Pseudodiacantha macklottii

Pseudodiacantha macklottii,[1] formally Orxines macklottii, is a species of stick insect endemic to Java. It is better known as the Javanese Lichen Stick Insect due to their habit of covering their bodies with moss and lichens to supplement their disguise in the wild.

Pseudodiacantha macklottii
Pseudodiacantha macklottii (female) specimen from the private collection of Andrew Markey
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Lonchodidae
Subfamily: Necrosciinae
Tribe: Necrosciini
Genus: Pseudodiacantha
Species:
P. macklottii
Binomial name
Pseudodiacantha macklottii
(de Haan, 1842)
Synonyms

Pseudodiacantha obscura Redtenbacher, 1908

Description

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Females are sturdy, medium-sized, long-legged, and have a body length of about 70 mm (2.8 in). Males are much smaller, with a body length of about 50 mm (2.0 in). They are long-legged and slender and less contrasting than females. Both sexes have small bright orange wings, fringed with a black border and white dots, but lack flight capability.

Captivity

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The first culture of Pseudodiacantha macklottii was imported by a zoo in London in 1946 but the exact origin of this old culture is unknown.[2] They are considered easy to breed. Common food plants accepted by both nymphs and adults include Corylus avellana and Rhododendron. Pseudodiacantha macklottii are active mainly during the night and when threatened, they release a distinctive odor.

Additional images

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References

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  1. ^ Brock. 1975. TIEG 10(1):28.
  2. ^ "Phasmatodea.com: Pseudodiacantha macklottii "Java"". Retrieved 26 April 2022.
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