''Megacrania'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of the subfamily

Megacraniinae The MegacraniinaeHennemann (2020) ''Zootaxa'' 4896(2): 151. are an anareolate subfamily of stick insects in the family Phasmatidae. Their known distribution includes Malesia and islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. Several genera have bee ...

stick insects The Phasmatodea (also known as Phasmida, Phasmatoptera or Spectra) are an order of insects whose members are variously known as stick insects, stick-bugs, walking sticks, stick animals, or bug sticks. They are also occasionally referred to as ...

. 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 by an animal to potential predators that it is not worth attacking or eating. This unprofitability may consist of any defences which make the prey difficult to kill and eat, such as toxicity, venom, foul taste or ...

coloration, as well as their robust

chemical defense Chemical defense is a life history 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 ...

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

peppermint Peppermint (''Mentha'' × ''piperita'') is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world.Euro+Med Plantbas ...

— 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 sexu ...

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 ea ...

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 is ...

s, and is an effective deterrent against many

arthropod Arthropods (, (gen. ποδός)) are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a Segmentation (biology), segmented body, and paired jointed appendages. Arthropods form the phylum Arthropoda. They are distinguished by their jointed limbs and Arth ...

, reptilian and

avian Avian may refer to: *Birds or Aves, winged animals *Avian (given name) (russian: Авиа́н, link=no), a male forename Aviation *Avro Avian, a series of light aircraft made by Avro in the 1920s and 1930s *Avian Limited, a hang glider manufacture ...

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 The 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 southe ...

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