The Phasmid Study Group DECEMBER 2013 NEWSLETTER No 131 ISSN 0268-3806 2014 Membership Renewal Due. No price increase! See Enclosed Form. Acanthoxyla inermis, found on a Cupressus hedge in the Devon garden of Tony James, founder of the PSG. See page 18. © Paul Brock INDEX Page Content Page Content 2. The Colour Page 15. The PSG Culture List 3. Editorial 16. The Stick “Tip Exchange” 3. The PSG Committee 17. Phasmid Food Preparation 4. Livestock Report 18. Family Wordsearch 5. Symposium Report Entomological Society of America 18. Scilly Sticks 5. Phasmid Protection Programme 19. Sticks in the News 6. Phasma Meeting, Udenhout 20. Paul Brock’s New Book 6. PSG Website Updated 20. Questions – Can You Help? 7. Lights, Cameras… Phasmids! 21. Camouflage in Sydney 7. PSG Winter Meeting and AGM 21. Contributions to the Newsletter 8. New Book – Stick Insects of Hong Kong 22. PSG Summer Meeting 6th July 2013 8. Diary Dates 23. Stick Talk 9. PSG Member, David Rentz AM, Gets a Medal 24. Join Me – Trip to Colombia 2015 10. PSG Newsletter History Addendum 1. Agenda – Winter Meeting & AGM 10. PSG Invitation Letter Addendum 2. PSG Membership Renewal Form 12. Development of Phasmid Species List Part 6 It is to be directly understood that all views, opinions or theories, expressed in the pages of "The Newsletter“ are those of the author(s) concerned. All announcements of meetings, and requests for help or information, are accepted as bona fide. Neither the Editor, nor Officers of "The Phasmid Study Group", can be held responsible for any loss, embarrassment or injury that might be sustained by reliance thereon. THE COLOUR PAGE! Dr David Retzs 'Cooloola oster See page 9. Prickly Stick-insect Acanthoxyla geisovii See page 18. Diapherodes gigantea See page 19. Diapherodes gigantea See page 19. The Updated PSG Website See page 6. Stick Insects of Hong Kong See page 8. December 2013 Website: www.phasmid-study-group.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhasmidStudyGroup Newsletter 131.2 Editorial Welcome to the December PSG Newsletter. (See it in full colour on the PSG website). And on behalf of the PSG Committee, may I wish you all season’s greetings for a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year. The Newsletter consists of a bumper 24 pages (plus PSG Winter Meeting & AGM Agenda, and Membership Renewal Form), I sincerely hope there is something here for everyone. PSG Winter Meeting & AGM. Please be aware we have our PSG Winter Meeting and AGM on Saturday, 18th January 2014. Judith has lined up another great meeting. There will be four talks, a livestock competition, eerods favourite…the Livestock Exchange, and other things – see you there! For the agenda please see enclosed sheet (on the back of the Membership Renewal Form), and for first-timers please read my notes on page 7. If you are interested in joining the committee in any capacity, please contact Judith (details below). If you have any questions for the Questio & Answer Sessio, you are welcome to ask them on the day, but if you could e-mail them to Judith in advance, we should be able to give you a more thorough answer. Please do bring livestock in for the Livestock Competition, it would be boring with just one or two entries. For those bringing livestock in for the Livestock Exchange, please read Marks notes on page 4, especially the last paragraph. Also, Mark will ask you to fill in a pro- forma, listing the species you have in culture, so please make a note of your cultures before you get to the meeting. Finally, remember to bring your PSG Membership Card, and personally I plan to wear my PSG badge. Trip to Colombia. If you are interested in an exotic trip to seek phasmids, see the back page. This is similar to the trip David Holland reported on in the June 2013 PSG Newsletter. The trip is not officially sanctioned by the PSG, so any arrangement made is between you and him, but David is a respected PSG member. PSG Website. Natalie has worked her socks off and, with the aid of her helpers, has now updated the PSG Website. No mean achievement. Read about it on page 6, and see a copy of the new Home Page on page 2. Better still, take a look at the real thing: www.phasmid-study-group.org. The Stick Tip Exchage. Ie introduced a new subject to the Newsletter – a Tip Exchange; see page 16. Ie listed some of my own tips. Do you agree with them, have you better tips? E-mail me and let me know. David and Robert Bradbury sent me their tips for preparing phasmid food, read about it on page 17. Sticks in the News. If you are ever aware of sticks appearing in the media, please let me know so it can be shared with all our members. On page 19 I report on a media story concerning using bacteria from sticks to make antibiotics. Another good reason not to lose any species; who knows what use could be made of a oo or humble stick insect species? But some are becoming extinct, or close to extinction. Hence Mark is keen to seek our help to ensure we lose no more species – see his article on the Phasmid Protection Programme on page 5. 