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Nanophyllium australianum

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Species of insect

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

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

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. Phyllium monteithei is the second species of Australian native leaf insect, other than Nanophyllium australianum. As with many species of Nanophyllium, only males were discovered, which explains the enigmatic and elusive nature of these species.

Nanophyllium Australianum female adult yellow form


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. Additionally, in 1986, a male nymph was collected near Mount Tozer, and taken to Canberra. It was kept alive by feeding on pyracantha.

Males appear black in colour, mimicking certain wasp species. Females appear a greenish colour, however this can change depending on the colour of their surroundings.

Nanophyllium Australianum adult male



Diet

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

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. Bibcode:2020ZooK..969...43C. doi:10.3897/zookeys.969.56214. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 7515932. PMID 33013167.
  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.
Taxon identifiers
Nanophyllium australianum
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