Phryganistria bachmaensis ( Ta & Hoang, 2004 ) Bresseel & Constant, 2014

Bresseel, Joachim & Constant, Jérôme, 2014, Giant Sticks from Vietnam and China, with three new taxa including the second longest insect known to date (Phasmatodea, Phasmatidae, Clitumninae, Pharnaciini), European Journal of Taxonomy 104, pp. 1-38 : 9-14

Phryganistria bachmaensis ( Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov.

Figs 3A–N , 4A–M , 10A–B

Nearchus bachmaensis Ta & Hoang, 2004: 15 , figs 1–3

Note

In the original description ( Ta & Hoang 2004), the authors erroneously wrote “ Nearchus bachmaensis Thinh et Tru sp. nov. ” due to the fact that, in Vietnamese, the family name is given first, i.e., in Ta Huy Thinh and Hoang Vu Tru, Ta and Hoang are the family names and Thinh and Tru the first names, respectively.

Type material examined

Holotype ♂, Bach Ma National Park , Tri Sao, Thuathen-Hue Province, Vietnam, 26 Jul. 2001 ( IEBR).

Paratype ♀, same data as holotype ( IEBR).

Additional material examined

VIETNAM: 18 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 2 penultimate ♀♀, eggs, Bach Ma N.P., 16°12’ N, 107°52’ E, 12–17 Jul. 2011, leg J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 31.933 ( RBINS); 1 ♂, Da Krong Nat. R., Quang Tri Prov. 16°37’ N, 106°47’ E, 5–10 Jul. 2011, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 31.933 ( RBINS).

Differentiation

This distinctive species is easily recognised. Males are the only representatives of the genus with strongly elongated and incurving semi-tergites. Females share the elongated subgenital plate with Phryganistria virgea (Westwood, 1848) but lack the lobed abdominal terga III–VI.

Description

The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens. Measurements: see Table 1.

Male ( Figs 3I–N , 4C–F , 10B )

BODY. Large and robust, widest part of body (posterior part of mesothorax) up to 9.5 mm. Body surface smooth and glabrous.

COLOURATION. Distinctive and very characteristic. Head pale, cream-brown with dark brown postocular line. Genae also with dark brown longitudinal stripe. Central portions of pro,- meso- and metanotum reddish brown with anterior and posterior portions paler. Abdominal terga orange-brown with black longitudinal markings laterally. Profemora black with basal portion cream-brown. Apices of profemora and protibiae orange-brown. Meso- and metafemora and -tibiae green with reddish brown armature. Tarsi coloured darker than corresponding tibiae.

HEAD. Smooth, about 1.5x longer than wide. Eyes relatively large and strongly projecting. Transverse oval impression between antennae and very shallow irregularly shaped depression between eyes. Antennae surpassing abdominal segment II. Scapus and pedicellus coloured as head, antennomeres dark brown to black.

THORAX. Pronotum shorter and narrower than head. Anterior margin raised and incurved, followed by transverse depression. Pronotum with longitudinal depression not reaching posterior margin and another central transverse depression. Narrowest part anteriorly, widest part posteriorly. Mesonotum elongated and smooth, posterior portion widened. Metanotum as mesonotum, about 3.2x length of median segment.

ABDOMEN. Median segment trapezoidal and smooth. Terga II–VI only slightly differing in length and cylindrical in cross section. Anterior margins indistinctly incurving. Tergum VII about 4/5 of segment VI and widening posteriorly. Tergum VIII about half of abdominal segment VII. Tergum IX tectiform and about 2/3 of tergum VIII. Anal segment about as long as VIII and IX combined. Basal portion laterally compressed with distinct carina dorsally, splitting into two semi-tergites. Semi-tergites laterally flattened, strongly elongated and incurved with apices rounded. Interior surface with small black teeth. Teeth denser near edges and apex of semi-tergites. Cerci elongated, cylindrical in cross section and conspicuously incurved, apices rounded. Poculum knob-like with distinct longitudinal carina, projecting just beyond apex of tergum IX.