2014 PSG Membership Renewal Due. Please be aware that your membership is due for renewal. A form giving full details is enclosed with this Newsletter (on the back of the Agenda). Great news, there has been no price rise for another year. (PS Please contribute to the next PSG Newsletter, see page 21 for details). Regards to all, Mike Smith Phasmid Studies Editor: Ed Baker and Judith Marshall. (For Judith’s contact details see “Chairman”, above). Ed’s details: The Chairman: Judith Marshall. The Natural History Museum, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD. Tel: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD. Tel: 0207 942 5610, E-mail: 0207 942 5975. E-mail: phasmidstudies@phasmid-study- [email protected]. or [email protected]. group.org. Treasurer/Membership Secretary: Paul Brock. 2 Greenways Exhibitions: Paul Jennings. 89 Brackensdale Avenue, Derby, Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7RN, E-mail: p.brock@phasmid- DE22 4AF. Tel: 01332 343477. E-mail: exhibitions@phasmid- study-group.org or [email protected]. study-group.org. Newsletter Editor: Mike Smith. 13 Runnacles Street, Silver End, Livestock Coordinators: Mark and Ian Bushell. 43 Bradford Witham, Essex, CM8 3QN. E-mail: newsletter@phasmid-study- Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9AD. Tel: 01225 747047. E- group.org. mail: [email protected]. Webmaster: Natalie Ford (with assistance from Mike Strick, Merchandising: Mike Strick and Daren Moss. E-mail: Chris Pull, Nick Wadham, & Ed Baker). Contact via the PSG [email protected]. Web page, or E-mail: [email protected]. Other members: Phil Bragg and Ian Abercrombie. December 2013 Website: www.phasmid-study-group.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/PhasmidStudyGroup Newsletter 131.3 LIVESTOCK REPORT by Mark Bushell AVAILABLE LIVESTOCK – Oct 2013 to AGM Jan 14 The following species are currently available from Mark and Ian (contact details below): Key: N – Nymph A – Adult O – Ova 275 Lobolibethra panguana N 281 Pterinoxylus crassus O 5 Medauroidea extradentata O A 284 Pharnacia ponderosa O 9 Extatosoma tiaratum O 294 Carausius detractus AO 37 Lopaphus perakensis A 297 Hypocyrtus vittatus N 70 Haaniella scabra AN 299 Neophasma subapterum ON 73 Phenacephorus cornucervi N 301 Brasidas foveolatus N 82 Raphiderus spinigerus N 303 Orxines xiphias N 90 Rhamphosipyloidea gorkomi N 308 Onchestus rentzi O 99 Epidares nolimetangere N 313 Manduria systropedon NO 101 Lamponius guerini NA 328 Andropromachus scutatus AN 160 Trachythorax maculicollis N 329 Aretaon sp. 'PALAWAN AN 161 Phenacephorus sepilokensis N 330 Bacteria horni O 163 Sipyloidea larryi OAN 331 Dares philippinicus N 182 Oxyartes lamellatus O 335 Lonchodiodes NEGROS ON 183 Sceptrophasma hispidulus N 337 Marmessoidea sp. Cuc Phuong O 203 Tirachoidea biceps O 340 Menexenus frustorferi NO 205 Phaenopharos struthioneus OA 342 Mnesilochus sp. Real O 210 Myronides magnificus O 343 Myronides sp. Peleng Is., Sulawesi N 221 Sceptrophasma langkawiensis NO 344 Neohirasea nana N 236 Dimorphodes catenulatus N 346 Paracalyndna utilaensis O 248 Pylaemenes guangxiensis N 352 Sipyloidia biplaginata ONA 264 Pseudophasma velutinum N 353 Xenophasmina simile O 265 Abrosoma johorensis AN 355 Mnesilochus sp. Nabutaran OA 266 Agamemnon cornutus AO Brasidas sp. Rapu Rapu O 270 Peruphasma schultei N Ramulus sp. Da Krong N Eggs and insects are free, but the member pays for the postal charges. Eggs will be sent by 1st Class post. Live insects will be sent, UK only, by next day/recorded/tracked delivery [currently £6-£7 a parcel]. Save postage and disappointment - pre-order for delivery at the AGM. Members' Surplus Livestock: Your surplus livestock can be sent to our address, but please get in touch before sending any insects or eggs, particularly if the parcel is too large to fit through a letter box. Please also include your name and address as well as what species have been sent: Mark & Ian Bushell, 43 Bradford Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9AN, Tel: 01225 767047. E-mail: [email protected]. Members' Surplus Livestock at the PSG AGM Winter Meeting: We are looking forward to the Livestock Exchange at the Winter Meeting, but the usual pleas are made. All livestock and eggs are welcome but please ensure that: •Each box is labelled with the species name & PSG No if it has one. If you are unsure there are plenty of experts available to advise you.