Unarmed Stick-insect
Taxonomy
Phasmida » Phasmatidae » Acanthoxyla inermis
Status
NN
Distribution Map
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.
Recordings
Description
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
About 90 - 105 mm.
Food
Herbivorous.
Habitat
Native to New Zealand. Recorded in the UK (predominantly Devon and Cornwall distribution). Two likely periods of introduction 1920’s and 1970’s.
Phenology
Adult insects can be seen from April through to December. The species can breed parthenogenetically, that is, eggs develop without the need for fertilization by a male. Indeed, Acanthoxyla males are unknown, even in their native country.