# Epidares

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Epidares
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Epidares.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidares
> Source revision: 1304451301
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Species of stick insect}}
{{Speciesbox
| taxon = Epidares nolimetangere
| image = Epidares nolimetangere - male 2.JPG
| image_caption = Male
| display_parents = 2
| parent_authority = [Redtenbacher](/source/Josef_Redtenbacher_(entomologist)), 1906
| authority = ([de Haan](/source/Wilhem_de_Haan), 1842)
}}

thumb|upright|female
'''''Epidares nolimetangere''''', the '''touch-me-not stick insect''',<ref name = "Phasmida Species File" /> is an [insect](/source/insect) species from the [order](/source/order_(biology)) of the [Phasmatodea](/source/Phasmatodea) and the only representative of the [genus](/source/genus) '''''Epidares'''''.<ref name = "Phasmida Species File" /> The [species name](/source/species_name) ''nolimetangere'' (originally: ''noli-me-tangere'') comes from [Latin](/source/Latin) and means "don't touch me". It refers to the prickly appearance of the animals.<ref name = "Heteropterygidae im Terrarium" />

== Characteristics ==
''Epidares nolimetangere'' is one of the smaller representatives of the Phasmatodea. The males are about 35 to 43&nbsp;mm long, the females reach a length of about 45 to 48&nbsp;mm and have shorter spines than the males. The insects, wingless in both sexes, have a pair of spines on the head and on the [anterior](/source/anterior) margin of the [mesonotum](/source/mesonotum) and a ring of four spines on the [posterior](/source/Posterior_(anatomy)) margin of the [meso-](/source/Mesothorax) and [metathorax](/source/metathorax). On the entire [abdomen](/source/Abdomen_(insect_anatomy)) of the males there is only one pair of spines, which can be found on the second abdominal segment. In addition to this, the females also have a pair of spines on the third abdominal segment, which is supplemented by smaller, mostly lateral spines. The females are monochrome dark brown except for a light central stripe. The abdomen of egg-laying females is thickened in the middle. The males show dark areas on the back from the posterior mesothorax, especially in the areas around the spines and on the abdomen. There are other spots on the [pronotum](/source/pronotum) and between the lateral and dorsal spines of the meso- and metathorax, the spines themselves being light-colored. On the abdomen, the dark areas flow together to form two parallel longitudinal stripes. These spots can be small or significantly larger or flow together. Their color can be brown to dark green or metallic green. The basic color of the males varies from a light brown on the legs to a bright red, especially on the head, thorax and the top of the abdomen, depending on where they were found. Other location variants are also simply colored light brown between the green spots. Depending on the source, the animals with a more red base color and smaller spots are referred to as a red color form, those with larger, more metallic green spots as a green color form. Ian Abercrombie found another color form, clearly distinguishable from these forms, the males of which he describes as golden.<ref name="Phasmiden" /><ref name = "Phasmids of Borneo" /> Also [Francis Seow-Choen](/source/Francis_Seow-Choen) refers to the [Bako](/source/Bako_National_Park) occurring color form as golden. He calls a second one that occurs in the area around [Kuching](/source/Kuching) dark or blue.<ref name = "Guide of Borneo" />

== Distribution area, way of life and reproduction ==
''Epidares nolimetangere'' comes from [Borneo](/source/Borneo). There it can be found very frequently in the northwest, more precisely in the [Malay](/source/Malaysia) state [Sarawak](/source/Sarawak) and here it reaches the highest observed [population density](/source/population_density) of phasmatodea living on Borneo.<ref name = "Phasmids of Borneo " /><ref name="Terrarien Enzyklopädie" />

The insects live on low shrub vegetation of the [tropical rainforest](/source/tropical_rainforest). As food plants are known, [Rosaceae](/source/Rosaceae) like the [Molucca bramble](/source/Molucca_bramble) (''Rubus moluccanus''), [Melastomataceae](/source/Melastomataceae) like ''[Clidemia hirta](/source/Clidemia_hirta)'', [Vitaceae](/source/Vitaceae) like ''[Leea indica](/source/Leea_indica)'', [Acanthaceae](/source/Acanthaceae) as ''[Strobilanthes alternata](/source/Strobilanthes_alternata)'' and [Bonnetiaceae](/source/Bonnetiaceae) as ''[Ploiarium alternifolium](/source/Ploiarium_alternifolium)''. The females lay one to three eggs about 3.5 to 3.9&nbsp;mm long, 2.9 to 3.1&nbsp;mm wide and an average of 6.8&nbsp;mg each week for a period of up to twenty months. These are covered with barbed hairs. They are placed individually in a hollow dug with the legs. The abdomen is bent forward over the back and the then released egg is rolled over the parallel held [antennae](/source/Antenna_(biology)) into the hollow. This is covered again after the eggs have been laid.<ref name = "Phasmiden" /> After three to six months, the seven to twelve millimeter long [nymphs](/source/Nymph_(biology)) hatch from the eggs. Males are after about eight months, females after about ten months [adult](/source/adult). After another three to four weeks, the females begin to lay eggs.<ref name = "Guide of Borneo" /><ref name="Terrarien Enzyklopädie" /><ref name="phasmatodea" />

