Megacrania batesii Kirby, 1896

Identification:

Length:
Coloring: green

male and female brachypterous

They live in the midribs of pandanus leaves and have a peculiar way of moving, using the fore and mid legs and not the hind legs.

If disturbed during the day, the insect moves towards the centre of the plant. If further threatened they squirt a milky white substance.

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

Lives on Pandanus tectarius.

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

NE coastal, QLD

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

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.
Bedford, G.O. (1978). Biology and ecology of the Phasmatodea. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 23: 125-149
Clark, J.T. (1976). The eggs of stick insects (Phasmida): a review with descriptions of the eggs of eleven species. Syst. Ent. 1: 95-105.
Hughes, L., 1996. When an Insect is more like a Plant. Nature Australia, 25(4): 30-38
Rentz, D.C.F (1996). Grasshopper Country, Chapter 16, Phasmatodea: Leaf and Stick Insects, pp. 244-257
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.
Search Google for Megacrania batesii, or search Google Scholar for Megacrania batesii.