Phyllium bioculatum

Phyllium bioculatum, females

Phyllium bioculatum is the longest held in terrariums type of Faering sheets ( Phylliidae ). It has been successfully held in Germany for over 100 years and thus is one of the best known species of the Order of the stick insects ( Phasmatodea ) at all.

Features

The animals are highly variable depending on their origin and the climatic conditions of their habitat with regard to body shape and coloring. So there are individuals that are green, yellow, brown or reddish mottled or nearly monochromatic. The shape and size of the abdomen and the sheet-like extensions ( praise ) on the limbs vary greatly. The females reach a body length of 67-94 mm, the males remain significantly smaller with 50 to 68 millimeters. In the adult female animals only the front wings are fully formed. Males have short forewings and fully developed, transparent hind wings. Characteristic of the males are always brown colored legs and rails of the middle pair of legs. Also the front and rear legs have at these links depending on the origin various distinct brown areas on.

Dissemination

The distribution area of Phyllium bioculatum ranges in the west to the Seychelles and Mauritius, in the east or south to Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo and Java and in the north to India, Sri Lanka to China.

System

The species is associated with the 1898 drawn up by Griffini subgenus Pulchriphyllium. The full name for Phyllium therefore would bioculatum Phyllium ( Pulchriphyllium ) bioculatum. Because of their large distribution area and the very different shapes of color has been described in the 19th century under different names, which has led to a not inconsiderable number of synonyms:

  • Syn = Phyllium Agathyrsus Gray, G. R., 1843
  • Syn = Phyllium crurifolium Serville, 1838
  • Syn = Phyllium dardanus Westwood, 1859
  • Syn = Phyllium gelonus Gray, G. R., 1843
  • Syn = Phyllium magdelainei Lucas, 1857
  • Syn = Phyllium Pulchrifolium Serville, 1838
  • Syn = Phyllium scythe Gray, G. R., 1843

Recent studies assume that some of these synonyms too good subspecies could represent. Thus, the subdivision into the following types according to morphological but also zoogeographic characteristics would be possible:

  • Phyllium bioculatum bioculatum Gray, GR, 1833 Malay of the peninsula and Singapore
  • Phyllium bioculatum Agathyrsus Gray, GR, 1843 from Sri Lanka and Southeast India
  • Phyllium bioculatum Pulchrifolium Serville, 1838 from Java and Sumatra
  • Phyllium bioculatum crurifolium Serville, 1838 by the Seychelles

The same paper also proposes the genus Phyllium divide even in groups of species below the subgenera. For Phyllium bioculatum here bioculatum species group is proposed which, in addition to this self even Phyllium giganteum and Phyllium assigned sinense.

Attitude in the terrarium

Phyllium bioculatum represents the attitude in the terrarium similar claims as the other species kept the wanderers leaves. However, for successful breeding here particularly on compliance with the climatic conditions achten.Wichtig for successful maturation of the eggs and the survival of newly hatched nymphs is just next to a temperature of 24 to 28 ° C and humidity between 75 and 80 percent a sufficient supply of fresh air, which can be reached via a small fan or fan.

As food, the leafy branches of, raspberries, blackberries and roses oaks are just like those of guavas, on which the species was already successfully held the end of the 19th century in Germany.

The species is listed by the Phasmid Study Group in three to four Fundortvarietäten. A native of Java form was introduced in the 1970s. It is run under the PSG number 10 and referred to by some authors as Phyllium bioculatum var Pulchrifolium. One end of the 1970s from Sri Lanka introduced form is performed under the number 59. This breeding line, whose representatives are viewed locally as Phyllium bioculatum var Agathyrsus is no longer safe in breeding. A third, sometimes referred to as Phyllium bioculatum var bioculatum mentioned form was a little later, in the early 1980s from West Malaysia introduced. It is run under the number 60 and the breeding stock is considered to be extinguished. Another under the number 77 listed, mid-1980s from West Malaysia imported Phyllium type is according to some authors also bioculatum counted Phyllium. The eggs of this form differ both from those of out in point 10 breeding strain from Java as well as from those of the originating also from West Malaysia animals which are conducted under the number 60. This breeding line is also extinguished.

George Robert Gray John Obadiah Westwood Hippolyte Lucas Nymph (biology)
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