Stick Insect

Description:

Newly described phasmid named after PN member and discoverer Albert Kang. Orthomeria kangi is the first phasmid that was documented from eggs to adult. Eggs were brought to France where they were reared and documented. Two years after his discovery, Albert brought Linda Alisto and I to the place where he found them, in a mountainous area of Benguet in Luzon. We found them under leaves of their ficus host plant at night when they are most active. They adopt a motionless posture and drops to the ground when disturbed. Phasmids can also purposely lose some of their legs to help free them from a predator's grasp, or free them from the exuvia while molting. If this occurs during the immature stages, they can regenerate the lost limbs during successive molts. When threatened, they release defensive secretions, including chemical compounds of varying effect: some produce distinct odors, and others cause a stinging, burning sensation in the eyes and mouth of a predator. This particular species' odor is distinct but not foul.

Habitat:

Tropical forest at 400-650 meters elevation in the surroundings of the Sablang and Tuba regions of Benguet Province in the Philippines.

Notes:

Like other leaf eating insects in the forest, phasmids lowers the net production of early successional plants by consuming them enabling the forest to have light gaps and then enriches the soil by defecation. This enables the late succession plants to become established and encourages the recycling of the tropical forest.