Subject: What’s that bug
Geographic location of the bug: Burwood Chrisfchurch5
Date: 03/31/2019
Time: 05:28 PM EDT
Your letter to the bugman: Found resting on wall of our house.
How you want your letter signed: BRM
Dear BRM,
This is a Stick Insect in the order Phasmatodea. According to Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research: “The New Zealand stick insect fauna contains 21 valid species in eight genera, but much taxonomic work remains to be done. Recent fieldwork and data analyses have revealed the presence of undescribed species, particularly in the South Island. Furthermore, several described species are of dubious validity. Current taxonomic research includes a large amount of collecting throughout New Zealand and all major offshore islands. Generic and species boundaries are being determined using both morphological and molecular genetic characters.”