== Taxonomy ==
[Wilhem de Haan](/source/Wilhem_de_Haan) originally described this species as ''Phasma (Acanthoderus) noli-me-tangere''. [Josef Redtenbacher](/source/Josef_Redtenbacher_(Entomologist)) established the subgenus ''Epidares'' within the genus ''[Dares](/source/Dares_(insect))'' for this species. Due to the clear differences between the only species ''Dares (Epidares) nolimetangere'' and the rest of the members of the genus ''Dares'', ''Epidares'' has been classified as a genus and was identified as such in 1977 by James Chester Bradley and [Bella S. Galil](/source/Bella_S._Galil) addressed. A female [lectotype](/source/lectotype) and a male [paralectotype](/source/paralectotype) are deposited in the [Naturalis Biodiversity Center](/source/Naturalis_Biodiversity_Center) in [Leiden](/source/Leiden). The genus is [monotypic](/source/monotypic).<ref name = "Phasmida Species File" /> Seow-Choen shows a male on the cover of his book in 2016 and a female on page 389, both of which are bright red all over their body. Only the [femura](/source/insect_leg) are bright green. [Morphologically](/source/Morphology_(biology)) they resemble ''Epidares nolimetangere'' and are addressed as such in the captions. These animals are not discussed further by the author and still have to be examined [taxonomically](/source/taxonomically).<ref name = "Guide of Borneo" />

== Terraristic ==
The first breeding stocks were imported in 1988 from Mount Serapi as green form by [Philip Edward Bragg](/source/Philip_Edward_Bragg) and in 1989 from Mount Matang as red form by Patrick van der Stigchel. By mixing the two stocks, insects are bred that can no longer be clearly assigned to the red or green form. Other tribes also collected in Sarawak have been imported from [Kubah](/source/Kubah_National_Park), Semenggoh and [Bako](/source/Bako_National_Park). In the ones from Bako there are often males, which lack the pair of spines on the abdomen. Occasionally there are also males with only one spine sting instead of the usual pair. The [Belgian](/source/Belgians) phasmid breeders Kim D'Hulster and Hans Lamal brought another stock into breeding in 2012, which they collected in Damai near [Mount Santubong](/source/Mount_Santubong). Animals of this stock called ''Epidares nolimetangere'' 'Santubong' are characterized by the fact that their spines on the margin of meso- and metathorax are Y-shaped, i.e. designed as double spines. From Santubong other finds with this peculiarity are known, which also show the above-mentioned, bright red animals, which were pictured by Seow-Choen in 2016. The remaining breeding stocks, if they are passed on unmixed, are also given with their origin. So that in addition to the stock from Santubong also the stocks ''Epidares nolimetangere'' 'Mt. Serapi', ''Epidares nolimetangere'' 'Matang' (also called "red Matangs"), ''Epidares nolimetangere'' 'Kubah', ''Epidares nolimetangere'' 'Semenggoh' and ''Epidares nolimetangere'' 'Bako'. Three of these stocks were included in the [genetic analysis](/source/genetic_analysis) by [Sarah Bank](/source/Sarah_Bank) [et al.](/source/et_al.) and were found to be [conspecific](/source/conspecific). The species is listed by the [Phasmid Study Group](/source/Phasmid_Study_Group) under the PSG number 99.<ref name = "Heteropterygidae im Terrarium" /><ref name = "Phasmids of Borneo" /><ref name = "phasmatodea" /><ref name="Phasmid Study Group List" /><ref name="Bank et al. 2021" />