LEGS. Profemora slightly shorter than metatibiae, incurving basally and anterodorsal carinae with 14–20 saw-like teeth. Other carinae unarmed. Protibiae carinate, posteroventral carinae with small saw-like serrations, roughly 1.3x the length of profemora. Mesofemora almost as long as mesonotum and pronotum combined. Outer ventral carinae armed with 10–14 saw-like teeth, central teeth largest. Medioventral carinae with few minute spines. Dorsal carinae armed with 3–5 smaller saw-like teeth. Mesotibiae about as long as metafemora. Dorsal carinae with few minute serrations. Ventral carinae strongly serrated. Metafemora and metatibiae as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina. Probasitarsus about as long as head and pronotum combined. Meso- and metabasitarsus about as long as following tarsomeres combined. Claws prominent.

Female ( Figs 3A–F , 4A, G–H , 10A )

COLOURATION. Variable. Overall dorsal colouration light brown with a green shade, one specimen mottled green and light brown. Ventral colouration green. Lateral edges of pro-, meso- and metasternum and abdominal sterna with white longitudinal line. Mesopleurae black. Bases of praeopecular organ with short longitudinal black line. Profemora and –tibiae light brown. Meso- and metafemora and corresponding tibiae coloured greenish brown with armature reddish brown and tipped black. Tarsi and claws blackish.

HEAD. Vertex with faint median line. Oval, about 1.6x longer than wide, vertex rounded. Between bases of antennae, transverse oval impression and two faint circular impressions between eyes. Eyes large, circular and strongly convex.Antennae with scapus dorsoventrally flattened and more or less rectangular in dorsal aspect. Last antennomere reaching about halfway along metathorax.

THORAX. Pronotum narrower and shorter than head, anterior margin narrower than posterior one, 1.4x longer than wide. Anterior margin raised and followed by transverse depression. Second transverse depression at about half length of pronotum. Faint longitudinal depression centrally not reaching anterior or posterior margin. Mesothorax about 5.4x length of pronotum. Mesonotum damaged during drying process in all specimens, wrinkled anteriorly. Surface smooth, more or less parallel-sided. Metanotum about half the length of mesonotum, parallel-sided. Pleurae and sterna simple.

ABDOMEN. Median segment transverse, about 1/3 the length of metanotum. Segments II–VI slightly increasing in length. Tergum VII about 4/5 the length of VI with distinct, rounded lobe posterolaterally. Sternum VII with distinct bifurcate praeopercular organ at posterior margin. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of definite, diverging spines, slightly projecting over margin of sternum VIII. Tergum VIII distinctly narrower than previous, about 3/4 as long as VII; IX less than half the length of VIII. Anal segment hardly longer than IX, slightly broader towards apex, with faint median carina and strongly notched postero-medially. Postero-lateral angles acute. Supra-anal plate small, surpassing posterolateral angles of tergum IX, tectiform with fine median carina, apex rounded. Cerci short, more or less cylindrical, rounded at apex and slightly surpassing supra-anal plate. Gonapophyses elongated, up-curving and reaching apex of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate keeled and strongly projecting over apex of abdomen, apex acute.

LEGS. All long and rather robust. Profemora slightly longer than metatibiae, incurving basally and with 14–20 saw-like teeth on anterodorsal carinae. Outer ventral carina with 7–9 saw-like teeth. Protibiae carinate, posteroventral carinae with small, saw-like serrations, roughly 1.4x longer than profemora. Metafemora reaching about halfway tergum III. Outer ventral carinae armed with 8–13 strong, saw-like teeth. Medioventral carinae with 6–8 small, acute spines. Inner dorsal carinae armed with 4–8 saw-like teeth, outer dorsal carinae with 3–5 minute teeth. Mesotibiae reaching about halfway tergum VI, all ventral carinae strongly serrated. Dorsal carinae with few minute serrations. Metafemora and metatibiae

as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina, triangular in cross section. Claws prominent.

Egg ( Figs 3G–H , 4I–M )

Capsule oval in lateral aspect, rounded at polar area, slightly compressed laterally and oval in crosssection. Capsule with relatively wide carina on ventral surface and polar area, reaching micropylar plate, and indistinct small impression on polar area. Capsule surface smooth, brown and dull. Micropylar plate coloured as capsule with darker margin, large, covering about 2/3 of dorsal capsule surface. Micropylar plate elongated, rounded towards anterior end. Broader posteriorly, posteromedially with distinct gap. Micropylar cup small, blackish, placed in posteromedial gap of plate. Median line short and projecting over posterior margin of plate. Operculum oval, coloured as capsule with darker outer margin. Capitulum large, reddish brown, concave with darker centre. Stalk obvious.

