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Scientific name Megacrania tsudai Shiraki, 1932
=Megacrania alpheus sensu Willemese, 1955
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Chinese name 津田氏大頭竹節蟲
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English name
Tsuda's Giant Stick Insect, Big-headed Stick Insect |
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Classification 竹節蟲科(Phasmatidae)
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Diagnosis
Large-sized stick insect; adult 13-15 cm in length; body
green with forewings green and hindwings yellowish; head
orbicular, with a paired short antennae; lateral margins
of prothorax attenuate anteriorly, dorsal surface of prothorax
with numerous verrucae; femur brownish green with remarkable
dentate processes, tibia smooth; anal hairs flattened,
apex rounded; anal plate as long as length of mesothorax.
According to Hsiung (1992), this species is similar to
Megacrania wegneri Willemse (Moluccas) and M. batesii
Kirby (Solomon) in appearance, but this species has remarkable
cone-shaped protuberances on the prothorax, fewer lateral
dentate processes and longer anal hairs. For more morphological
information of this species see Maki (1935a, 1935b). |
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Distribution
This species is mainly distributed in the east side of
the Hengchun Peninsula, and currently found in Green Island
(Lue-dao). The records from Orchid Island (Lanyu) are
often mentioned by literature but no any voucher specimen
could be traced so far. However, some authors consider
this population was very likely incidentally established
by some individuals or eggs drifted from Taiwan. |
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Habitat and Ecology
This species is only seen in Pandanus bushes of the Hengchun
Peninsula and the offshore islets of the S.E. Taiwan.
The adults become more active in the early morning and
before sunset, and usually conceal within the sheath of
the host leaves. Both the immatures and adults feed only
on the leaves of Pandanus odoratissimus L.f. var. sinensis
(Warburg) Kanehira, a very common coastal plant. Each
of viviparous females lay 12-25 eggs in autumn. The seed-like
eggs take at least three months to hatch. Before becoming
adult, there are six immature stages. This species is
well-known for its chemical defense system on their prothoracic
glands. More information about the chemical defense system
see Chow & Tsai (1986 & 1987) and Ho & Chow
(1993). |
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Threats and Conservation Status
This species has not yet been threatened by commercial
collecting, but habitat loss may heavily decrease their
populations. For further information about conservation
of this genus see Cermak & Hasenpusch (2000). |
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Remarks
Hsiung (1992) and Yang (1997) stated the name "Megacrania alpheus Shiraki" is a mis-cited name by Willemese (1955), but this wrongly produced name has been cited by various authors and used in the protected species list of the law.
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