Nesiophasma, Gunther, 1934

Hennemann, Frank H., Damastra, Garda Bagus, Damaledo, Davis Marthin, Cumming, Royce T. & Tirant, Stéphane Le, 2023, Nesiophasma sobesonbaii n sp a new giant stick insect from the island of Timor Indonesia Insecta Phasmatodea, Faunitaxys 11 (20), pp. 1-13 : 1-13

Keys to the known species of Nesiophasma

♀♀ *

1. Abdominal terga II-VI with lateral margins at best gently rounded........................................... 2

— Abdominal terga II-VI strongly laterally deflexed and convex; Pulau Romang........................... kuehni

2. Gonapophysis VIII short and not or at best scarcely projecting over posterior margin of anal segment.................. 3

— Gonapophysis VIII long and projecting over posterior margin of anal segment by at least the length of that segment length.... 5

3. Long (body length incl. subgenital plate <230.0 mm); median segment at least half as long as metanotum.......... 4

— Very long (body length incl. subgenital plate> 250.0 mm); median segment only one-quarter the length of metanotum; Sangihe&TalaudIslands........................................................................ plateni

4. Median segment> two-thirds the length of metanotum; abdominal terga VII-IX each with a slender posterior directed posterolaterallobe;subgenitalplate shortandprojectingbeyond apexof abdomen by no more thanlength of analsegment; NewGuinea(?)................................................................................ zanum

— Median segment about half as long as metanotum; abdominal terga VIII-X not lobed laterally; subgenital plate elongate and projecting beyond tip of abdomen by about the length of abdominal terga VIII-X combined ( Fig. 3 A-D); Timor............................................................................... sobesonbaii n. sp.

5. Slender and very elongate insects; mesonotum at least 4.5x longer than wide; basitarsi slender.................... 6

— Stockier; mesonotum 4x longer than wide and expanded pre-medially; basitarsi with dorsal carinae raised and rounded; Pulau Selayar & Pulau Kalaotoa.............................................................. spinulosum

6. Mesonotum 6x longer than wide and slender; antennae reaching to median segment; Pulau Sanana (Sula Islands).... sananaense

— Mesonotum 4.5x longer than wide and gently swollen pre-medially; antennae reaching to abdominal segment II; Peleng (BanggaiIslands)........................................................................... giganteum

* ♀♀ of N. oligarches (Günther) and N. turbans (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) are not known

♂♂ *

1. Body length> 100.0 mm; abdominal terga II-VI> 3x longer than wide....................................... 2

— Smaller; abdominal terga II-VI 2.5x longer than wide; Sulawesi .................................... oligarches

2. Head of same colour as remainder parts of body; body ± uniform in colour.................................... 4

— Head chromatically contrasting........................................................................ 3

3. Head and pronotum blackish; dark streak along entire lateral surfaces of body; cerci dilated apically and weakly arched; Pulau Selayar & Pulau Kalaotoa.............................................................. spinulosum

— Head light whitish cream; body ochre with meso- and metapleurae green; cerci with apex acute in-curving and hook-like ( Fig. 3 F-G); Timor............................................................................... sobesonbaii n. sp.

4. Body length <160.0 mm; colouration more or less uniform................................................. 5

— Body length> 160.0 mm; bases of all femora and knees contrasting black; Sangihe Islands & Talaud Isalnds..... plateni

5. Very slender species; median segment very short and only one-sixth the length of metanotum; Sulawesi ...... turbans

— Stockier; median segment <one-third the length of metanotum; Peleng............................... giganteum

* ♂♂ of N. kuehni (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), N. zanum Hennemann, 1999 and N. sananaense Hennemann, 2021 are not known.

Figures

Fig. 3. Terminalia and egg of Nesiophasma sobesonbaii n. sp. A. Terminalia of ♀ in lateral view [FH]. B. PTerminalia of ♀ in dorsal view [FH]. C. Terminalia of ♀ in ventral view [FH]. D. Terminalia of ♀ in lateral view, showing details of inner genitalia [FH]. E. Terminalia of ♂ in lateral view [FH]. F. P Terminalia of ♂ in dorsal view [FH]. G. Terminalia of ♂ in ventral view [FH]. H. Egg in dorsal view [FH, No. 1311-E]. I. Egg in lateral view [FH, No. 1311-E].