''Epdares nolimetangere'' needs a [relative humidity](/source/relative_humidity) of at least 80%, as can be achieved in a glass [terrarium](/source/terrarium) with small ventilation slots. In contrast to insufficient humidity, waterlogging is well tolerated. In addition to leaves of [oak](/source/oak) and [hazel](/source/hazel), the various [Rosaceae](/source/Rosaceae) such as [bramble](/source/bramble), [raspberries](/source/raspberries), [strawberries](/source/strawberries) and [firethorn](/source/firethorn) are eaten.<ref name="Terrarien Enzyklopädie" /> A layer of earth is suitable as a substrate covered with some [moss](/source/moss), which should always be kept moist. The eggs can be left on or in the ground.<ref name = "Phasmiden" />

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Epidares nolimetangere pair.jpg|Pair
Spiny Stick Insect (Epidares nolimetangere) (15682291780).jpg|Female with double spines from [Santubong](/source/Santubong_National_Park)
Epidares nolimetangere - males from Bako.jpg|Males from Bako stock, the one in front lacks the spines on the abdomen 
Epidares nolimetangere egg.JPG|Egg
</gallery>

== References ==

<references>

<ref name="Phasmida Species File">[Brock, P. D.](/source/Paul_D._Brock); [Büscher, T. H.](/source/Thies_B%C3%BCcher) & [Baker, E. W.](/source/Edward_W._Baker) ''[http://phasmida.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1200393 Phasmida Species File Online]''. Version 5.0/5.0 (accessdate 12 June 2021)</ref>

<ref name="Heteropterygidae im Terrarium">[Zompro, O.](/source/Oliver_Zompro) (2000) ''Gespenstschrecken der Familie Heteropterygidae im Terrarium'', Reptilia - Terraristik Fachmagazin (Nr. 24, August/September 2000) Natur und Tier, Münster</ref>

<ref name="Phasmiden">Seiler, C; [Bradler, S.](/source/Sven_Bradler) & Koch, R. (2000). ''Phasmiden – Pflege und Zucht von Gespenstschrecken, Stabschrecken und Wandelnden Blättern im Terrarium''. bede, Ruhmannsfelden, {{ISBN|3-933646-89-8}}</ref>

<ref name="Phasmids of Borneo">[Bragg, P. E.](/source/Philip_Edward_Bragg) (2001) ''Phasmids of Borneo'', Natural History Publikations (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd., Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, 2001, pp. 174–179, {{ISBN|983-812-027-8}}</ref>

<ref name="Guide of Borneo">[Seow-Choen, F.](/source/Francis_Seow-Choen) (2016) ''A Taxonomic Guide to the Stick Insects of Borneo'', Natural History Publikations (Borneo) Sdn. Bhd., Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, pp. 388-389, {{ISBN|978-983-812-169-9}}</ref>

<ref name="Terrarien Enzyklopädie">Bruins, E. (2006) ''Illustrierte Terrarien Enzyklopädie'', Dörfler Verlag, Eggolsheim, {{ISBN|978-3-89555-423-0}}</ref>

<ref name="Phasmid Study Group List">{{Cite web |url=http://phasmid-study-group.org/specieslist |title=Phasmid Study Group Culture List |access-date=2021-06-16 |archive-date=2015-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005021101/http://phasmid-study-group.org/specieslist |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<ref name="phasmatodea">[http://www.phasmatodea.com/epidares-nolimetangere-haan-1842 Phasmatodea.com] by [Hennemann, F. H.](/source/Frank_H._Hennemann); [Conle, O. V.](/source/Oskar_V._Conle), [Kneubühler, B.](/source/Bruno_Kneub%C3%BChler_(entomologist)) & Pablo Valero</ref>

<ref name="Bank et al. 2021">[Bank, S.](/source/Sarah_Bank); Buckley, T. R.; Büscher, T. H.; [Bresseel, J.](/source/Joachim_Bresseel); [Constant, J.](/source/J%C3%A9r%C3%B4me_Constant); de Haan, M.; Dittmar, D.; Dräger, H.; Kahar, R. S.; Kang, A.; Kneubühler, B.; Langton-Myers, S. & Bradler, S. (2021). ''[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/syen.12472 Reconstructing the nonadaptive radiation of an ancient lineage of ground-dwelling stick insects (Phasmatodea: Heteropterygidae)]'', Systematic Entomology, DOI: 10.1111/syen.12472</ref>

</references>

==External links==
*{{wikispecies inline|Epidares|''Epidares''}}
*{{commons category-inline|Epidares nolimetangere|''Epidares nolimetangere''}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q14627221|from2=Q893955}}

Category:Phasmatodea
Category:Phasmatodea of Indo-China

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Epidares](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidares) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidares?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.