Stick insects in New Zealand are found in a range of different environments, from cold high alpine areas to dry coastal bush. There are currently 23 different species described, from 10 genera (Landcare Research). The most common species of the stick insect in New Zealand is the smooth stick insect (Clitarchus hookeri) (Salmon 1991).
Following Günther (1953), the New Zealand stick insects are placed into the subfamilies Phasmatinae (tribe: Acanthoxylini) and Pachymorphinae (tribe: Pachymorphinini). Classification and identification is based on Jewell & Brock (2002).
Undescribed Micrarchus species illustrated by Des Helmore
Buckley, T. R.; Attanayake, D.; Nylander, J. A.; Bradler, S. (2010). "The phylogenetic placement and biogeographical origins of the New Zealand stick insects (Phasmatodea)". Systematic Entomology. 35 (2): 207–225. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2009.00505.x.
Buckley, Thomas R.; Myers, Shelley S.; Bradler, Sven (24 December 2014). "Revision of the stick insect genus Clitarchus Stål (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae): new synonymies and two new species from northern New Zealand". Zootaxa. 3900 (4): 451–482. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3900.4.1. ISSN1175-5334. PMID25543751.
Günther, K. (1953). "Über die taxonomische Gliederung und die geographische Verbreitung der Insektenordnung der Phasmatodea". Beiträge zur Entomologie. 3 (5). Berlin: 541–563.
Hutton, F. W. (1899). "Revision of the New Zealand Phasmidae". Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. 31: 50–59.
O'Neill, S. B.; Buckley, T. R.; Jewell, T. R.; Ritchie, P. A. (2009). "Phylogeographic history of the New Zealand stick insect Niveaphasma annulata (Phasmatodea) estimated from mitochondrial and nuclear loci". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 53 (2): 523–536. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2009.07.007. PMID19596452.
Salmon, J. T. (1954). "A new genus and species of Phasmidae from New Zealand". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 82: 161–168.
Salmon, J. T. (1955). "The genus Acanthoxyla (Phasmidae)". Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 82 (5).
Salmon, J. T (1991). The stick insects of New Zealand. Raupo.
Trewick, S. A.; Goldberg, J.; Morgan‐Richards, M. (2005). "Fewer species of Argosarchus and Clitarchus stick insects (Phasmida, Phasmatinae): evidence from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequence data". Zoologica Scripta. 34 (5): 483–491. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2005.00204.x.
White, A. (1846). Richardson, John; Gray, John Edward (eds.). The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Erebus & Terror, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, during the years 1839 to 1843. By authority of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Vol.1. Insects of New Zealand.