Chitoniscus

Chitoniscus is a genus of leaf insects native to the Fiji Islands. The species from New Caledonia, formerly listed in this genus, formerly classified in this genus were transferred to the newly described genus Trolicaphyllium in 2021.^[1][2]

Chitoniscus
Chitoniscus sp. “Suva”, ventro-posterior view of their coxae coloration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Phasmatodea
Suborder:	Euphasmatodea
Superfamily:	Phyllioidea
Family:	Phylliidae
Genus:	Chitoniscus Stål, 1875
Type species
* Chitoniscus lobiventris (Blanchard, 1853)
Species[1]
Chitoniscus feejeeanus Chitoniscus lobipes Chitoniscus lobiventris

They inhabit dense forests, where they can camouflage themselves among the foliage of various plant species.^[3]

These leaf insects prefer habitats with abundant vegetation, where they can feed on leaves and blend in seamlessly with their surroundings to avoid predators. They are typically active at night, feeding on leaves and mating underneath leaves.^[1] During the day, they remain motionless, resembling leaves to avoid detection by predators such as birds and small mammals.

Female insects typically exhibit a vibrant green hue, boasting wings that mimic delicate leaf veins and a broad, flat abdomen reminiscent of a leaf's shape. Their abdomens gracefully showcase a wavy pattern towards the lower segments. Primarily nocturnal, females are flightless and reproduce through either sexual or asexual egg-laying.

Conversely, males sport a longer, more slender physique, renowned for their agility. Their clear wings are larger in proportion. They exhibit the captivating wave-like pattern seen on the lower segments of the abdomen, akin to their female counterparts. Primarily nocturnal, males can fly and usually live less than females.

Taxonomy

In 1875 Carl Stål established the genus Chitoniscus for the only species Chitoniscus lobiventris wich was descriebed as Phyllium lobiventre by Blanchard in 1853, which thus became the type species. In 1877, James Wood-Mason transferred the second species into the genus, Chitoniscus feejeanum (today spelling Chitoniscus feejeeanus). In 1906 Josef Redtenbacher described with Chitoniscus lobipes the third species. Three other species described in the past in this genus or transferred to it are now listed in the 2021 described genus Trolicaphyllium, these are Trolicaphyllium sarrameaense, descriebed as Chitoniscus sarrameaense, Trolicaphyllium brachysoma, descriebed as Phyllium brachysoma and listed as Chitoniscus brachysoma from 1904 to 2021 as well as Trolicaphyllium erosus, descriebed as Chitoniscus erosus.^[2][4] The genus currently only includes the following three species:^[1][5]

• Chitoniscus feejeeanus (Westwood, 1864)
• Chitoniscus lobipes Redtenbacher, 1906)
• Chitoniscus lobiventris (Blanchard, 1853)