Apteroplopus grossetuberculatus

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 : 41-42

Apteroplopus grossetuberculatus (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) n. gen., n. comb.

( Figs. 59–61 , 377 )

Dyme grosse-tuberculata Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 323. HT, ♂: Coll. Br. v. W.; Honduras, E. Wittkugel; det. Br. v. W. Dyme grossetuberculata ; 18.563 [NHMW, No. 647].

Bacteria grossetuberculata, Brock, 1998a: 32 .

Otte & Brock, 2005: 64.

Description: ♂ ( Fig. 53 ). The following description is based on the unique ♂ HT in NHMW, which is complete except for lacking the left hind claw and the terminal antennomeres of both antennae.

Large (body length 115.4 mm) and very slender insect. General colouration plain mid to olive green, the abdomen slightly darker (brown in the HT due to preservation). Pronotum pale brown, the terminal three abdominal segments greyish brown. Antennae pale brown dorsally and black ventrally. Apices of all femora and tibiae dark brown. Tarsi reddish brown. Points of the mesonotal tubercles and leg armature bright green. Eyes dark reddish brown.

Head: Subcylindrical, vertex very gently convex and unarmed except for two minute tubercles. Eyes large, circular, their length only about 1.3x in that of cheeks. Scapus 1.5x longer than wide, slightly dorsoventrally compressed and oval in cross-section. Pedicellus cylindrical and 2/3 the length of scapus. Third antennomere almost twice as long as pedicellus; IV very short, V 2x longer than VI. Following six antennomeres elongate and increasing in length (X longest), the remaining gradually decreasing in length towards tip of antennae.

Thorax: Pronotum about 1.4x longer than wide and unarmed, transverse median depression distinct, slightly curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesonotum parallel-sided and slightly broadened at the posterior. Dorsal surface armed with about 16 irregularly paired, blunt tubercles which decrease in size towards the posterior. Meso- and metapleurae with a longitudinal row of small, rounded granulose. Meso- and metasternum simple.

Abdomen: Median segment about 1.7x longer than wide and gently constricted medially. Tergum VIII dorsally with three almost parallel, longitudinal carinae. IX about 2/3 the length of VIII, distinctly narrower, decidedly constricted medially and with a blunt longitudinal dorsal keel. Anal segment less than ¾ the length of IX, gently widened towards the posterior and with a wide roughly triangular median excavation; dorsally with a fine longitudinal median carina ( Fig. 61 ).

Legs: As for the genus.

Comments: ♀♀ and eggs unknown. So far only known from the unique ♂ holotype ( Fig. 55 ).

Distribution ( Fig. 377 ): Honduras [NHMW]. Number of specimens examined: 1

Figures

FIGURES 59 – 61. Apteroplopus grossetuberculatus (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) n. gen., n. comb .. 59. ♂ HT: Honduras [NHMW, No. 647]; 60. ♂ HT, apex of abdomen (lateral view) [NHMW, No. 647]; 61. ♂ HT, apex of abdomen (dorsal view) [NHMW, No. 647].

FIGURES 377 – 378. Maps. 377. Known distribution of Cephaloplopus n. gen. [green] and Apteroplopus n. gen. [red]; 378. Known distribution of Parhaplopus n. gen. [green] and Paracranidium Brock, 1998 [red].

FIGURES 53 – 58. Aploploides stenocephalum Rehn & Hebard, 1938. 53. ♀ PT: NW-Cuba, Pinar del Rio [ANSP]; 54. ♂ PT: NW-Cuba, Pinar del Rio [ANSP]; 55. ♀ apex of abdomen, lateral view; 56. ♀ apex of abdomen (dorsal view); 57. ♂ apex of abdomen (lateral view); 58. ♀ PT head in lateral view: Cuba, Pinar del Rio [ANSP].