UK stick insects (1 Viewer)

[socksitis]

Can anyone shed any light on stick insects that are residing in the UK in certain areas? There are some locally in South Devon. Have seen one recently, not a smooth one but a bumpy one? Technical term! Could someone please point me in the right direction for more info.

 

[aeshna5]

Lucky for you the latest edition of Atropos magazine has a paper on The Naturalised Stick-Insects in SW England by their recorder Malcolm Lee.

Apparently the Prickly Stick-Insect, Acanthoxyla geisovii, is widespread in the Torbay area, so could be this species. I've managed to find this one in Old Town Churchyard, St. Mary's.

There is a single colony of the Unarmed Stick-Insect, Acanthoxyla inermis, at Oreston, Plymouth.

If you're not familiar with it Atropos is a good read- mainly dealing with Lepidoptera + Odonata but there have been articles on Harlequin Ladybirds, Southern Oak Bush-crickets + other new Orthopterans in recent years.

I'm sure Malcolm Lee would welcome your record, especially if it's away from the known squares!

 

[socksitis]

Thank you for your reply. The article does sound very interesting. I will endeavour to contact Malcolm Lee

 

[lizard orchid]

Can anyone shed any light on stick insects that are residing in the UK in certain areas? There are some locally in South Devon. Have seen one recently, not a smooth one but a bumpy one? Technical term! Could someone please point me in the right direction for more info.

Dear Socksitis ,
I have been helping Malcolm Lee since 2002 recording stick insect populations in the South West. Any records even from known areas are very welcome as he is always updating his records. Any photos you can send him will help with identification.

Brian Laney Northamptonshire. :t:

 

[MarkHows]

There are a few pics on my site

http://www.hows.org.uk/inter/birds/exotics/misc.htm

might help with the ID, but as Brian suggests contact Malcolm

Mark