Nanophyllium australianum

Nanophyllium australianum, also known as the Queensland leaf insect, is a species of leaf insect found in the Iron Range in Northern Queensland.[1]

Queensland leaf insect
Nanophyllium australianum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Phylliidae
Genus: Nanophyllium
Species:
N. australianum
Binomial name
Nanophyllium australianum
Cumming, Le Tirant & Teemsma, 2018

The type specimen for this species was discovered in 1906. It was suggested that it was a variety of Nanophyllium pygmaeum, a species native to Papua New Guinea; however, it is now recognised as Nanophyllium australianum.[1] Phyllium monteithei is the second species of Australian native leaf insect, other than Nanophyllium australianum.[2] As with many species of Nanophyllium, only males were discovered, which explains the enigmatic and elusive nature of these species.[3] There is a limited amount of information available regarding this species. In 2023, Minibeast wildlife received a donation of a female Nanophyllium australianum from the Iron Range. The female laid eggs, and they have successfully hatched.[4]

Males appear black in colour, mimicking certain wasp species. Females appear a greenish colour.[5]

Nanophyllium males

Diet

This species is known to feed on Cape ironwood and Pyracantha.[6]

References
  1. Cumming, Royce; Le Tirant, Stèphane; Teemsma, Sierra (August 2018). "Northeastern Australia record of Nanophyllium pygmaeum Redtenbacher, 1906, now recognized as a new species, Nanophyllium australianum n. sp. (Phasmida, Phylliidae)".
  2. "Phyllium monteithi Brock & Hasenpusch, 2003". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  3. Cumming, Royce T.; Tirant, Stephane Le; Teemsma, Sierra N.; Hennemann, Frank H.; Willemse, Luc; Büscher, Thies H. (2020-09-17). "Lost lovers linked at long last: elusive female Nanophyllium mystery solved after a century of being placed in a different genus (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae)". ZooKeys. 969: 43–84. doi:10.3897/zookeys.969.56214. ISSN 1313-2970.
  4. "Australian invertebrates - ethical captive breeding | Browse our collection". Minibeast Wildlife. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. Smiley, Mr (2008-01-15). "BunyipCo: Leafy Sticks". BunyipCo. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
  6. Smiley, Mr (2008-01-15). "BunyipCo: Leafy Sticks". BunyipCo. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
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