In this task, we ask you to elaborate the sentence without changing its general meaning. You can do so by explaining further the input sentence, using more precise wording, adding qualifiers and auxiliary information etc.
Q: Compared to other stick insects ( order Phasmatodea ) , the genus " Timema " is basal .
A: 
Compared to other stick insects ( order Phasmatodea ) , the genus " Timema " is considered basal ; that is , the earliest " branch " to diverge from the phylogenetic tree that includes all Phasmatodea .