Editing Phasmatodea (section)

==Ecology==
Phasmids are herbivorous, feeding mostly on the leaves of trees and shrubs, and a conspicuous component of many [[Neotropical]] systems. Phasmatodea has been postulated as dominant [[light-gap]] herbivores there. Their role in the forest ecosystem is considered important by many scientists, who stress the significance of light gaps in maintaining [[ecological succession|succession]] and resilience in [[climax vegetation|climax forests]]. The presence of phasmids lowers the net production of early successional plants by consuming them and then enriches the soil by [[defecation]]. This enables the late succession plants to become established and encourages the recycling of the tropical forest.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Willig|first=Michael R. |author2=Rosser W. Garrison |author3=Arlene J. Bauman|title=Population dynamics and natural history of a neotropical walking stick, Lamponius Portoricensis Rehn (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae)|journal=The Texas Journal of Science |year=1986|volume=38}}</ref>

Phasmatodea are recognized as injurious to forest and shade trees by [[Folivore|defoliation]]. ''[[Didymuria violescens]]'', ''[[Podacanthus wilkinsoni]]'' and ''[[Ctenomorphodes tessulatus]]'' in Australia, ''[[Diapheromera femorata]]'' in [[North America]] and ''[[Graeffea crouani]]'' in coconut plantations in the [[Oceania|South Pacific]] all occur in outbreaks of economic importance.<ref name="Baker 2015">{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=E. |date=2015 |title=The worldwide status of stick insects (Insecta: Phasmida) as pests of agriculture and forestry, with a generalised theory of phasmid outbreaks |journal=Agriculture and Food Security |volume=4 |issue=22 |doi=10.1186/s40066-015-0040-6 |doi-access=free|hdl=10141/615363 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Indeed, in the [[American South]], as well as in [[Michigan]] and [[Wisconsin]], the walking stick is a significant problem in parks and recreation sites, where it consumes the foliage of [[oak]]s and other [[hardwood]]s. Severe outbreaks of the walking stick, ''Diapheromera femorata'', have occurred in the [[Ouachita Mountains]] of [[Arkansas]] and [[Oklahoma]]. The insects eat the entire leaf blade. In the event of heavy outbreaks, entire stands of trees can be completely denuded.<ref name=Craighead>{{cite book|author1=Craighead, Frank Cooper |author2=Schaffner, John Valentine |title=Insect Enemies of Eastern Forests|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y34WAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA97 |year=1950 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=97–98}}</ref> Continuous defoliation over several years often results in the death of the tree. Because these species cannot fly, infestations are typically contained to a radius of a few hundred yards. Nevertheless, the damage incurred to parks in the region is often costly. Control efforts in the case of infestations have typically involved chemical [[pesticide]]s; ground fires are effective at killing eggs but have obvious disadvantages.<ref name=Craighead/> In New South Wales, research has investigated the feasibility of controlling stick insects using natural enemies such as [[parasitic wasps]] (''Myrmecomimesis'' spp.).<ref name="Campbell, K.G. 1959 19–23">{{cite journal |author=Campbell, K.G. |year=1959 |title=The importance of research into forest insect problems in New South Wales |journal=Australian Forestry |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=19–23 |doi=10.1080/00049158.1959.10675860|bibcode=1959AuFor..23...19C }}</ref>