Bacillus atticus atticus
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2012) |
| Bacillus atticus atticus | |
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| Bacillus atticus atticus | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Phasmatodea |
| Family: | Bacillidae |
| Genus: | Bacillus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | B. a. atticus
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| Trinomial name | |
| Bacillus atticus atticus Brunner v. W., 1882
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Bacillus atticus atticus is a species of phasmid or "walking stick" with recorded specimens in Greece, Italy, Croatia and Israel.[1] In Cyprus,[2] the endemic subspecies Bacillus atticus cyprius is present. Both can often be found climbing on plants
Description[edit]
Adults have a slim body about 80 mm long, with a stripe on each side. Their antennae are red and short. The forelegs are strong, around 50 mm long, painted red at their base.
Behaviour[edit]
Bacillus atticus atticus[3] is mostly active at night, when it feeds. The usual foods of this species are plants such as ivy and lettuce. During the day, the animal stays absolutely still, camouflaged as a stick, matching the color of the plant that it's on. If disturbed, its main defense is to feign death. Like many phasmids it is parthenogenetic so it can reproduce on its own by laying eggs. The eggs are ovoid-shaped with some distinguishable glyphics around them and a sponge-like shape on the top.
See also[edit]
- Bacillus rossius, the endemic Bacillus of Western Mediterranean Europe
References[edit]
- ^ PAUL D. BROCK; ALEX SHLAGMAN (1994). "THE STICK-INSECTS (PHASMATODEA) OF ISRAEL, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES" (PDF). Israel Journal of Entomology. XXVIII: 101–117.
- ^ "Fauna Europaea : Taxon Details". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
- ^ "Infos at mchportal.com". Archived from the original on 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
External links[edit]
Media related to Bacillus atticus at Wikimedia Commons
