unknown nymph - Timema californicum

Moved

Moved from Timema.

Thanks, Mark, for sending those larger images...they really helped!

Using the key in Vickery (1993) your Timema goes to T. californicum. That species is also a good match for the terminalia in your photos, and your individual agrees well with its description in Vickery, who also lists specific collection records of T. californicum from Arroyo Seco (near the lakes) on 19-IV-70...the exact month/day of your photo! My best guess at the plant, from the look of the leaves, is an oak...perhaps Quercus wislizeni. which grows in the area and is among the host plants of T. californicum.

There are two main color morphs of T. californicum, and Vickery estimates the occurence frequencies as: "green morph" (90-95%) vs. "brownish morph" (5-10%). In his discussion of color at the end of the paper, Vickery states the following:

"A note included with a collection of T. californicum from the Santa Lucia Range, Monterey County, California, by O. Bryant reads as follows: 'These seemed to be indiscriminantly brown or green; elsewhere brown & green seem to be distinct and occur separately. O. B.' "

All the current BugGuide images of T. californicum show the "green morph"...yours is the first example of the "brown/tan morph", and is good to have.

For completeness, I should mention that the terminalia in your specimen are also close in form to those of two other species: T. knulli and T. landelsensis, which are also recorded from the Santa Lucia Mnts...but on the coastal side of the crest (whereas Arroyo Seco is well on the inland side). And those two species are green with stripes and don't use oaks as host plants. Moreover, they have 18 and 22 antennal segments (including scape and pedicel), whereas T. californicum has 21...which is what I count on the right antenna of your guy (the left one has its tip broken off). So, overall, T. californicum seems the clear determination here.

… Aaron Schusteff, 9 August, 2013 - 2:30pm

Host Plant

I could be wrong, but the leaves and the red color on the stem all really look like toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) to me? It should be common in the area this guy was found too.

… Alice Abela, 11 May, 2015 - 6:57pm

Closer detail of terminalia?

Might you have an image (cropped or higher resolution?) showing more detail of the terminalia? It could help cinch the ID. That said, my best guess at this point would be the (light) brownish morph of T. californicum, based on locale, apparent oak host, and what's roughly visible of the terminalia.

… Aaron Schusteff, 8 August, 2013 - 3:35pm

looks male and adult to me,

but I'm not absolutely certain about the 'adult' part.

Moved from Grasshoppers, Crickets, Katydids.

… David J. Ferguson, 12 May, 2011 - 6:46pm

I agree...adult male

...from the well-developed and exposed terminalia. Timema are wingless, and the males are usually smallish (much smaller than the females that they're usually seen riding along on top of). So it's easy to mistake an adult for a nymph.

… Aaron Schusteff, 9 August, 2013 - 2:46pm

Moved

Moved from ID Request.

… v belov, 11 May, 2011 - 11:53am

You're sure

it shouldn't be in Phasmida?

… Ken Wolgemuth, 11 May, 2011 - 3:23pm

Not necessarily a nymph...

I'm wondering if this might be something in/near Timema:

I'll be interested in seeing what the experts have to say.

… Ken Wolgemuth, 9 May, 2011 - 8:37pm

Cool!

I think you're right. Never would have thought to check the Walkingstick family!

… Mark H Brown, 9 May, 2011 - 10:52pm