The PhasmidThe Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group Study Group Newsletter No. 119 September 2009 ISSN 0268-3806 Colour variation in Megaphasma. Copyright Tara Maginnis. NEWS, INFORMATION & UPDATES ................................................................................................................................. 3 EDITORIAL...................................................................................................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. LIVESTOCK WANTS & EXCHANGE.......................................................................................................................................... 3 JANINE FLETCHER (LIVESTOCK CO-ORDINATOR) ................................................................................................................... 3 MEETINGS OFFICER ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 AES EXHIBITION .................................................................................................................................................................... 3 PSG WINTER MEETING & AGM ............................................................................................................................................ 3 ARTICLES, REVIEWS & SUBMISSIONS........................................................................................................................... 4 HANDLING STICKS .................................................................................................................................................................. 4 JANINE’S PSG AUTOBIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................................ 6 PHOBAETICUS CHANI ONE OF TOP 10 SPECIES ........................................................................................................................ 7 PSG QUIZ FROM SUMMER MEETING....................................................................................................................................... 8 GYNANDROMORPH OF TRACHYARETAON BRUECKNERI.......................................................................................................... 9 NEW FOODPLANTS FOR TRACHYARETAON BRUECKNERI....................................................................................................... 11 THE UNARMED STICK-INSECT ACANTHOXYLA INERMIS IN HAMPSHIRE............................................................................... 11 TRANSPARENT CUTICLE ........................................................................................................................................................ 11 FOODPLANT WORDSEARCH ................................................................................................................................................... 12 PHASMID SPECIES ANAGRAMS.................................................................................................................................... 12 RAMULUS ARTEMIS STANDING UNDER OXYGENATED WATER ............................................................................................ 12 READERS’ QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 PSG QUIZ & PHASMID ANAGRAM ANSWERS ........................................................................................................................ 14 A 2009 UPDATE ON THE UK’S NATURALISED STICK-INSECTS.............................................................................................. 15 September 2008 www.phasmid-study-group.org 1 The Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group Photographs from The Unarmed Stick-insect Acanthoxyla inermis in Hampshire Submitting Images Picture submissions are encouraged, not only for the Newsletter but also for the website. All registered PSG members can upload content to the website and we desperately need photographs of many species. September 2008 www.phasmid-study-group.org 2 The Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group News, Information & Updates Livestock Wants & Exchange Janine Fletcher (Livestock Co-ordinator) Please contact Janine for a list of available livestock. All of the usual favourites are available, and I imagine the usual shortage of some the newer and fancier species. Meetings Officer Paul Jennings has asked that we look for a replacement for Mike Smith to organise the Summer and Winter meeting programmes leaving him to focus on publicising the Group at many exhibitions throughout the year. AES Exhibition 17th October at Kempton Park Racecourse. The PSG will have a stand along with the Blattodea Culture Group. PSG Winter Meeting & AGM This will take place in the Dorothea Bate Room at the Natural History Museum, London on Saturday the 23rd January 2010. More details will follow in the next newsletter. The Committee CHAIRMAN Judith Marshall Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD (T:020 7942 5610; F:020 7942 5661; E:[email protected]) TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Paul Brock 2 Greenways Road, Brockenhurst SO42 7RN (E:[email protected]) NEWSLETTER EDITOR Edward Baker 34 Rycroft, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 4HG (T:07835 294925; E:[email protected]) PHASMID STUDIES EDITOR Phil Bragg 8 The Lane, Awsworth, Nottinghamshire, NG16 2QP (T:01159 305010) EXHIBITION & MEETING OFFICER Paul Jennings 89 Brackensdale Avenue, Derby, DE22 4AF (T:01332 343477) LIVESTOCK COORDINATOR Janine Fletcher 125 Malvern Drive, North Common, Warmley, Bristol, BS30 8UY (T:01179 604917) LIBRARIAN David Robinson (T:01908 653493; E:[email protected]) SECRETARY Ian Bushell CO-OPTED: Ian Abercrombie (Livestock), Cameron die Königin (Competitions), Kristien Rabaey (Europe), Gavin Ridley Merchandise), Rob Simeons (Europe), Mike Smith September 2008 www.phasmid-study-group.org 3 The Newsletter of The Phasmid Study Group Articles, Reviews & Submissions Handling sticks Derek Tylden-Pattenson I’ve had the privilege over the past few months of being able to exhibit my livestock at three separate public events, each aimed at either infant or junior-aged school children, but with adults involved too. I’ve also been fortunate enough to have some impressive species to display – including Eurycnema goliath, and Eurycantha calcarata alongside smaller species. At each of these events, of all the many questions asked, two stand out as being far and away the most common. Firstly “Is it real, mister?” This one always makes me laugh, and depending on how stressed I am at the time it’s answered either with a patient “yes, it’s real, would you like a closer look” or a somewhat exasperated “no, it’s a Japanese- built robotic insect”. The “is it real” response is prompted, I suppose, because most people encountering a goliath for the first time have never seen anything remotely like it, and it doesn’t fit in with their mental picture of what constitutes an insect (or indeed anything else in their experience). Once we’ve established that it is indeed real, and alive, the next question (from those who have not backed away in horror, at least) is “can I hold it?” This is generally prompted by the fact that at these shows I habitually stand around with a goliath on my hand – it’s so much easier to show close-up than behind the mesh or plastic of their cage. When it comes to Eurycantha, the answer is almost exclusively “no”. I handle Eurycantha only when necessary, simply because experience has shown it to be a rather painful activity, often accompanied by blood-loss (mine, not theirs). The adults can be quite aggressive, and even with the females lacking the powerful spurred rear legs, can still give quite a nip if they feel threatened. For the goliaths, however, I generally allow people to handle them. I’ve found them to be calm insects to hold, non- threatening in appearance, and easily large enough to be a lasting memory for the visitor. Note that I don’t let visitors hold males; there is too much risk of them flying off, or at least attempting to and “spooking” a nervous handler. When at an exhibition, I try and “share out” the handling amongst the goliaths, not having any one out of the cage for more than forty minutes or so. I’ve found that after this period, they start actively looking for a drink, their mouth parts feeling over people’s hands seeking out moisture. When put back in the cage, I spray the netting with water and they drink immediately. I’m assuming that this is a stress response, which presumably indicates that they don’t enjoy being handled too much. So, if you have the opportunity to show sticks in this way, be aware of this and avoid too much handling for any one individual. With goliaths, I’ve found that almost invariably they climb “upwards”. This strikes me as logical on two counts; firstly, if they’re exhibiting “wild” behaviour and looking for fresh food, they’re likely to have to climb up to find younger, fresher leaves. But on a practical note, the hooks on a phasmid’s feet give them a much more secure hold when facing head-up than head-downward. In the rather unnatural case of walking on someone’s hand, this means that it’s important that they’re facing the “right” way. If a goliath is put on someone’s handing facing away from their fingers, they have a tendency to walk up the arm towards the September 2008 www.phasmid-study-group.org 4 The