| Dares philippinensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dares philippinensis, pair | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Family: | Heteropterygidae |
| Subfamily: | Dataminae |
| Tribe: | Datamini |
| Genus: | Dares |
| Species: | D. philippinensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dares philippinensis Bragg, 1998 | |
Dares philippinensis is a species of stick insects. This species is not native to Borneo like most other members of the genus Dares , but to the Philippine island Palawan.
The insects show in both sexes the typical habitus for the genus. The antennae consist of 24 segments. Their basal segment (scapus) is flat and has a tooth on the outside. The 43 to 45 millimetres (1.7 to 1.8 in) long females have a body surface covered by tubercles. While most of the other females of the genus have no spines, the females of Dares philippinensis can often have relatively clear spines at the widest point of meso- and metanotum on the lateral edge, whereby a short spike is formed per segment and side. In the top view, four spines can be seen. The coloring of the females is more contrasting than that of the males. Usually a lighter brown dominates, which often deviates into a reddish shade. There are also darker specimens and those with dark brown patterns. The pair of white spots typical of many older nymphs of the genus at the base of the abdomen is often still a light area in the adult females of this species to find. Overall, the females resemble those of Dares verrucosus . This also applies to the 34 to 35 millimetres (1.3 to 1.4 in) long males. Their basic color is usually a light brown. Black spots or dots can be found especially on the rear area of the meso- and metanotum and can merge to form lines. In addition, a black-brown continuous line runs along the side of the pleura of meso- and metathorax. There are no distinct spines on the top of the meso- and metanotum. Only on the side are four spines in the same places where they can also appear in the females. In addition, the males have four distinct spines on their heads. The tibiae of their legs are colored black. On the upper side of the abdomen there are small lobes on the segments that grow larger towards the end of the abdomen. [1] [2]
Dares philippinensis has so far only been found on the Philippine island Palawan.
In its nocturnal way of life and defensive behavior, it is similar to the other Dares species. Also with Dares philippinensis the defense strategy consists in phytomimesis. This is achieved through color and body shape, but also through behavior in the event of a disturbance (dropping and playing dead). The eggs are almost spherical and dark brown in color with light brown spots and a few thick bristles. One of the three arms of the micropylar plate reaches the edge of the lid, the other two run circularly around the egg. [1] [2] [3]
The first specimen of the species, a female nymph, was found by R. Rodriguez in 1974 on Palawan. Other specimens, both adults and nymphs, were found by C. L. Chan 1983 also in Palawan in Brooke’s Point. He left this in 1994 Philip Edward Bragg, who recognized it as a representative of a new species and described it in 1998. The chosen by him specific epithet philippinensis indicates the special position of the species in the genus, which is considered to be the only Filipino Dares species. It also leaves open whether the species, which has so far only been found in Palawan, is also found on other islands in the Philippines. An adult female is deposited as holotype at the Natural History Museum, London. This is one of the animals that Chan collected. Further species of his 1983 collection are deposited as paratypes at the Natural History Museum. The same applies to the nymph that Rodriguez collected. [1] [4] [5]
Dares philippinensis came into the European terrariums as the fifth species of the genus. The first specimens were distributed around 2010/2011 by the Dutch - Belgian Phasma under the name Dares sp. 'Philippines'. The species is easy to keep and breed if a higher humidity is maintained and a slightly moist substrate is offered on the ground for incubation of the eggs. Leaves of brmable and many other Rosaceae are eaten. [2] [3]
Dares philippinensis has been listed by the Phasmid Study Group since 2013 under PSG number 331. [6]
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.
Pylaemenes is a genus of stick insects in the family Heteropterygidae and subfamily Dataminae. It combines small to medium-sized, often brightly colored Phasmatodea species. Their representatives are found in large parts of Southeast Asia.
The genus Orestes combines relatively small and elongated Phasmatodea species from Southeast and East Asia.
Datamini is the only tribe within the subfamily of the Dataminae from the order of the Phasmatodea. The representatives of this subfamily are on average not as large as those of the other two subfamilies belonging to the family of Heteropterygidae.
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.
Epidares nolimetangere, the touch-me-not stick insect, is an insect species from the order of the Phasmatodea and the only representative of the genus Epidares. The species name nolimetangere comes from Latin and means "don't touch me". It refers to the prickly appearance of the animals.
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.
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.
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.
Dares murudensis is a relatively small species of stick insect. Like most other members of the genus Dares, the species is native to Borneo.
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.
Aretaon muscosus is a stick insect species from the family Heteropterygidae, which is native to Borneo.
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.
Tisamenus deplanatus is a stick insect species native to the Philippine islands Luzon and Mindanao occurs.
Hoploclonia abercrombiei is a stick insect species known from the northwest of Borneo, more precisely from only one place in the Malay state Sarawak.
Data related to Dares philippinensis at Wikispecies
Media related to Dares philippinensis at Wikimedia Commons