Extatosoma tiaratum
Mon, 07/07/2008 - 9:07pm — bjaco18Extatosoma tiaratum - Spiny leaf insect
species: Extatosoma
genus: tiaratum
species in genus: 1 Extatosoma tiaratum (Macleay, 1826) (Australia)
2 Extatosoma tiaratum tiaratum (Macleay, 1826) (imitates leaves)
3 Extatosoma tiaratum bufonium Westwood, 1874 (imitates lichen
4 Extatosoma popa popa Stål, 1875 (imitates leaves)
5 Extatosoma popa carlbergi Beccaloni, 1993 (imitates lichen)
Identification
Large when fully adult, can be found in a range of colours consisting mainly of green and different shades of yellow, females are bracypterous with not even wings that cover half the abdomen but only look like wing buds that are close to the meta thorax.
Females are spiny over abdomen with legs that are wide leafy shaped legs, similar to the phyllidae species found in malayisa, the females being parthenogenic can lay from 300 to nearly 1000 eggs in the insects life time and the eggs have been recorded hatching 2 years after the female layed them.
Males are slender with fully functional wings, nymphal males curl their tail but when adult the wings prevent this scorpion mimic from happening, males are not spiny at all and have thiner leggs with the same leafy shape as the female.
Plant food sources
E. tiaratum eats a variaty but the main one described for this species eats Eucalyptus wich maintains this yellow colour. Individuals shipped over seas has developed and has been able to switch food sources because Eucalyptus is only present on the country of Australia.
See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extatosoma_tiaratum
There are a small number of
Thu, 17/07/2008 - 12:50pm — Ed BakerThere are a small number of Eucalyptus species not native to Australia, in places such as Indonesia and the Philippines. Eucalyptus is also widely cultivated throughout Europe, and is used by European breeders as a foodplant for many species.
Alternative foodplants to Eucalyptus include Myrtus (Myrtles) which are in the same family (Myrtaceae).
I have found they also
Mon, 11/08/2008 - 5:36am — AnonymousI have found they also readily eat rose leaves, privet, and any leaves from the prunus family.
you mean..
Thu, 23/10/2008 - 3:49am — Anonymousthe prunus family as in the rose ramily right? Does that mean all stick bugs will eat most plants in the rose family?
Many stick insects will feed
Fri, 05/12/2008 - 7:50pm — Ed BakerMany stick insects will feed on Bramble (Rubus fructicosus agg.) and many of these will also feed on other members of the rose family (Rosaceae). In particular it is worth trying rose (Rosa sp.), Pyracantha sp., strawberry. Apple, cherry, etc. are also worth trying.
There is, however, no universally accepted food plant!
Really? I had three females;
Sun, 24/08/2008 - 12:05pm — AnonymousReally? I had three females; they would only eat bramble leaves.
It is sometimes the case
Fri, 05/12/2008 - 7:52pm — Ed BakerIt is sometimes the case that stick insects don't like to change their food plant. Bramble is however just a substitute plant used in captivity, in the wild Eucalyptus is a major food plant.