Singaporoidea normalis (Redtenbacher, 1908) Hennemann, 2021

Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5073 (1), pp. 1-189 : 164-165

Singaporoidea normalis (Redtenbacher, 1908) rev. stat., n. comb.

( Fig. 64 )

Sipyloidea normalis Redtenbacher, 1908: 547 . LT (by present designation), ♂: Nord-Celebes, Toli-Toli, Nov.–Dez. 1895, H. Fruhstorfer ; Coll. Br. v.W.; det. Redtenb. Sipyloidea normalis ; 20.724 [NHMW, No. 1109]; PLT, 4 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀: Nord-Ce-lebes, Toli-Toli, Nov.–Dez. 1895, H. Fruhstorfer [NHMW, No. 1109]. ( Not : PLT, 18 ♂♂, 20 ♀♀: Molukken / Aru-Ins. / Buru / Salomonen / Ind. or. [NHMW, No. 1109]; PLT, ♀: Key-Inseln , Semper [MNHU]; PLT, ♂: Mafor , Fruhstorfer ; H. Fruhstorfer vend. 6.III.1898; 169 [ZMUH]; PLT, ♂: Roon , Fruhstorfer ; H. Fruhstorfer vend. 6.III.1898; 168 [ZMUH] → these are S. poeciloptera Rehn, 1904 , see comments below). Type specimens from New Guinea in HNHM, Budapest were destroyed in fire. Possible type material in ZMAS listed by Brock (2007: 52). rev. stat.

Sipyloidea poeciloptera, Günther, 1933: 161 . [Erroneous synonymization of S. normalis Redtenbcher, 1908 ]

Nescicroa poeciloptera, Günther, 1935a: 23 . [Misidentification]

Günther, 1938: 59. [Misidentification]

Hennemann, 1998: 109, pl. 1: 3–4, fig. 13. [Misidentification]

Further material: SULAWESI: 2 ♀♀, 6 ♂♂, 14 eggs: S-Sulawesi, Selatan Prov., Strasse von Rantepao nach Palopo km 39, 900m, leg. F. Hennemann 13.– 17.8.1995; on Guava ( Psidium guayava ) [coll. FH, No’s 0103-1 to 8, E]; 1 ♀: S-Sulawesi, Selatan Prov. , Tana Toraja, Rantepao, 700m, leg. Gunawan X.1995 [coll. FH, No. 0103-9]; 1 ♀: S-Sulawesi, Selatan Prov. , Tana Toraja, leg. Tajuddin X.1995 – II.1996 [coll. FH, No. 0103-10]; 1 ♂: Zentral Sulawesi, Prov . Sulawesi Tengah, Banggai District, Luwuk , II.2007 [coll. FH, No. 0103-11]; 2 ♂♂: Indonesien, Zentral Sulawesi, Prov . Sulawesi Tengah, Palolo District, Palu , I.2012 [coll. FH, No’s 0103-13 & 14]. PELENG: 1 ♀: Indonesien, Peleng, Tinanasu XII.2012 [coll. FH, No. 0103-12] .

Differential diagnosis: This species is very similar to S. poeciloptera (Rehn, 1904) but, in addition to being geographically separated with S. normalis most likely endemic to Sulawesi and Peleng, it differs from that species by the somewhat longer mesothorax of both sexes. This is 3.6–3.7x (♀♀) or 4.7 (♂♂) longer than the prothorax, whereas it is only 3.5x (♀♀) or 4x (♂♂) longer in poeciloptera . Females may also be separated by the somewhat shorter and apically less acute subgenital plate ( Fig. 64D ), that reaches less than half the way along the anal segment. Males can be easily separated by a differently shaped anal segment, that has the lateral margins and surfaces gently convex ( Fig. 64J ), a relatively longer and more slender abdominal tergum IX and almost rectangularly inward angled, distinctly hook-shaped cerci ( Figs. 64F–H ; in-curving in poeciloptera ) .

