Bacillus atticus atticus

Bacillus atticus atticus is a species of phasmid or "walking stick" with recorded specimens in Greece, Italy, Croatia and Israel.^[1] In Cyprus,^[2] the endemic subspecies Bacillus atticus cyprius is present. Both can often be found climbing on plants.

Bacillus atticus atticus
Bacillus atticus atticus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Phasmatodea
Family:	Bacillidae
Genus:	Bacillus
Species:	B. atticus
Subspecies:	B. a. atticus
Trinomial name
Bacillus atticus atticus Brunner v. W., 1882

The glyphs on the eggs, are very distinguishable

Description

Adults have a slim body about 80 mm long, with a stripe on each side. Their antennae are red and short. The forelegs are strong, around 50 mm long, painted red at their base.

Behaviour

Bacillus atticus atticus^[3] is mostly active at night, when it feeds. The usual foods of this species are plants such as ivy and lettuce. During the day, the animal stays absolutely still, camouflaged as a stick, matching the color of the plant that it's on. If disturbed, its main defense is to feign death. Like many phasmids, the species is parthenogenetic, so it can reproduce on its own by laying eggs. The eggs are ovoid-shaped, with some distinguishable glyphics around them and a sponge-like shape on the top.

See also

• Bacillus rossius, the endemic Bacillus of Western Mediterranean Europe