Identification, rearing, and distribution of stick insects of Madeira Island: an example of raising biodiversity awareness.
Two species of stick insects are currently known to be present in the Macaronesian archipelagos: Clonopsis gallica (Charpentier) (Phasmatodea: Bacillidae) on the Canary Islands and in the Azores and Carausius morosus (Sinéty) (Phasmatidae) in the Azores. Here, we provide the first reliable records of the presence and distribution of C. gallica and C. morosus on Madeira Island. Egg and adult stages are briefly described along with some notes on the life history of these species in captivity. Data on islandwide distribution are based on specimens donated by the public in response to an article published in a daily newspaper. This method of data collection raised great popular interest in stick insects. The role of newspapers as a means of communicating awareness in biodiversity issues is discussed.
Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Qualidade Agrícola, Caminho Municipal dos Caboucos, 61, 9135-372, Camacha, Madeira, Portugal antonioaguiar.sra@gov-madeira.pt.
António M F
AM
Aguiar
Universidade da Madeira, 9000-390 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, 4485-601 Vairão, Portugal aguin@uma.pt.
Dora Aguin
DA
Pombo
Museu de História Natural do Funchal, Rua da Mouraria, 31, 9004-546 Funchal, Madeira, Portugal ysabel.goncalves@cm-funchal.pt.
Ysabel M
YM
Gonçalves
D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010063:Ovum / Q000502:physiology; D011174:Portugal
Bacillidae; Carausius morosus; Clonopsis gallica; Macaronesia; Phasmatidae