''Didymuria violescens'', the spur legged phasmid, also known as the violet-winged stick insect, or violet-winged phasma, is a common
phasmid native to
Australia.
Males have distinct spurs and thicker hind legs (the hind have the spurs) which is where the animal gets its common name, though the spurs are only found on the male. This specific type of stick insect eats Gum (Eucalyptus) leaves, female lay very many eggs as there is a low chance of live hatching from the egg. The female produces eggs that can bear young even if the eggs are not fertilized, though those hatch-lings are only female. This is called
parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis (; from the Greek grc, παρθένος, translit=parthénos, lit=virgin, label=none + grc, γένεσις, translit=génesis, lit=creation, label=none) is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and developmen ...
. Newly hatched stick/leaf insects are called nymphs until their final (5th-7th) molt.
See also
*
List of Australian stick insects and mantids
This is an incomplete list of mantids and stick insects found in Australia.
Common species
* Titan stick insect, ''Acrophylla titan''
* Tesselated phasmid, ''Anchiale austrotessulata''
* Large brown mantis, ''Archimantis latistyla''
* Monster ma ...
External links
Phasmid Study Group: ''Didymuria violescens''
Phasmatidae
Insects of Australia
Insects described in 1815
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