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"Phasmid" redirects here. For the cloning vector used in genetics, see phagemid. A phagemid or phasmid is a type of Cloning vector developed as a hybrid of the Filamentous phage M13 and Plasmids to produce
Phasmatodea
Fossil range: Eocene - Recent
Ctenomorpha chronus
Ctenomorpha chronus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Exopterygota
Order: Phasmatodea
Jacobson & Bianchi, 1902
Suborders

Agathemerodea
Timematodea
Verophasmatodea

The Phasmatodea (sometimes called Phasmida) are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects (in Europe), walking sticks or stick-bugs (in the United States of America), phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects (generally the family Phylliidae). The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Pterygota is a subclass of Insects that includes the winged insects Neoptera is a classification group that includes almost all the winged Insects specifically those that can flex their wings over their abdomens The Exopterygota, also known as Hemipterodea, are a Superorder of Insects of the Subclass Pterygota in the Infraclass Georgij Georgiewitsch Jacobson ( 1871 - November 23, 1926) was a Russian Entomologist. Timema is the sole genus of the suborder Timematodea. They differ from the other suborders of the Phasmatodea in that their Tarsi have three Verophasmatodea is a Suborder of the Phasmatodea that contains the vast majority of the extant species of stick and leaf-insects Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The family Phylliidae (often misspelled Phyllidae) contains the extant true leaf insects or walkingleaves, which include some of the most The ordinal name is derived from the Greek "phasma" meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. A few species (e. g. Anisomorpha) are capable of secreting a substance from glands on the metathorax that can cause an intense burning irritation of the eyes (and in some cases temporary blindness) and mouth of potential predators on contact. Anisomorpha is a Genus of walking stick insect capable of secreting a substance from Glands on the Metathorax that can cause an A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as Hormones or Breast milk, often into the Bloodstream The metathorax is the posterior of the three segments in the Thorax of an Insect, and bears the third pair of legs.

Contents

Taxonomy

The classification of the Phasmatodea is complex. There are many people, including amateur entomologists, studying the order, and revisions are commonplace. The most authoritative source for information on the current taxonomy is the Phasmida Species File which is continually updated.

The Phasmatodea were considered a suborder of Orthoptera, although most authors now consider them to form an order of their own. The Orthoptera (from the Greek ορθός orthos = "straight" and πτεрόν pteron = "wing" are an order of Insects There is much confusion over the ordinal name, with Phasmida being preferred by many authors, although it is incorrectly formed. Phasmatodea is correctly formed, and is gaining in popularity. Cheleutoptera is now considered outdated.

They are sometimes considered related to other orders, including the Blattaria, Mantodea, Notoptera and Dermaptera, but the affiliations are uncertain and the grouping (sometimes referred to as "Orthopteroidea") may be paraphyletic and hence invalid in the traditional circumscription. Cockroaches (or simply "roaches" are Insects of the order Blattaria. The Insect order Mantodea or mantises consists of approximately 2000 species worldwide in Temperate and Tropical habitats of The insect order Notoptera, a group first proposed in 1915 has been largely unused since its original conception but in the most recent classification of the lineage of insects that Earwigs is the common name given to the Insect order Dermaptera characterized by membranous wings folded underneath short leathery forewings In Phylogenetics, a group of organisms is said to be paraphyletic if the group contains its most recent common ancestor but does not contain all

Species

There are around 2,500 described species, with many more yet to be described, both in museum collections, and in the wild. The order has a world-wide distribution, but most species are found in the tropics. These species vary from stick like species to those resembling bark, leaves and even lichens. Lichens (ˈlaɪkən or /lɪtʃən/ are symbiotic associations of a Fungus (the mycobiont with a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont also known as

Stick insects as pets

Many stick insects are easy to care for, and make good pets. The Indian (or Laboratory) stick insect, Carausius morosus, requires a tall (25+ cm) vivarium (even a jar with a few holes punched in the top), some bramble, ivy, privet and lettuce and an atmosphere at room temperature. Carausius morosus (the 'common' 'Indian' or 'laboratory' stick insect is a species of Phasmid that is often kept by schools and individuals as pets A vivarium (Latin literally for "place of life" plural vivaria or vivariums) is an area usually enclosed for keeping and raising animals or Bramble refers to thorny plants of the Genus Rubus, in the Rose family ( Rosaceae) Hedera (English name ivy, plural ivies) is a genus of 15 species of climbing or ground-creeping Evergreen woody plants in the family This article is about the privet plant in the genus Ligustrum. Lettuce ( Lactuca sativa) is a Temperate annual or Biennial plant of the daisy family Asteraceae. Indian stick insects are all female and reproduce by parthenogenesis and seem content living on their own. Parthenogenesis (from the Greek παρθένος parthenos, "virgin" + γένεσις genesis, "creation" is an asexual form Occasionally part-male part-female individuals are reared in captivity, but never true males. The stick insects molt and may eat the shed skin. In Biology, moulting (or molting, also known as shedding or for some species Ecdysis) signifies the manner in which an animal routinely By the sixth molt the stick insect will lay eggs.

Notable species

One Australian species, the Lord Howe Island stick insect, is now listed as critically endangered. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Lord Howe Island stick insect ( Dryococelus australis) was thought to be extinct by 1930 only to be rediscovered in 2001 (this phenomenon is known as the " It was believed extinct until its rediscovery on the rock known as Ball's Pyramid. Ball's Pyramid is an erosional remnant of a Shield volcano and Caldera that formed about 7 million years ago There is a large effort in Australia to rear this species in captivity.

Females of the genus Phobaeticus are the world's longest insects, measuring up to 33 cm (13 in) from head to tip of abdomen. Phobaeticus is a Genus of Stick insects comprising over 25 species

Adult female Heteropteryx dilatata are likely to weigh up to 65 g, and captive bred specimens have been known to weigh in the order of 50 g. Heteropteryx dilatata is a large member of the Phasmatodea commonly kept in captivity

The best known of the stick insects is the Indian or Laboratory stick insect (Carausius morosus). Carausius morosus (the 'common' 'Indian' or 'laboratory' stick insect is a species of Phasmid that is often kept by schools and individuals as pets These insects grow to roughly 10 cm (4 inches). They reproduce parthenogenically and males are unrecorded, although part male part female gynandromorphs are relatively common.

Breeding

To breed stick insects, spray the eggs with water lightly and wait for them to hatch. Use a paint brush to handle the young nymphs. In Biology, a nymph is the immature form of some Insects which undergoes incomplete metamorphosis ( Hemimetabolism) before reaching its adult Take care not to leave pools of water where they could drown. If the egg is still attached to the insect's tail then gently pull off with paint brush.

References

External links

A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document.
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