Agathemera crassa

Description

Agathemera crassa (chinchemolle, chinchimolle, chichina) is a phasmatodean insectnative to Chile, Argentine Patagonia, and north-central Argentina. It is known for the intense odor it secretes, used as a defense. The etymology of its most common vernacular name alludes to this distinctive characteristic: chinchemolle (from Quechua, chinche = smelly bug, molle = fragrant tree). It is a species with significant sexual dimorphism : females, much larger, measure about 75mm long and 16mm wide at the mesothorax. Agathemera is a genus of stick insects in the suborder Euphasmatodea and superfamily Pseudophasmatoidea. It consists of several species limited to the mountainous regions of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. This genus is the sole representative of the monotypic family Agathemeridae and tribe Agathemerini; it was also placed in the suborder Agathemerodea, but the latter is now considered of doubtful validity.