| Phyllium letiranti | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Family: | Phylliidae |
| Genus: | Phyllium |
| Subgenus: | Phyllium |
| Species: | P. letiranti |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllium letiranti Cumming, Teemsma, 2017 | |
Phyllium letiranti is a species of phasmid or walking leaf of the genus Phyllium . It is only found on the island of Peleng in Indonesia. [1] [2] [3]
Phyllium letiranti is found on Peleng Island, Indonesia. It is recognized as a distinct species because of its moroplogical differences. Though similarities can be seen in other phyllium, unique features separate the species. Phyllium letiranti is most similar to Phyllium (Ph.) mamasaense Größer, 2008. This is realistic based on geographic proximity as well. It is likely that through more analysis and research of this cryptic species group more species will arise.
Phyllium are known to feed on various tropical tree leaves including, Guava, Mango, and Bramble (Rubus sp.). This particular species is currently only known from Tataba, a village in Indonesia, though it is assumed their range may be larger. This is a leading drive for more research in the future. Given their incredible camouflage, it is challenging to find these individuals in the wild, however successful efforts have been made through blacklight trapping.
Named to honor, collections manager of the Montreal Insectarium, Stephane Le Tirant. Le Tirant, is a prominent entomologist specializing in scarab beetles but who also has always had a passion for walking leafs. As a result of his travels and insect collection, valuable entomological research and discovery are made possible. [4]
The Phasmatodea are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick-bugs, walking sticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are also occasionally referred to as Devil's darning needles, although this name is shared by both dragonflies and crane flies. They can be generally referred to as phasmatodeans, phasmids, or ghost insects, with phasmids in the family Phylliidae called leaf insects, leaf-bugs, walking leaves, or bug leaves. The group's name is derived from the Ancient Greek φάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, referring to their resemblance to vegetation while in fact being animals. Their natural camouflage makes them difficult for predators to detect; still, many species have one of several secondary lines of defense in the form of startle displays, spines or toxic secretions. Stick insects from the genera Phryganistria, Ctenomorpha, and Phobaeticus include the world's longest insects.
The family Phylliidae contains the extant true leaf insects or walking leaves, which include some of the most remarkably camouflaged leaf mimics (mimesis) in the entire animal kingdom. They occur from South Asia through Southeast Asia to Australia. Earlier sources treat Phylliidae as a much larger taxon, containing genera in what are presently considered to be several different families.
The Phasmatidae are a family of the stick insects. They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea.
Megacrania batesii, commonly known as the peppermint stick insect, is an unusual species of stick insect found in northeastern Australia, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and possibly as far north as the Philippines. It is notable for its aposematic coloration, as well as its robust chemical defense mechanism. Its common name refers to the irritating fluid — with an odor resembling peppermint — that it sprays as a defensive action from a pair of glands located at its prothorax when threatened, as well as the cylindrical, twig-like shape of its body. A member of the subfamily Megacraniinae, it was first described by English naturalist and explorer Henry Walter Bates in 1865.
Phyllium is the largest and most widespread genus of leaf insects in the family Phylliidae (Phasmatodea). They can be found in Sundaland, Philippine Islands, Wallacea, and Australasia.
Phobaeticus chani, the Chan's megastick, is a species of stick insect in the tribe Pharnaciini, native to the southeast Asian island of Borneo. It is one of the longest insects in the world and was once considered the record-holder. One specimen held in the Natural History Museum in London measures 56.7 cm (22.3 in). This measurement is, however, with the front legs fully extended. The body alone still measures an impressive 35.7 cm (35.7 cm).
