Clitarchus hookeri (White, 1846)
Smooth Stick-insect
Taxonomy:
- Phasmida›Phasmatidae›Clitarchus hookeri
Status:
Distribution
Colours show the year of the last record -
| up to 1987 | 1988-97 | 1998 up to present |
Only Recording Scheme datasets are included. Other datasets on the Gateway may hold additional information.
Description:
Either green or brown. The Unarmed Stick-insect and the Smooth Stick-insect appear similar at first glance. They can distinguished because the Smooth Stick-insect has a near continuous black line along its thorax, has pointed cerci, and has no opercular spine, whereas the Unarmed Stick-insect has a black line on the pronotum only, has rounded cerci, and has a stout opercular spine.
Size:
Food:
Herbivorous.
Habitat:
Native to New Zealand. In the UK only known from the Isles of Scilly.
Phenology:
The species can breed parthenogenetically, that is, eggs develop without the need for fertilization by a male. Males of the Smooth Stick-insect are common in New Zealand, but none have been found in Britain.