant Stick Insect is the world's longest insect, measuring up to 33 cm (13 inches) along the body, although it is easily outweighed by other insects.
In old classifications they were considered a suborder of Orthoptera. They are closely related to the enigmatic orders Mantophasmatodea and Grylloblattodea (Cameron et al., 2006). Together, they are the sister taxon of the groups sometimes united as superorder Dictyoptera, or even members of this group.
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[edit] Notable species
One Australian species, the Lord Howe Island stick insect, is now listed as critically endangered. It was believed extinct until its rediscovery on the rock stack Ball's Pyramid.
[edit] Classification
Superfamily Timematoidea Parker, 1982
- Timematidae Caudell, 1903 Timemas
Superfamily Phyllioidea Karny, 1923
- Phylliidae Redtenbacher, 1906
- Pseudophasmatidae Kirby, 1896 (striped walking sticks)
- Anisomorphini Redtenbacher, 1906
- Stratocleidini Brunner, 1915
- Pseudophasmatini Günther, 1953
- Xerosomatini Brunner, 1893
- Prisopodini Brunner, 1893
- Heteronemiini Günther, 1953 (common walking sticks)
- Xeropsidini m.
- Korinnidae Günther, 1953
- Aschiphasmatidae Brunner, 1893
- Heteropterygidae Rehn, 1904 (= Obrimidae Rehn & Rehn, 1939)
- Heteropterygini Kirby, 1896
- Obrimini Brunner, 1893
- Anisacanthini Günther, 1953
- Datamini Rehn & Rehn, 1939
- Pygirhynchidae Redtenbacher, 1906
- Bacillidae Redtenbacher, 1906
- Xylicini Günther, 1953
- Antongiliini Günther, 1953
- Bacillini Günther, 1953
Superfamily Phasmatoidea Karny, 1923
- Tropidoderidae Brunner, 1893 (= Podacanthidae Günther, 1953)
- Tropidoderini Brunner, 1893
- Monandropterini Brunner, 1893
- Phasmatidae Karny, 1923 (winged walking sticks)
- Phasmatini Brunner, 1893
- Stephanacridini Günther, 1953
- Achriopterini Günther, 1953
- Acanthomimini Günther, 1953
- Pharnaciini Günther, 1953
- Baculini Günther, 1953
- Acanthoxylini Bradley & Galil, 1977
- Eurycanthidae Brunner, 1893
- Neopromachini Günther, 1953
- Eurycanthini m.
- Xeroderidae Günther, 1953
- Platycranidae Redtenbacher, 1908
- Bacteriidae Brunner, 1893 (= Cladomorphidae Brunner, 1893; = Phibalosomatidae Redtenbacher, 1908)
- Hesperophasmatini Rehn, 1901
- Cladoxerini Karny, 1923
- Craspedoniini Bradley & Galil, 1977
- Bacteriini Brunner, 1893
- Otocraniini m.
- Palophidae Redtenbacher, 1908
- Necrosciidae Brunner, 1893
- Pachymorphidae Brunner, 1893 (= Clitumnidae Brunner, 1907)
- Ramulini Günther, 1953
- Hemipachymorphini Günther, 1953
- Pachymorphini Brunner, 1893
- Lonchodidae Brunner, 1893 (= Prisomeridae Karny, 1923)
- Lonchodini Brunner, 1893
- Menexenini Brunner, 1893
- Diapheromeridae Karny, 1923
- Diapheromerini Zompro, 2001
- Libethrini Günther, 1953
- Ocnophilini Günther, 1953
- Oreophoetini Zompro, 2001
[edit] References
- Cameron, Stephen L.; Barker, Stephen C. & Whiting, Michael F. (2006): Mitochondrial genomics and the new insect order Mantophasmatodea. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 38: 274–279. DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.09.020 (HTML abstract)
[edit] External links
