Title

Overwintering in New Zealand stick insects

Authors

Alice B. Dennis, Landcare Research, Auckland, New ZealandFollow
Luke T. Dunning, Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand
Christopher J. Dennis
Brent J. Sinclair, Western UniversityFollow
Thomas R. Buckley, Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 6-2013

Journal

New Zealand Entomologist

Volume

37

Issue

1

First Page

35

Last Page

44

URL with Digital Object Identifier

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.2013.784235

Abstract

Stick insects are found in a variety of habitats throughout New Zealand, including at least four species that occur at high altitudes. Here they face physiological challenges that differ from their typically warmer lowland habitats, but their strategies to deal with harsh winter conditions are not known. Autumn and winter field surveys, coupled with caging experiments, were conducted to determine which life stages are overwintering in montane and lowland habitats. Data loggers were placed for approximately one year at each site to measure the leaf litter and canopy microhabitat temperatures. From this, we have found that alpine and lowland stick insects persist in a variety of life stages throughout the year despite multiple exposure to freezing temperatures.

Notes

submission must be accompanied by the following statement:

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor and Francis in New Zealand Entomologist on June 2013, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00779962.2013.784235"