Phasmid Study Group

The use of vernacular names (common names) is not reccomended for the following reasons:

• They are inconsistent between countries and cultures.
• They may be misleading (the spiny leaf insect is not a true leaf insect).
• They may apply to several distinct species.
• They are liable to change.

The use of scientific names prevents confusion as they are the same throughout the world. Although scientific names may change this reflects the work done in trying to understand the taxonomy of the order, and any names changes are well-defined and published. The Phasmida Species File lists the names of all known species of phasmid.

Vernacular names are given on this website for the following reasons:

• Many people use search engines to search for vernacular names. Giving them on the site makes it more likely that people will reach this resource.
• Seeing the confusion they may cause for some species may encourage people not to use them.
• For completeness: we want this to be a comprehensive resource for phasmid enthusiasts.