[From the Victorian Naturalist, Vol. XIX., No. 103, February 5, 1903.]
By J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., &c.
(Communicated by C. French, F.L.S.)
(Read before the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria, 19th Jan., 1903.)
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The head is more or less flattened, elongated, and firmly fixed, so that it cannot be turned, as is the case with the Mantids. It is furnished with promiscuous palpi and antennæ of various length and number of joints, also sometimes with one to three ocelli.
The prothorax is very short comparatively; the mesothorax, however, exceeds the former several times in length, but bears the tegmina or wing-covers as well as the middle pair of legs at its posterior end. The metathorax, again, is short, but stout, bearing the hind legs, and the wings, if present. It is intimately conjoined to the first abdominal segment, the junction being indicated by a low transverse ridge above.
In many genera both sexes remain permanently wingless; in others the females alone remain so, while the males are provided with more or less ample wings; in the remainder, though both sexes possess wings as adults, the latter present a great variety in respect of their development, for, whereas those of the males are always permitting their use for flight, those of the females range down from most ample to most diminutive dimensions in different genera, so that the two sexes present a very different appearance,
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Regarding the metamorphoses of our Phasmidæ, it may be remarked that the larvæ, when leaving the egg, have already the approximate form of the adults, except the wings and sexual appendages, but at this early stage the limbs of the young present a most disproportionate length compared with the insignificant size of their body, even in some of our largest species. This tiny body emerges first from the egg-shell, and is lifted perpendicularly above by the gradually extending limbs, their extremities being the last to get free, in this respect presenting an analogy to what takes place when a mosquito emerges from its pupa case on the water. The ova are more or less elongate, with the anterior end truncated, and closed by a lid, which is let in like a stopper, and pushed out by the infant larva when emerging. The above recorded observations specially refer to the hatching of some eggs of Trophidoderus rhodomus, M'Coy, deposited by a specimen sent to the S.A. Museum. Some of the larvæ died in the position mentioned, being unable to free their claws, owing to the air being too dry, which caused the fluids within the shell to dry too rapidly.
In connection with the succeeding metamorphoses, it may be mentioned that often, during the operation of withdrawing the limbs from the enveloping old skin, one or more of the legs become detached from the body, either wholly or in part. In such a case a young limb develops and grows from the wound. This is at first quite minute and extremely soft, but elongates and hardens in course of development, and is an analagous case to that of the limb-restoring capacity among some Crustaceans, and of the much higher Gecko Lizards respecting the tails. However, such restored limb or limbs remain frequently shorter and more slender than the others, although in other respects quite similar.
In their habits the Phasmidæ are chiefly nocturnal, remaining more or less quiescent during the daytime, and moving sluggishly when disturbed. They then sit quietly and almost immovably among the foliage, or are stretched out to their full extent along the twigs of trees and shrubs which they frequent. In these positions their colouration (green, grey, brown, or mottled), as well as their form, proves highly protective to them, being imitative of their surroundings. The bright red and other spots which adorn some species, on the contrary, serve as warning signals for birds and lacertilians, which are very fond of the plain-coloured kinds, but avoid the brightly decorated forms generally.
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The Phasmidæ are distributed throughout the warmer regions of all continents, but in Europe only a few small wingless species occur, in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. In Westward's "Catalogue of the Phasmidæ" 38 genera with 481 species, &c., are mentioned, including some 17 genera with 61 Australian and Polynesian species. But these have been since that time (1859) largely added to. In Rainbow's "Catalogue" of 1897 there are enumerated 1 genera with 61 species for Australia alone. In a list which appeared in the "Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia," for 1902, 50 genera with about 122 species are recorded. Owing, however, to some uncertainty in correctly recognizing the sexual and larval states in some cases, on account of their great divergency in form, and (2) to the difficulty of correctly diagnosing allied species from dried or spirit specimens in others, the above numbers may admit of corrections and considerable fluctuations, according to the subjective views of observers and authors.
Economically only a few kinds have proved injurious to any considerable extent, and this no doubt owing to the blind destruction or diminution by man of their principal natural foes - viz., birds, smaller reptilians, and small mammals, especially lizards and bats, either through prejudice, savage love of destruction, or for sport. Of such economically injurious species the following may be mentioned: - Graeffea (Lopaphus) cocophaga, Gray, is known to have sometimes seriously injured young Cocoa Palm plantations at Fiji and elsewhere. Hermardius (Phibalosoma) phytonius, Westwood, is reported as occasionally greatly injuring the young shoots of sugar cane, which the insects resemble when at rest. Podocanthus wilkinsoni, Macleay, is stated to have defoliated considerable tracts of eucalyptus woods when present in inconceivably large numbers. Most other species (and perhaps the above too at ordinary times) are usually more or less rare and quite harmless.
The literature referring to the Phasmidæ is not very extensive, but scattered, costly, or otherwise not easily accessible. This paucity is largely due to considerable difficulties in collecting, preserving, and conserving specimens, as well as in accumulating extensive collections, owing to the large size, softness (when fresh), and fragility (when dry) of the specimens; nor are the insects, for the same reasons, in favour with collectors either. To this must be added the difficulty of correctly diagnosing from frequently mutilated or distorted specimens, and by descriptions in dead or foreign languages without illustrating figures.
The first to enter the list with an important classificatory work was G. R. Gray, in the early part of last century ("Synopsis of the Phasmidæ" and "Entomology of Australia"), followed by Latreille, Serville, and others. Next we have J. O. Westwood's
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The system elaborated in the first-mentioned work by Stal is that upon which the arrangement of the now forthcoming list has been based, and among which the genera and species described more recently have been intercalated, as well as I was able, but subject to correction probably.
The latest classificatory work known to me is Brunner von Wattenwyl's "Révision du Systéme des Orthopteres," 1893, in combination with descriptions of the Burma species. But as only a part of Stal's genera are therein mentioned it could not be availed of for the purposes of the list.
The following enumeration, however, shows the order in which Stal's genera are arranged, and will or may assist curators of larger collections of Australian Phasmids to arrange them accordingly, if so minded :-
Family - PHASMIDÆ, Brunner, Rev. Orth.
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[The detailed list of species appears in the "Proceedings of
the Royal Society of South Australia," vol. xxvi., part 2, pages
278-287. - ED. Vict. Nat.]