From the very similar Javanese S. dolorosa (Redtenbacher, 1908) , ♀♀ differ by the more slender and realtively longer cerci that project considerably beyond the apex of the abdomen and ♂♂ can be separated by a differently shaped anal segment and the typically hook-like cerci (just gently curved in Javanese examples of dolorosa ). Since the type-series of S. dolorosa apparently comprises more than one species, any more detailed differentiation must await a detailed and critical assessment of Redtenbacher’s dolorosa .

From the two Sulawesian S. inconspicua (Redtenbacher, 1908) and S. tenella (Günther, 1935) both sexes are easily separated by the much more slender general shape, realtively longer body segments and limbs and almost plain green colouration. For a more detailed differentiation between ♀♀ of normalis and tenella see differential diagnosis for S. tenella below.

Comments: Since Redtenbacher (1908: 547) listed Sulawesi as the first locality and in order to provide stability of the synonymy introduced by Günther (1933) a ♂ from Toli-Toli, North Sulawesi in NHMW bearing the indi-vidual collection number 20.724 and illustrated in the Phasmida Species File Online (http:// Phasmida .SpeciesFile. org) is here selected as the lectotype of Sipyloidea normalis . The three possible syntypes (now paralectotypes) of S. normalis listed by Brock (2007: 52) in the collection of ZMAS were not mentioned in the list of type depositories in the monograph by Redtenbacher (1908: 547), hence they are not included in the type-listing above. However, it is known that some specimens were clearly exchanged with other museums, hence not all depositories cited in the monograph may be correct. The brown ♂ from Toli-Toli-Sulawesi, which lacks the abdomen is not S. normalis but a specimen of Necroscia aruana Westwood, 1859 .

A ♀ from Peleng in the author’s collection is the first record of S. normalis from that island. All records based on paralectotypes of the original type-series do not relate to S. normalis but represent S. poeciloptera . Hence, S. poeciloptera is an erroneous record for Sulawesi (e.g. Günther, 1935a, 1938; Hennemann, 1998).

A description and drawings of the eggs were presented by Hennemann (1998: 109, fig. 13). A more comprehensive illustration of both sexes and eggs using the better photographic equipment now available is provided herein. Breeding was attempted in 1996 with about 40 eggs ( Fig. 64M ) that were laid by the specimens collected by the author in 1995 in Tana Toraja. Although the hatching rate was at about 70% all of the tiny and very fragile bright yellow nymphs refused all alternative food plants that were offered. Surprisingly, also guava ( Psidium guayava , Myrtaceae ) was refused although the collected specimens had exclusively been found and average sized guava shrubs alongside the road from Rantepao to Palopo at km39.

Body lengths of specimens in the author’s collection (coll. FH) are as follows: ♂♂ 45.5–62.3 mm, ♀♀ 74.3– 84.0 mm.

Distribution: Sulawesi (Toli-Toli; Luwu, Lempongpangi; Boran-Djaladja; Samanga; Bua Karaeng; Tana Toraja; Latimojong Mountains, Uru) [MNHU, NHMB, NHMW, ZMPA, coll. FH]; Peleng [coll. FH].

Figures

FIGURE 64. Singaporoidea normalis (Redtenbacher, 1908) n. comb. from Selatan Province, Central Sulawesi: A. ♀, habitus lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0103-9]; B. ♂, habitus lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0103-5]; C. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ seen laterally [coll. FH, No. 0103-7]; D. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ seen ventrally [coll. FH, No. 0103-9]; E. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ seen dorsally [coll. FH, No. 0103-9]; F. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen laterally [coll. FH, No. 0103-5]; G. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen ventro-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0103-5]; H. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen ventrally [coll. FH, No. 0103-5]; J. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen dorsally [coll. FH, No. 0103-5]; K. Head, pro-, mesothorax and tegmina of ♂ in dorso-lateral aspect [coll. FH, No. 0103-5]; L. Head, pro-, mesothorax and tegmina of ♀ in dorso-lateral aspect [coll. FH, No. 0103-7]; M. Eggs [coll. FH, No. 0103-E].