Aploploides stenocephalum Rehn & Hebard, 1938

Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XVI: Revision of Haplopodini Günther, 1953 (rev. stat.), with notes on the subfamily Cladomorphinae Bradley & Galil, 1977 and the descriptions of a new tribe, four new genera and nine new species (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae), Zootaxa 4128 (1), pp. 1-211 : 39

Aploploides stenocephalum Rehn & Hebard, 1938

( Figs. 53–58, 334, 352, 374)

Aploploides stenocephalum Rehn & Hebard, 1938: 49 , pl. 4: 18–21 (♂, ♀). HT, ♂: Cuba, Pinar del Rio, Pinar del Rio Province, Sept. 14 ’ 13 F. E. Lutz, five kilometers distand on road to Coloma, river edge, area of bamboo, shrubs and Weeds; Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Holotype [ USNM]; AT, ♀: Cuba, 12 ½ K. S. of Pinar Rio, Sept. 23 ’ 13, F.E. Lutz, region of pines and palmettos, taken from pine, Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Allotype [ USNM]; PT, 1 ♀: Cuba, 12 ½ K. S. of Pinar Rio, Sept. 23 ’ 13, F.E. Lutz, region of pines and palmettos, taken from pine, Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Paratype [ USNM]; PT, ♂: Cuba, 12 ½ K. S. of Pinar Rio, Sept. 23 ’ 13, F.E. Lutz, region of pines and palmettos, taken from pine, Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Paratype [ USNM]; PT, ♀: Cuba, 12 ½ K. S. of Pinar Rio, Sept. 12–23 ’ 13, Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Paratype, w0090, ANSP [ ANSP]; PT, ♂: Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Paratype Hebard CLN, Cuba / 3., K. S. of Pinar Rio, Sept. 12–23 ’ 13, w0091, ANSP [ ANSP]; PT, ♂: Aploploides stenocephalum R + H, Paratype Hebard CLN, Cuba / 3., K. S. of Pinar Rio, Sept. 12–23 ’ 13, w0092, ANSP [ ANSP]. Moxey, 1972: 55, fig. 11 (♀ anal segment; in litt.). Otte & Brock, 2005: 49.

Further material [1 ♂, 3 nymphs]:

CUBA:

1 ♂: Col. F. de Zayas, Pinares de Vinales, V. 1960, Prov. P.R. CUBA [ USNM]; 1 ♂ (penultimate instar), 2 nymphs: Cuba, Cerro de Cabras ca. 400 ft., Pinar del Rio Province, Sept. 11 ’ 13, C.W. Leng, beaten from pine in a dense forest [ USNM].

Comments: The original descriptions of Rehn & Hebard (1938) are very detailed and along with the illustrations provided (pl. 4, figs. 18–24) serve well to recognize this distinctive species. Furthermore, the diagnosis of the genus presented above is sufficient enough for differentiation. Hence, no descriptions are provided. The holotype has the terminal abdominal segments destroyed by pests.

Distribution ( Fig. 374): Western Cuba (Pinar del Rio Province: Pinar del Rio [ ANSP; USNM]; Cerro de Cabras [ USNM] & Pinares de Viñales [ USNM]).

Number of specimens examined: 11