Stephanacridini Günther, 1953

Hennemann, Frank H., 2020, Megacraniinae-The Palm Stick Insects: A new subfamily of Old World Phasmatodea and a redefinition of Platycraninae Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893 (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”), Zootaxa 4896 (2), pp. 151-179 : 174

Tribe Stephanacridini Günther, 1953

( Figs. 11 , 12 L-M)

Type genus: Stephanacris Redtenbacher, 1908: 441 .

Stephanacridini Günther, 1953: 555 .

Bradley & Galil, 1977: 194.

Hennemann & Conle, 2004: 48.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 33.

Hennemann & Conle, 2008: 54, figs. 37, 43, 60-61, 80-82.

Pharnaciini Günther, 1953: 555 (in part).

Bradley & Galil, 1977: 193 (in part).

Otte & Brock, 2005: 32 (in part).

Diagnosis (♂, ♀): Variably sized often very large Platycraninae (body length ♂♂ 76.0– 186.5 mm, ♀♀ incl. subgenital plate 135.0-300.0 mm), shape very variable and ranging from very slender and stick-like to stocky and robust. ♂♂ apterous, brachypterous or with fully developed alae, ♀♀ mostly apterous but sometimes brachypterous with alae at best covering median segment and hardly longer than tegmina. If alae present, anal fan in ♂♂ transparent, in ♀♀ colourful. Pronotum longer than wide. Mesothorax elongate and> 3.5x longer than prothorax; always slender in ♂♂. Mesonotum and mesopleurae often armed; in ♀♀ lateral margins of mesonotum at best slightly widened and mesopleurae occasionally strongly deflexed. Abdominal segments II–VI of ♀♀ longer than wide (quadrate only in one species). All extrimities armed, occasionally with single enlarged lobes. Basitarsi slender or lobed.

Eggs ( Figs. 12 L–M): Variable in shape, size and capsule sculpturing. Micropylar plate small, less than 2/3 the length of capsule and more or less rhomboidal in shape. Micropylar cup placed roughly in centre of plate.

Comments: Stephanacridini was originally established by Günther (1953: 555) as a tribe of the subfamily Phasminae (= Phasmatinae Bradley & Galil, 1977 ) and originally only contained the type-genus Stephanacris Redtenbacher, 1908 . The fundamental differences concerning to the morphology of the genitalia and eggs, that prove the tribe cannot be a member of Phasmatidae s. str. (= Lanceocercata) were summarized and illustrated by Hennemann & Conle (2008: 55), who transferred several misplaced genera from Pharnaciini Günther, 1953 and provided a list of genera included in Stephanacridini . However, Stephanacridini has since remained without a definite affiliation to a subfamily and is here attributed to Platycraninae sensu nov. .

The two New Guinean genera Stephanacris and Macrophasma Hennemann & Conle, 2006 have been revised by Hennemann & Conle (2006) and a revision of Phasmotaenia Návas, 1907 was presented by Hennemann & Conle (2009). A review of Nesiophasma Günther, 1934 is in progress by the author and the remaining four genera are intended to be reviewed in the future as well.

Distribution: Taiwan, Borneo, Philippines, Wallacea, New Guinea, Solomon Islands, NE-Australia, Micronesia and Melanesia ( Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu, New Caledonia & Western French Polynesia).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Habitus and details of members of Platycraninae: Stephanacridini Günther, 1953: A. Macrophasma oreitrephes (Günther, 1929) ♀: Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Aseki [coll. FH, No. 0107-2]; B. Hermarchus insignis (Kaup & Heyden, 1871) ♀: captive reared from ‘Australian Islands’ [coll. FH, No. 0144-13]; C. Eucarcharus sp. ♂: captive reared from Philip- pines, Mindanao Island, Prov. Bukidnon, Mt. Apo [coll. FH, No. 0630-7]; D. Hermarchus insignis (Kaup & Heyden, 1871) terminalia of ♀, lateral view: captive reared from ‘Australian Islands’ [coll. FH, No. 0144-13]; E. Hermarchus insignis (Kaup & Heyden, 1871) terminalia of ♀, dorsal view: captive reared from ‘Australian Islands’ [coll. FH, No. 0144-13]; F. Hermarchus insignis (Kaup & Heyden, 1871) terminalia of ♀, ventral view: captive reared from ‘Australian Islands’ [coll. FH, No. 0144-13]; G. Stephanacris draconius Hennemann & Conle, 2006 terminalia of ♀, dorsal view: Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Wau [coll. FH, No. 0377-2]; H. Hermarchus pythonius var. (Westwood, 1859) terminalia of ♂, lateral view: captive reared from Fiji Islands [coll. FH, No. 0144-2]; J. Hermarchus pythonius var. (Westwood, 1859) terminalia of ♂, ventral view: captive reared from Fiji Islands [coll. FH, No. 0144-2]; K. Stephanacris globiceps Redtenbacher, 1908 terminalia of ♂, dorsal view: West Pa- pua, Arfak Mountains, Manokwari, Maibri village, 670m [coll. FH, No. 1000-1]; L. Phasmotaenia lanyuhensis Huang & Brock, 2001 terminalia of ♂, ventral view: Taiwan, Lanyuh Island [coll. FH, No. 0616-2].

FIGURE 12. Eggs of Megacraniinae subfam. nov. (A-H), Platycraninae: Platycranini (J-K) and Platycraninae: Stephanacridini (L-M): A. Megacrania batesii Kirby, 1896, dorsolateral view: NE-Australia, Queensland, Cape Tribulation [coll. FH, No. 0175-E]; B. Megacrania tsudai Shiraki, 1933, dorsolateral view: Taiwan, Pindang County, Gio-Pon [coll. FH, No. 0493-E]; C. Megacrania brocki Hsiung, 2002 dorsolateral view: Indonesia, Prov. Maluku, Buru Island [coll. FH, No. 1012-E]; D. Erastus apalamnus Rehn, 1904, dorsal view: Indonesia, Prov. Maluku, Obi Island [coll. FH, No. 1212-E]; E. Erastus apalamnus Rehn, 1904, dorsal view: Indonesia, Prov. Maluku, Obi Island [coll. FH, No. 1212-E]; F. Ophicrania nigroplagiatus var. (Redtenbach- er, 1906), dorsolateral view: Philippines, Luzon Island [coll. FH, No. 0206-E]; G. Graeffea crouanii (Le Guillou, 1841), dorsolateral view: captive reared from Melanesia, Fiji, Suva [coll. FH, No. 0204-E2]; H. Ophicrania apterus var. (Redtenbacher, 1908), dorsolateral view: Papua New Guinea, Morobe Prov., Aseki [coll. FH, No. 0222-E1], J. Platycrana viridana (Olivier, 1792), dorsal view: Philippines, Panay Island, Mt. Nangtud [coll. FH, No. 0173-E1]; K. Platycrana viridana (Olivier, 1792), lateral view: Philippines, Panay Island, Mt. Nangtud [coll. FH, No. 0173-E1]; L. Hermarchus pythonius var. (Westwood, 1859), dorsolateral view: captive reared from Fiji Islands [coll. FH, No. 0144-E1]; M. Macrophasma lyratus (Redtenbacher, 1908), dorsolateral: West Papua, Prov. Papua Barat, Fak-Fak [coll. FH, No. 1081-E].