Brasidas samarensis | |
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Brasidas samarensis, pair | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Phasmatodea |
Family: | Heteropterygidae |
Subfamily: | Obriminae |
Tribe: | Obrimini |
Genus: | Brasidas |
Species: | B. samarensis |
Binomial name | |
Brasidas samarensis Rehn, J.A.G. & Rehn, J.W.H., 1939 | |
Brasidas samarensis is stick insect species from the family Heteropterygidae. Occasionally it is named Samar stick insect according to their origin. In addition is the type species of the genus Brasidas , which was named after the Spartan officer Brasidas.
James Abram Garfield Rehn and his son John William Holman Rehn described the species in 1939 as type species of the genus described in the same work. In the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC a male holotype, a female allotype and another adult couple and three nymphs are stored as paratypes. [1]
The females of Brasidas samarensis are about 100 to 110 millimetres (3.9 to 4.3 in) larger and wider than the approx. 55 to 70 millimetres (2.2 to 2.8 in) long males. They are very individually colored, with mostly brown colors dominating, which are often interrupted by green areas. In the more vividly drawn nymphs the green areas still take up large parts of the body. The male nymphs are also mostly green with a few brown areas. The adult males are only slightly prickly and often almost completely brown in color. Only the head is usually pale green and often has an intense green spot on the forehead. In the habitus both sexes correspond to the representatives of the Obrimini such as Trachyaretaon or Sungaya species. As with all representatives of the genus Brasidas, this species also has a pair of characteristic holes in the metasternum. [2]
The occurrence of Brasidas samarensis is known so far limited to the Philippine island Samar, to which the specific epithet refers. [3]
Forage plants are guavas and various other species. To lay eggs, the females drill the secondary ovipositor at the end of the abdomen, which surrounds the actual ovipositor, into the ground and lay the eggs there. These are around 4 to 5 millimetres (0.16 to 0.20 in) long and 2 to 3 millimetres (0.079 to 0.118 in) wide. Their gray color changes to dark brown with highrt humidity or contact with water. After drying, they are gray again. In the lateral view the ventral edge appears straight, while the dorsal area is bulbous. The resulting opercular angle from the lid (operculum) to the ventral edge is 10 to 12 degrees. The nymphs hatch from the eggs after about four to five months, even if there is less moisture. After another six months they are adult and can then live for up to a year. [4] [5]
The first breeding stocks present in the enthusiasts' terrariums dates back to 2002 in specimens collected in Bobon. The species is listed under PSG number 235 by the Phasmid Study Group. [6] This stock, and thus the species, is no longer in breeding that is widely known. Brasidas samarensis is not so easy to keep. It can be keept at room temperature and is easy to feed all year round with bramble or other Rosaceae. Alternatively, leaves of oaks, Crataegus species or hazel can be fed. Occasionally the forage plants should be sprayed with water. So that the females can lay their eggs in the ground, a slightly moist substrate is necessary, which should cover the floor of the terrarium a few centimeters high. [2] [7]
Heteropteryx is a monotypic genus of stick insects containing Heteropteryx dilatata as the only described species. and gives its name to the family of the Heteropterygidae. Their only species may be known as jungle nymph, Malaysian stick insect, Malaysian wood nymph, Malayan jungle nymph, or Malayan wood nymph and because of their size it is commonly kept in zoological institutions and private terrariums of insect lovers. It originates in Malay Archipelago, more precisely on the Malay Peninsula and Borneo and is nocturnal.
Sungaya is a monotypic genus of stick insects, containing the species Sungaya inexpectata. Its common name is the sunny stick insect, derived from the less commonly used sungay stick insect. The genus name refers to the locality of the holotype, i.e. the region where the insect was first collected. The species name is derived from the Latin as "inexpectatus" and means "unexpected".
The Heteropterygidae is a family of stick insects belonging to the suborder Euphasmatodea. Species can be found in Australasia, East and Southeast Asia. More than 130 valid species are descriebed.
Heteropterygini is the only tribe within the subfamily of the Heteropteryginae from the order of the Phasmatodea in the family Heteropterygidae. With 19 representatives described, this subfamily represents both the species-poorest and that of the three subfamilies, to which the largest and most striking species are counted.
The genus Dares, which is mainly native to Borneo, combines relatively small and mostly dark-colored Phasmatodea species.
Hoploclonia is the only genus of the tribe Hoplocloniini and brings together relatively small and darkly colored Phasmatodea species.
Mearnsiana is a monotypic genus of stick insects, containing Mearnsiana bullosa as the so far only described representative.
The genus Tisamenus native to the Philippines combines small to medium-sized species of stick insects.
Aretaon is a genus of stick insects native to Borneo and the Philippine island Palawan.
Trachyaretaon is a genus of stick insects native to the Philippines.
Brasidas is a genus that is native to the Philippines and is named after the Spartan general Brasidas
Obrimus is a stick insect genus native to the Philippines. It is type genus for the tribe and the subfamily in which it is listed.
Aretaon asperrimus is a species of insect in the Aretaon genus of the Phasmatodea order. The sometimes used common name thorny stick insect is a bit misleading, since the species does not correspond to the typical stick-like habitus and many other species are thorny as well.
Orestes mouhotii is an insect species belonging to the order of Phasmatodea. Because of its synyonym Orestes verruculatus, it is the type species of the genus Orestes. Because of its compact body shape, the species is sometimes referred to as small cigar stick insect.
}} Dares verrucosus is a species of stick insects. Like most other members of the genus Dares, the species is native to Borneo, more precisely in the north of the island.
Dares validispinus is a species of stick insects. Like most other members of the genus Dares, the species is native to Borneo, more precisely in the northwest of the island.
Dares ulula is a species of stick insects. Like most other members of the genus Dares, the species is native to Borneo, more precisely in the northwest of the island. The males are extremely prickly even for the representatives of the genus Orestes. Females are colored with a relatively high contrast.
Trachyaretaon carmelae is a species of stick insects. Even if there was no formal synonymisation, Trachyaretaon brueckneri is generally used as its synonym.
Tisamenus serratorius is a stick insect species that occurs on the Philippine island Luzon.
Brasidas foveolatus is a species of stick insects from the family Heteropterygidae. Next to Brasidas samarensis it is one of the most famous representatives of the genus Brasidas.