Hermarchus (phasmid)

Hermarchus^[1] is a genus of very large stick insects within the order Phasmatodea and the tribe of Stephanacridini. Known species occur in New Guinea, Fiji, Australia, Philippines and New Caledonia.

Hermarchus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Phasmatodea
Family:	Phasmatidae
Tribe:	Stephanacridini
Genus:	Hermarchus Stål, 1875

Description and biology

Females are often 200 to 240 mm long (body length), depending on species. The males are winged, while wings are lacking in the larger females. In captivity, they are known to feed upon the leaves of plants such as eucalyptus, guava, bramble and acacia.

Species

The Phasmida Species File lists:

• Hermarchus apollonius (Westwood, 1859)
• Hermarchus differens Redtenbacher, 1908
• Hermarchus insignis (Kaup & Heyden, 1871)
• Hermarchus leytensis Zompro, 1997
• Hermarchus novaebritanniae (Wood-Mason, 1877)
• Hermarchus pythonius (Westwood, 1859) - type species (as Phibalosoma pythonius Westwood)
• Hermarchus trigonus (Thunberg, 1815)
• Hermarchus virga Redtenbacher, 1908