Abstract
We address and discuss some of the many flaws exhibited by Costa et al. (2019)COSTA J, TORRES L, PROVANCE JR DW, BRUGNERA R & GRAZIA J. 2019. First report of predation by a stink bug (Supputius cincticeps Stål) on a walking-stick insect (Cladomorphus phyllinus Gray), with reflections on evolutionary mechanisms for camouflage. Acta Biol Par 48: 5-15. which tried to explain the twig-like camouflage of Cladomorphus phyllinus. Given the lack of both empirical and theoretical underpinnings in Costa et al. (2019)COSTA J, TORRES L, PROVANCE JR DW, BRUGNERA R & GRAZIA J. 2019. First report of predation by a stink bug (Supputius cincticeps Stål) on a walking-stick insect (Cladomorphus phyllinus Gray), with reflections on evolutionary mechanisms for camouflage. Acta Biol Par 48: 5-15., we call into question the validity of their conclusions, in particular, that horizontal gene transfer is a causal mechanism for the camouflage in C. phyllinus.
Key words
Hemiptera; lateral gene transfer; stink bug; walking-stick insect