Acrophylla paula Tepper, 1905

Common Name:

Delete this section if there is no common name.

Identification:

Length: Coloring: Note any distinguishing features.

volant; male and female mesopterous

body without cerci 73 mm.

head 4 mm.
width, 25 mm.

antennæ 22 mm.

pronotum 3 mm.
width, 2 mm.

mesonotum 10 mm.
width, 1.5 mm.

metanotum 5 mm.
width, 2.3 mm.

abdomen 51 mm.
width, 1.3 mm.

tegmina 8 mm.
width, 3 mm.

wing 38 mm.
width, 16 mm.

cerci 5 mm.

Male. Brown; in general aspect resembling the preceding, except size and wing form, in which it approximates A. tesselata, Westwood. Head flat, occiput, with anterioi median depression (obsolete ocellus) much larger and deeper than in preceding, and other markings different. Antennæ long, slender, 16 (?) jointed, minutely hairy. Pronotum with transverse furrow in the middle. Mesonotum and metanotum similar to preceding; also abdomen. Tegmina reddish-brown, costa not whitish, but a whitish, oblique streak indicated; apex rounded. Wings rather short, obtusely rounded; costal area reddish-brown, with indistinct dark markings along the costal margin: membranous area almost colourless; veins alternately pale and dark veinlets narrowly bordered with blackish, but no other spots or blotches present. Legs long and slender, with minute, distant spinelets along the ridges of femora and tibiæ.

Note parental placement of eggs. Note appearance of eggs. Note any common variations.

Habitat:

Note if the species arborial or terrestrial. Canopy, mid, under, etc.

Note typical vegetation, e.g. tropical rainforest, temperate rainforest, grasslands, alpine, etc.

Similar Species:

Rearing Notes:

Note if this species has ever been reared. Note any suggestions for successful rearing.

For a stick insect with body length 173mm, to keep 2 adult females, you need a cage at least 800mm high, 350mm deep and 350mm wide.

Range:

W plateau, SA; known only from type locality.

Status:

It is not known if this species is endangered, as there is insufficient sighting history.

References:

Balderson, J., Rentz, D.C.F. and Roach, A.M.E. (1998). in Houston, W.K.K. & Wells, A. (1998) (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 23. Archaeognatha, Zygentoma, Blattodea, Isoptera, Mantodea, Dermaptera, Phasmatodea, Embioptera, Zoraptera. Melbourne: CSIRO Publishing, Australia (ISBN 0643 06035 9). pp. 347 - 376.
Tepper, J.G.O. (1905). Insects collected in the North-western Region of South Australia Proper by H. Basedow; with Descriptions of New Species of Mantidæ and Phasmidæ, No. 2. Transactions of the Royal Society South Australia, 29: 237-245.
Vickery, V.R. (1983). Catalogue of Australian stick insects (Phasmida, Phasmatodea, Phasmatoptera, or Cheleutoptera). CSIRO Australian Division of Entomology Technical Paper, No. 20, 15 pp.
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body without cerci	73 mm.
head	4 mm. width, 25 mm.
antennæ	22 mm.
pronotum	3 mm. width, 2 mm.
mesonotum	10 mm. width, 1.5 mm.
metanotum	5 mm. width, 2.3 mm.
abdomen	51 mm. width, 1.3 mm.
tegmina	8 mm. width, 3 mm.
wing	38 mm. width, 16 mm.
cerci	5 mm.