Pharmacus | |
---|---|
Pharmacus montanus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Orthoptera |
Suborder: | Ensifera |
Family: | Rhaphidophoridae |
Subfamily: | Macropathinae |
Genus: |
Pharmacus Pictet & Saussure, 1891 |
Species | |
See text |
Pharmacus is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. All species are alpine adapted and found at high elevations in the South Island. [1] They live among rocks on high mountain ridges, often well above glaciers and vegetation. [2] Pharmacus has a geographical range that extends from Nelson south to central Otago and Fiordland. [2] They are small insects with a body length of approximately 14-20mm. [3] In this genus, females are larger than males. [3] All species exhibit dark brown to black pigmentation of the body and legs. [2] They have a dense clothing of setae and a serrated ovipositor. [3] [2] When active they are lively jumpers. [3] For example, Pharmacus montanus is known as the Mount Cook flea because of its habit of leaping out of rock crevices on to mountain climbers. [4]
The genus Pharmacus was first described by Pictet and de Saussure in 1893 as a monotypic taxon. [1] Pharmacus montanus was thought to be the only species in this genus. [1] However, three species were added to the genus by Richards in 1972. [1] These were Pharmacus brewsterensis (now moved to another genus), P. chapmanae and P. dumbletoni (both synonyms). [1] Six new species and three new subspecies have been recently added in 2022 by Hegg, Morgan-Richards and Trewick. [1] The six new species are Pharmacus concinnus, P. cristatus, P. notabilis, P. perfidus, P. senex, P. vallestris. [1] Three new subspecies of Pharmacus cochleatus have been described and are known as P. cochleatus rawhiti, P. cochleatus fiordensis, P. cochleatus nauclerus. [1]
Pharmacus montanus: body length = 14mm, ovipositor = 9.9mm, foreleg = 18.7mm, mid leg = 18.7mm, hind leg = 28.6mm. [3]
Little is known about the diet of these alpine insects. [5] Pharmacus are mainly herbivorous [6] and have been observed feeding on rock lichen. [1] However, they probably prey on small invertebrates. [1] Pharmacus may also feed on the rich red algal growth that coats snow-fields during the summer season. [1]
Pharmacus are alpine specialists and are found throughout the mountain ranges of New Zealand's South Island. [1] They are only found above the tree line and into the nival zone. [1] They have been sighted at 1300m above sea level or higher. [1] On Mt Cook P. montanus has been recorded at 3400 m asl. [6] Different species of Pharmacus have varied distributions throughout the South Island. [1] Pharmacus montanus and Pharmacus cochleatus are the two most widespread species, occupying the length of the Southern Alps from Fiordland to Kahurangi National Park. [1]
Pharmacus | |
---|---|
Pharmacus montanus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Orthoptera |
Suborder: | Ensifera |
Family: | Rhaphidophoridae |
Subfamily: | Macropathinae |
Genus: |
Pharmacus Pictet & Saussure, 1891 |
Species | |
See text |
Pharmacus is a genus of cave wētā in the family Rhaphidophoridae, endemic to New Zealand. All species are alpine adapted and found at high elevations in the South Island. [1] They live among rocks on high mountain ridges, often well above glaciers and vegetation. [2] Pharmacus has a geographical range that extends from Nelson south to central Otago and Fiordland. [2] They are small insects with a body length of approximately 14-20mm. [3] In this genus, females are larger than males. [3] All species exhibit dark brown to black pigmentation of the body and legs. [2] They have a dense clothing of setae and a serrated ovipositor. [3] [2] When active they are lively jumpers. [3] For example, Pharmacus montanus is known as the Mount Cook flea because of its habit of leaping out of rock crevices on to mountain climbers. [4]
The genus Pharmacus was first described by Pictet and de Saussure in 1893 as a monotypic taxon. [1] Pharmacus montanus was thought to be the only species in this genus. [1] However, three species were added to the genus by Richards in 1972. [1] These were Pharmacus brewsterensis (now moved to another genus), P. chapmanae and P. dumbletoni (both synonyms). [1] Six new species and three new subspecies have been recently added in 2022 by Hegg, Morgan-Richards and Trewick. [1] The six new species are Pharmacus concinnus, P. cristatus, P. notabilis, P. perfidus, P. senex, P. vallestris. [1] Three new subspecies of Pharmacus cochleatus have been described and are known as P. cochleatus rawhiti, P. cochleatus fiordensis, P. cochleatus nauclerus. [1]
Pharmacus montanus: body length = 14mm, ovipositor = 9.9mm, foreleg = 18.7mm, mid leg = 18.7mm, hind leg = 28.6mm. [3]
Little is known about the diet of these alpine insects. [5] Pharmacus are mainly herbivorous [6] and have been observed feeding on rock lichen. [1] However, they probably prey on small invertebrates. [1] Pharmacus may also feed on the rich red algal growth that coats snow-fields during the summer season. [1]
Pharmacus are alpine specialists and are found throughout the mountain ranges of New Zealand's South Island. [1] They are only found above the tree line and into the nival zone. [1] They have been sighted at 1300m above sea level or higher. [1] On Mt Cook P. montanus has been recorded at 3400 m asl. [6] Different species of Pharmacus have varied distributions throughout the South Island. [1] Pharmacus montanus and Pharmacus cochleatus are the two most widespread species, occupying the length of the Southern Alps from Fiordland to Kahurangi National Park. [1]