Bacillus rossius

The European stick insect (Bacillus rossius) also called the European stick bug or the European walking stick and the Mediterranean stick insect is a species of stick insect, common in Europe. The species is endemic to the northwestern Mediterranean, especially Spain, Southern France, Italy and the Balkans.[2][3]

Bacillus rossius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Bacillidae
Genus: Bacillus
Species:
B. rossius
Binomial name
Bacillus rossius
(Rossi, 1790)
Subspecies[1]
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. catalauniae L.Bullini, 1982
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. lobipes Lucas, 1849
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. medeae Nascetti & L.Bullini, 1983
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. montalentii L.Bullini, 1982
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. redtenbacheri Padewieth, 1899
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. rossius
  • Bacillus rossius subsp. tripolitanus (Haan & W.de, 1842)
Synonyms[1]
  • Mantis rossia Rossi, 1790
  • Pseudomantis rossius Rossius, 1790

Overview

Adults have a slim body, with small antennae and long and thin legs. Colors vary from light green to brown, and female exemplars are greater than male. This species can eat bramble leaves, ivy, and privet. B. rossius can be found from June to mid December and the eggs look like seeds. To tell the difference between a male and female is that females are larger and the males are smaller. Also is that the female has a larger abdomen. An adult can be 10 cm (4 inches) in length.

Life cycle

The nymphs hatch out from their seed-like eggs 8 weeks to 2 months after being laid by a female. like the adult, the nymphs sway as in a breeze to avoid predators. B. rossius lives up to a year. The females do not have wings but the male does. They are nocturnal and may stay still for hours and usually feed at night. They shed the exoskeleton a few times in their life.

Predators

The predators include frogs, birds, bats, salamanders, spiders, rodents, reptiles and ants.

  • A brown form
  • B. rossius on a twig
  • A green form
  • Eating a leaf of Rubus ulmifolius (mouthparts also visible)
  • Adult and nymph
  • Female stick insect
  • Female (head's detail)
  • A stick bug

See also

References
  1. "Bacillus rossius". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  2. Oliver Zompro: Grundwissen Pasmiden – Biologie - Haltung - Zucht. Sungaya Verlag, Berlin 2012, S. 73, ISBN 978-3-943592-00-9
  3. "Bacillus rossius at bugsincyberspace.com". Archived from the original on 2007-11-27. Retrieved 2007-11-18.

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