Smooth Stick-insect
Taxonomy
Phasmida » Phasmatidae » Clitarchus hookeri
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
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
About 85 - 90 mm.
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.