| Orestes dittmari | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Orestes dittmari, adult female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Superfamily: | Bacilloidea |
| Family: | Heteropterygidae |
| Subfamily: | Dataminae |
| Genus: | Orestes |
| Species: | O. dittmari |
| Binomial name | |
| Orestes dittmari | |
Orestes dittmari is a species of stick insects in the subfamily Dataminae (tribe Datamini).
Males are approximately 4.3 centimetres (1.7 in) long. Like most members of the genus, they are almost monochrome, medium to dark brown in color and show a pair of elongated, dark spots on the metanotum. In front of and behind the eyes there are usually paired, clear spines that show a species-specific expression (see also Acanthotaxy of Heteropterygidae). The three pairs of occipital spines are designed as follows. The anterior supra-anantals are clearly defined as spines and are directed slightly outwards. The two pairs of anterior and posterior supraoccipital behind it are smaller, with the posterior pair being the smallest. The pair of spines behind the eyes of the supraorbital is about as long as the supra-anantal. Their spines are strongly conical and pointed. The spines of the anterior coronal located behind are strongly flattened on the sides and rounded to the tip. The central spine behind it (central coronale) is conical and slightly longer than the pair of spines behind it of the poterior coronals. This and the pair of lateral coronals to the side are designed as small conical tubercles. Behind the eye, a clear edge (postocular carina) extends backwards, where it leads to a conical tubercle. The eyes are relatively small, circular and protruding strongly hemispherical. The antennae are shorter than the fore legs and consist of 23 segments. In addition to the structures on the head, a clear expansion of the mesonotum to the rear is typical of the species.
Females are around 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long and stocky in shape. Their coloring is dominated by shades of brown. It is complemented by patterns of almost white, dark brown and black spots. These lose more and more contrast with increasing age, until the animals are almost monotonous brown. There is a low crest on the head. The supra anantals are short, conical and blunt. The anterior supraoccipital are formed as small conical humps, the posterior supraoccipital are smaller and granulate. The supraorbitals are short, compressed at the sides and rounded to the tip. They are fused with the anterior coronals, which are laterally compressed and lamellar. The centrale coronale is only present as an indistinct little granule. The posterior and lateral coronals are conical tubercles. The postocular carina is clearly formed and its tip is recognizable as a triangular tubercle. The eyes, like those of the males, are relatively small, circular and protruding hemispherically. The antennae, made up of 25 segments, are longer than the fore legs. There are small tubercles on the body surface. The abdomen is clearly expanded laterally. [1]
The species is only known from the Vietnamese Cát Bà National Park. [1] [2]
The nocturnal animals, like all members of the genus, are able to achieve an almost perfect phytomimesis by aligning legs and antennae along the body and so hardly from a short broken branch are to be distinguished. The individually laid brown eggs are 3.5 millimetres (0.14 in) long, 2.9 millimetres (0.11 in) wide, 3.2 millimetres (0.13 in) high and have 0.3 millimetres (0.012 in) long hairs on the egg capsule and lid. [1]
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| Relationships between Orestes dittmari and its sister species or stocks according to Sarah Bank et al. (2021) [3] |
Joachim Bresseel and Jérôme Constant found a female on July 7, 2013 and a male of this species on July 13, 2013 in the bay of Hạ Long in the Cát Bà National Park. In their work on the genus Orestes, published in 2018, they described this species as well as five others. The species name is dedicated to Daniel Dittmar, a German phasmid breeder from Berlin who, among others, in particular species and stocks keeps and breeds which Bresseel and Constant brought from Southeast Asia. The male was deposited as holotype, the female and two eggs as paratypes in the Museum of Natural Sciences in Brussels. [1] [2]
As genetic analysis by Sarah Bank et al show, Orestes dittmari forms together with Orestes japonicus , Orestes shirakii and a still undescribed species from the 'Tây Yên Tử' nature reserve a clade within the monophyletic genus Orestes. As the sister species of Orestes dittmari, Orestes japonicus from Okinawa Islands has been identified. [3]
The first and so far only breeding stock of this species in terrariums goes back to eggs laid by the female collected in Vietnam in 2013 by Bresseel and Constant. The resulting stock is parthenogenetic and was called Pylaemenes sp. 'Cat Ba' until its genus reassignment and species description in 2018. [1]
The keeping and breeding of Orestes dittmari is comparatively delicate. In keeping conditions similar to those of other Orestes species, there are often losses. In particular, animals that have fallen on their backs on the ground are often unable to straighten themselves up and then partially die. Leaves of bramble or other Rosaceae are eaten.
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.
Orestes draegeri is a species of stick insects in the subfamily Dataminae.
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.
The genus Dares, which is mainly native to Borneo, combines relatively small and mostly dark-colored Phasmatodea species.
The genus Microrestes combines relatively small and squat Phasmatodea species from continental Southeast Asia and South China.
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.
Orestes bachmaensis is a Phasmatodea species native to central Vietnam.
Orestes guangxiensis is a representative of the genus Orestes.
Orestes japonicus, a stick insect, is a representative of the genus Orestes.
Orestes krijnsi is a species of stick insects native to Vietnam.
Orestes subcylindricus is a species of stick insects native to Vietnam.
Orestes shirakii is a species of stick insects native to Taiwan.
Pylaemenes elenamikhailorum is a species of stick insects native in Sepilok on Borneo. In application of the more recent differentiation between the genera Pylaemenes and Orestes the species is sometimes also called Orestes elenamikhailorum.
Pylaemenes konkakinhensis is a species of stick insects native in Vietnam. The species is so far only known from a single female.
Orestes diabolicus is a species of stick insects native in Vietnam. The species is so far only known from a three males.
Orestes botot is a species of stick insects native in Vietnam.
Dares murudensis is a relatively small species of stick insect. Like most other members of the genus Dares, the species is native to Borneo.
Tisamenus deplanatus is a stick insect species native to the Philippine islands Luzon and Mindanao occurs.
Data related to Orestes dittmari at Wikispecies
Media related to Orestes dittmari at Wikimedia Commons