''Megacrania'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of the subfamily Megacraniinae of

stick insects The Phasmatodea (also known as Phasmida or Phasmatoptera) are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick bugs, walkingsticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are also occasionally referred to as Devil's dar ...

. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as "peppermint stick insects", due to the characteristic odor of their defensive spray, as well as the cylindrical, twig-like shape of their bodies. These unusual insects are notable for their

aposematic Aposematism is the Advertising in biology, advertising by an animal, whether terrestrial or marine, to potential predation, predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. This unprofitability may consist of any defenses which make the pr ...

coloration, as well as their robust

chemical defense Chemical defense is a strategy employed by many organisms to avoid consumption by producing toxic or repellent metabolites or chemical warnings which incite defensive behavioral changes. The production of defensive chemicals occurs in plants, fung ...

mechanism. This mechanism consists of an irritating fluid — with an odor resembling

peppermint Peppermint (''Mentha'' × ''piperita'') is a Hybrid (biology), hybrid species of Mentha, mint, a cross between Mentha aquatica, watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in m ...

— that they spray from a pair of

scent gland Scent gland are exocrine glands found in most mammals. They produce semi-viscous secretions which contain pheromones and other semiochemical compounds. These odor-messengers indicate information such as status, territorial marking, mood, and se ...

s located at the

prothorax The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the first pair of legs. Its principal sclerites (exoskeletal plates) are the pronotum (dorsal), the prosternum ( ventral), and the propleuron (lateral) on ...

when threatened. This fluid is irritating or painful when inhaled or absorbed through

mucous membrane A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It ...

s, and is an effective deterrent against many

arthropod Arthropods ( ) are invertebrates in the phylum Arthropoda. They possess an arthropod exoskeleton, exoskeleton with a cuticle made of chitin, often Mineralization (biology), mineralised with calcium carbonate, a body with differentiated (Metam ...

, reptilian and avian predators.

Taxonomy

This genus was first described by

Johann Jakob Kaup Johann Jakob von Kaup (10 April 1803 – 4 July 1873) was a German naturalist. A proponent of natural philosophy, he believed in an innate mathematical order in nature and he attempted biological classifications based on the Quinarian system. Kaup ...

in 1871. After an exhaustive study, the genus ''Megacrania'' was revised in 2007. Among other revisions, ''M. batesii'' was removed from synonymy with '' M. alpheus''. There are now 12 known species within the genus: *'' M. alpheus'' *'' M. artus'' *'' M. batesii'' *'' M. brocki'' *'' M. nigrosulfurea'' *'' M. obscurus'' *'' M. phelaus'' (Westwood, 1859) - type species (as ''Platycrania phelaus'' Westwood) *'' M. rentzi'' *'' M. spina'' *'' M. tsudai'' *'' M. vickeri'' *'' M. wegneri'' The genus ''Megacrania'' was further revised in 2020, when it was transferred from subfamily

Platycraninae PlatycraninaeBrunner von Wattenwyl (1893) ''Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria, Genova'' (2)13 (33): 97. are an anareolate subfamily of stick insects in the family Phasmatidae. Their known distribution includes southern, s ...

to subfamily Megacraniinae (palm stick insects). The two tribes (Platycranini and Stephanacridini) within the former subfamily, Platycraninae, have been determined to be not closely related to the Megacraniinae.

References

External links

Phasmid Study Group: Megacrania
{{DEFAULTSORT:Megacrania Insects described in 1871 Phasmatodea of Asia Insects of Australia Phasmatidae Phasmatodea genera Taxa named by Johann Jakob Kaup