Measurements (mm): length including capitulum 5.0, length 4.3, width 3.0, height 3.5.

Nymph ( Fig. 4B )

Newly hatched 20 to 25 mm long. Head pale with white marking between eyes. Eyes black and antennae short, black and consisting of eight segments. Apical segment strongly elongated, longer than five preceding segments together. Median segment, pro-, meso- and metanotum bluish-green. Meso- and metanotum with black line laterally. Abdominal terga II–VI green. Terga VII–IX with more or less triangular black marking posteromedially and posterolateral edges tipped black. Abdominal tergum X whitish, cerci small, whitish and setose.

Procoxae and first portion of profemora orangish.Apical portion with white transverse marking, followed by brown transverse band. Protibiae brown with two transverse white bands. Meso- and metacoxae brown. Meso- and metafemora brown with two transverse white bands. Meso- and metatibiae brown with three transverse white bands. Basitarsi with large transverse white band, other tarsi and claws brown. Claws small.

Remarks

At the time of description this species was placed in the genus Nearchus Redtenbacher, 1908 , most probably due to the elongated subgenital plate of the female. Hennemann & Conle (2008: 129) synonymised Nearchus Redtenbacher, 1908 with Phobaeticus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907 ; hence, the genus name is no longer valid. The key provided by Hennemann & Conle (2008: 82) clearly places N. bachmaensis in genus Phryganistria Stål, 1875 . Hence, it is here transferred to that genus.

Eggs of this species were collected by the authors in 2011 from Bach Ma National Park and the species was cultured by Dr. Bruno Kneubühler. Bramble ( Rubus spp., Rosaceae ) was accepted as alternative foodplant by all instars. Beech ( Fagus sylvatica , Fagaceae ), hazel ( Corylus avellana , Betulaceae ), salal ( Gaultheria shallon , Ericaceae ) and oak ( Quercus spp., Fagaceae ) were readily eaten by older nymphs and adults (not tested on newly hatched nymphs). Matings were frequently observed and the males remained coupled with the females for 1–2 days. In the wild females are also mostly accompanied by a male, the male clinging to the female. No difficulties were observed when rearing this species.

Distribution

The type locality of this species is Bach Ma National Park. Its distribution is here extended to Da Krong Nature Reserve ( Fig. 12A ).

Figures

Fig. 3. Phryganistria bachmaensis (Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov. — A–F. ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Mesofemur, lateral view. D. Sternum VII and praeopercular organ. E. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. F. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. — G–H. Egg. G. Dorsal view. H. Lateral view. — I–N. ♂. I. Habitus, dorsal view. J. Habitus, lateral view. K. Mesofemur, lateral view. L. Apex of abdomen, ventral view. M. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. N. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. C–H, K–N = not to scale.

Fig. 4. Phryganistria bachmaensis (Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov., captive reared (photographs by Dr Bruno Kneubühler). A. ♀, ventral view. B. Freshly hatched nymph. C. ♂, dorsal view. D. ♂, ventrolateral view. — E–F. 3rd instar male nymph, apex of abdomen. E. Dorsal view. F. Lateral view. — G–H. 4th instar ♀ nymph, apex of abdomen. G. Dorsal view. H. Lateral view. — I–M. Egg. I. Ventral view. J. Lateral view. K. Detail of operculum and capitulum. L. Polar area. M. Detail of micropylar plate.

Fig. 10. Phryganistria spp., photographs in natura by the authors. — A–B. P. bachmaensis. A. ♀, Bach Ma N.P., 13 Jul. 2011. B. ♂, Da Krong N.R., 6 Jul. 2011. — C–D. P. heusii heusii. C. ♀, Tam Dao N.P., 28 Jul. 2011. D. ♂, Tam Dao N.P., 26 Jul. 2011. — E–H. P. tamdaoensis sp. nov. E. ♀, Tam Dao N.P., 29 Jul. 2011. F. ♂, Tam Dao N.P., 29 Jul. 2011. G. ♀, Da Krong N.R., 6 Jul. 2011. H. ♂, Tay Yen Tu N.R., 7 Jul. 2013.

Fig. 12. Distribution maps. A. Phryganistria bachmaensis (Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov. and P. heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997). B. P. tamdaoensis sp. nov. and P. grandis Rehn, 1906. C. Phryganistria heusii yentuensis subsp. nov. and Phobaeticus trui sp. nov. D. Baculonistria magna (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov.