Agathemera

genus of insects
(Redirected from Agathemerodea)

Agathemera (the chinchemolle) is a phasmid insect from Chile and Argentina. It is famous for its intense odor, which is its main defence.[1]

Agathemera
Agathemera crassa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Suborder:
Agathemerodea
Family:
Agathemeridae
Subfamily:
Agathemerinae
Tribe:
Agathemerini
Genus:
Agathemera

Stål, 1875
Species

It is notable for its sexual dimorphism. Females are much bigger than males, at 75mm long and 16mm wide in the thorax.[2]

This phasmid is an evolutionary isolate. It is alone in its suborder, and there are few publications about it.

References change

  1. «El Chinchemolle». Museo de Ciencias Naturales del profesorado en biología- Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología de la Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos(U.A.D.E.R.) - Sede Concepción del Uruguay - Provincia de Entre Ríos - República Argentina. Consultado el 12 de mayo de 2012. [1] Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine Comment: this photgraph shows the male mounting the female in mating. Notice that both insects have a colony of parasitic lice attached to them (tiny reddish blobs).
  2. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" 1898. de mayo de 2012