Pylaemenes moluccanus (Redtenbacher, 1906)

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 : 22

Pylaemenes moluccanus (Redtenbacher, 1906)

( Figs. 9–10 )

Datames moluccanus Redtenbacher, 1906: 51 . LT (by present designation), ♂: Coll. Br. v. W, Ins. Kalidupa H. Kühne; 24.846; det. Redtenb. Datames moluccanus ; Datames moluccanus Redt. Kalidupa prope Celebes. Type! [NHMW, No. 47]; PLT, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: Coll. Br. v. W. Ins. Kalidupa, H. Kühne; det. Redtenb. Datames moluccanus [NHMW, No. 47]; PLT, ♂: Coll. Br. v. W. Ins. Kalidupa bei Celebes, H. Kühne; det. Redtenb. Datames moluccanus ; Kalidupa [NHMW, No. 47].

Brock, 1998: 43.

Pylaemenes moluccanus, Zompro, 2004: 226

Otte & Brock, 2005: 297.

Datames oileus, Günther, 1938: 57 , 60 [Misidentification; specimens from Sulawesi in NHMB].

Material examined: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (in copula): Luwu, Lembongpangi, c. 500 m, 6 II . 95; Sarasin, 6. II .1895 , Lembong-pangi (Luwu), ca. 500 m, Centr.- Cel.; Pylaemenes coronatus de Haan. K. Günther det. [ NHMB].

Comments: Examination of the two specimens in NHMB recorded by Günther (1938: 60) has shown these to have been misidentified ( Fig. 10 ). They match best with the five type specimens of P. moluccanus (Redtenbacher, 1906) in NHMW ( Fig. 9 ), that originate from Pulau Kaledupa, an island of the Tukangbesi Islands, Wakatobi Regency, an archipelago to the southeast of Sulawesi ( Fig. 3 ). The two specimens however differ from the typical examples of P. moluccanus by the smaller size, somewhat less stocky shape and averaging less pronounced body armature and sculpturing. In comparison, all the spines, tubercles and swellings of the body and legs are mostly identical but smaller and less acute. In addition to these two specimens, the author has seen pictures of a ♀ from Mamasa, Central Sulawesi which also matches well with the types of P. moluccanus but in respect of the size and degree of body armature and sculpturing is intermediate between the specimens in NHMB from Central Sulawesi and the types of P. moluccanus from Kaledupa. The ♂ syntype which bears a collection number and a handwrit-ten label by Redtenbacher stating “Type!” is here selected as the lectotype of Datames moluccanus to guarantee stability of the name ( Figs. 9C–D ). This is in accordance with Article 74 of the ICZN Code (ICZN, 1999). P. oileus ( Westwood, 1859) differs from these Sulawesian specimens in numerous aspects, e.g. the armature of the head and shape of the anal segment.

Redtenbacher (1906: 51) cited a body length of 58.0–60.0 mm for ♀♀ and 50.0–52.0 mm for ♂♂ (shortest body length refers to lectotype). For comparison the measurements of the notably smaller specimens from NHMB are presented in table 2 below. Illustrations of the type specimens and the couple in copula from NHMB are presented to illustrate the mentioned differences and support future work on the arrangement of Wallacean representatives of Pylaemenes .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Topographic map of Sulawesi, the Banggai and Sula Islands showing the seven provinces and their capitals. (© http://commons.wikimedia.org; edited)

FIGURE 9. Pylaemenes moluccanus (Redtenbacher, 1906), type specimens: A. ♀ (PLT) frm Kaledupa, dorsal view [NHMW]; B. ♀ (PLT) from Kaledupa, lateral view [NHMW]; C. ♂ (PLT) from Kaledupa, dorsal view [NHMW, No. 24.846]; D. ♂ (PLT) from Kaledupa, lateraal view [NHMW, No. 24.846]. © 2019 Natural History Museum Vienna, NOaS Image Collection / H. Bruckner.

FIGURE 10. Pylaemenes moluccanus var. (Redtenbacher, 1906), ♂ and ♀ in copula from Luwu, Lembongpangi, Central Su- lawesi [NHMB]: A. ♂/♀ in dorsal view; B. ♂/♀ in ventral view; C. ♂/♀ in lateral view; D. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ in lateral view; E. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ in dorsal view; F. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ in dorsal view.