Pulchriphyllium giganteum, commonly known as the Giant Malaysian Leaf insect, is a species of leaf insects described from Malaysia by Hausleithner in 1984 and placed in the genus Pulchriphyllium since 2021. Pulchriphyllium giganteum is the largest species belonging to the genus Pulchriphyllium reaching 105 mm in size. They are found most abundantly in the west Malaysian tropics. The females typically have large elytra that lie edge to edge on the abdomen and tend to lack hind wings making them usually flightless. Males have small elytra and sometimes transparent non-leaflike functional hind wings. Pulchriphyllium giganteum found in the wild tend to be mostly females and the first male of this species was not found until 1994. In captivity, the species has primarily been observed to reproduce through parthenogenesis meaning the females are asexual. The primary reproductive pattern in the wild is unknown. Eggs tend to be brown or black and glossy and resemble seeds. They hatch around 6 months after breeding. Newly hatched young nymphs tend to be wingless and brown or reddish in color. They develop their green color after feeding on leaves. Both the adult and larval stages are phytophagous meaning they feed on plants. The main plant food sources for this species are oak and bramble tree leaves.
Pulchriphyllium bioculatum, Seychelles leaf insect, Javanese leaf insect, or Gray's leaf insect, is a leaf insect of the family Phylliidae native to tropical Asia as well as Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles. It was first described by George Robert Gray in 1832 and was the first phasmid he discovered. Leaf insects have extremely flattened, irregularly shaped bodies, wings, and legs. They are usually about 5–10 cm long. They are called leaf insects because their large, leathery forewings have veins that look similar to the veins on the particular type of leaves they inhabit. Its scientific name bioculatum means "two-eyed" and refers to the two dots located on the abdomen just in this species.
The Peleng leaf-nosed bat is a species of bat native to Sulawesi and other adjacent Indonesian islands. It has been recorded in Marus National Park and Lambu Sango National Reserve.
Cryptophyllium westwoodii is a species of leaf insect in the family Phylliidae. It is distributed from southern China, the Andaman islands, Myanmar, Indo-China, Sumatra and the Riouw Archipelago.
Phyllium bilobatum is a species of leaf insect in the family Phylliidae. It is found in the Philippines and Malaysia. This species was first described in 1843 by the English zoologist George Robert Gray, who gave it the name Phyllium bilobatum. It has been assigned to the subgenus Phyllium, which is to be distinguished from the second subgenus Pulchriphyllium, within the genus Phyllium. The holotype is a female from the Philippines, which is kept in the Natural History Museum, London where Gray worked cataloguing insects.
Cryptophyllium is a new (2021) genus of leaf insects in the tribe Phylliini. The current distribution is probably incomplete, but includes southern China, Sri Lanka, Indo-China, Malesia and western Pacific islands.
Cryptophyllium celebicum, simply known as walking leaf mimic insect, is type species of leaf insect in the new (2021) genus Cryptophyllium, which has been placed the tribe Phylliini. Its recorded distribution is Sulawesi and Ambon Island.
Theramenes is a genus of medium-sized stick insects in the tribe Obrimini, which is native to the Philippines and to the Indonesian Talaud Islands.
Pulchriphyllium is a genus of leaf insects. It was first established by Griffini in 1898 as a subgenus within the genus Phyllium and is a valid genus since 2021. The distinctive feature of Pulchriphyllium is the presence of lobes on the inside and outside of the fore tibia. In Phyllium are lobes only present on the outside. The representatives of the genus are native to both Sundaland and continental Asia.
Phyllium bonifacioi is a species of phasmatodea in the family Phylliidae.
Nesiophasma is a genus of very large stick insects within the order Phasmatodea and the tribe of Stephanacridini. This genus is found in Wallacea west of Weber’s Line: Sulawesi, Peleng Island, Selayar Island, Kalaotoa Island, Sanana Island, Romang Island, Timor Island, Sangihe Island and Talaud Islands. New Guinea with doubt. The largest in the list of species is Nesiophasma giganteum, with females reaching a body length of 30 cm.
Nesiophasma giganteum is a recently described species of stick insect, order Phasmatodea. It is endemic to Peleng. Adult females are large, typically measuring 250–300mm in body length. Both sexes are wingless.
Phyllium monteithi is a species of phasmatodea in the family Phylliidae. P. monteithi is found in tropical Queensland in Australia. The type specimen was collected from Mount Lewis, near Julatten. Reproduction occurs through parthenogenesis and conventional mating. P. monteithi is known to feed on leaves from the myrtle family. Males are between 61 and 64 mm in length, females to 76 mm.
