Macynia labiata (Thunberg’s Stick-insect)
Life
> Eukaryotes >
Opisthokonta >
Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa
> Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Phylum:
Arthopoda > Mandibulata >
Atelocerata > Panhexapoda >
Hexapoda
> Insecta (insects) > Dicondyla > Pterygota >
Metapterygota > Neoptera > Polyneoptera > Anartioptera > Orthopterida
> Phasmida (stick and leaf insects)
Macynia labiata female
[ photos by P.
Brock ©] |
|
Macynia labiata male.
[ photo by P.
Brock ©] |
|
Macynia labiata pair mating.
[ photo by P.
Brock ©] |
Close up of abdomens in copulation
showing the male cerci grasped round the female's abdomen.
[ photo by P.
Brock ©] |
The type specimen of Macynia
labiata in the Uppsala University Zoology Museum. The specimen was
collected by Thunberg and he also named and described the species.
[ photo by P.
Brock ©] |
Synonyms: Bacillus capensis,
Bacillus
stellenboschus
Description
Male 42-52mm, female 54-56mm. Females are small, plump
insects, whereas males are rather stick-like with long cerci; both sexes are
wingless and have short antennae. The male is light brownish green, with dark
green legs and antennae, and bold pincer-like reddish brown cerci. The head and
pronotum are yellowish with green bands. The Female has a yellow head and
pronotum, with green bands; the antennae are green, except for two yellow basal
segments. The mouthparts and cerci are pinkish-red, along with the end of the
mesonotum laterally, otherwise the body colour is usually a beautiful leaf green
with longitudinal cream side stripes from thorax to end of abdomen. Occasionally
captive reared females are pinkish green or mauve.
Life History and behaviour
Females drop their oval, dark brown eggs to
the ground. The eggs have a whitish grey band and a large whitish capitulum. Nymphs
emerge in about 4-6 months, moult five times, taking about 6 months to mature;
adults live some 4 months. Females mate frequently with different males and
start egg laying about three weeks after becoming adult, laying a few hundred
eggs. I have no evidence that they can reproduce parthenogenetically. Males use
the cerci to tightly grasp females when mating.
Nymphs and adults usually remain on their foodplants during the day, where
they are well concealed often pushed right in the vegetation. When disturbed,
both sexes emit a clear fluid from their mouthparts – they can also very
quickly walk away for stick insects! Females sometimes curl their bodies; they
frequently retain an egg at the end of their abdomens, ready to eject.
Foodplants
In the Cape Town area on
Leptospermum laevigatum,
Erica aemula
(and
Erica-like spp.),
Osyris
compressa, Athanasia trifurcata and Passerina
spp. They also accept other plants in captivity, such as
Rubus
fruticosus and
Leptospermum scopariuum and are
keen on heather flowers, as well as leaves.
Distribution
Widespread in the Western and Eastern Cape, South Africa. Also
reported from Madagascar, probably in error.
Text by Paul
Brock © |