Haplopus bicuspidatus de Haan, 1842

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 : 108-113

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B4D2CD84-8994-4CEF-B647-3539C16B6502
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6084954
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/387F3068-D34A-FFF4-FF27-E871266919F0
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Haplopus bicuspidatus de Haan, 1842
status

Treatment

( Figs. 190–201 View FIGURES 190 – 192 View FIGURES 193 – 201 , 338 View FIGURES 334 – 341 , 357 View FIGURES 357 – 364 , 380 View FIGURES 379 – 380 )

Haplopus bicuspidatus de Haan, 1842: 128 . HT, ♀:?; RMNH Leiden, TYPE, Haplopus bicuspidatum de Haan, 1842 [RMNH]. Westwood, 1859: 87.

Kirby, 1904a: 364.

Redtenbacher, 1908: 433. [Suggesting possible synonymy with H. ligius Westwood, 1859 ] Otte & Brock, 2005: 150.

Aplopus bicuspidatus, Bragg, 1996: 109 .

Bragg, 2001: 706.

Aplopus sp., Adams & Adams, 1982: 263.

Gange, 1990: 18. [Culture report]

Kirby, 1904a: 364 (in part).

Redtenbacher, 1908: 432 (in part).

Moxey, 1972: 114 (in litt.; in part).

Further material [2 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, eggs]:

HISPANIOLA ( DOMINICAN REPUBLIC):

1 ♀: Dominican Republic, Proyecto Biologico «La Huronera» La Victoria, Distrito Nacional, IX.1992, Kelvin A. Guerrero, NHMUK (E) 2005-98 [ NHMUK]; 1 ♀: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1925; G. Russo coll; ANSP; USNM; w0139; Diapherodes spinipes Gray det. C.F. Moxey 1972 [ USNM]; 1 ♀: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 1925; G. Russo coll; USNM; w0140; Aplopus ligius Westw. ♀ Topotype, A.n.c.; Diapherodes spinipes Gray det. C.F. Moxey 1972 [ USNM]; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: ex Zucht: F. Hennemann, urspr.: Dominikanische Republik, 1993, PSG No. 48 [coll. FH, No. 0342- 1 to 3]; 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀, eggs: ex Zucht: F. Hennemann, urspr.: Dominikanische Republik, VI.1995, PSG No. 48 [coll. FH, No. 0342-4 to 8 & ED].

Diagnosis: Very similar and presumably the sister-taxon of H. brachypterus n. sp.. Females differ by: the larger size of both sexes; slight posterolateral lobe of abdominal tergum VII; alae which are longer than the tegmina (shorter in brachypterus ); deeper posteromedian incision of the anal segment and larger and more acutely triangular epiproct ( Fig. 197 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Males differ from those of H. brachypterus n. sp. by: the fully developed alae (37.0–41.0 mm); almost entirely green head ( Fig. 194 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ); obsolete anterior tubercles of the pronotum ( Fig. 194 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ); more decidedly excavated anal segment ( Fig. 199 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ) and shorter terminal hook of the vomer ( Fig. 349 View FIGURES 349 – 356 ).

From H. micropterus (St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1838) it is easily distinguished by: the more elongate and slender body and less distinct anterior pair of tubercles on the pronotum of both sexes; smaller and acutely triangular supraanal plate of ♀♀ ( Fig. 197 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ), as well as the entirely green head ( Fig 194 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ); ochraceous antennae (orange to red in micropterus ) and shorter alae of ♂♂, which merely reach to the anterior margin of abdominal segment V (reaching to tergum VI in micropterus ). The eggs clearly differ from those of H. micropterus by the more elongate and more decidedly sculptured capsule and roundly convex to irregularly conical operculum ( Figs. 200–201 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ).

Description: ♀ ( Figs. 190–191 View FIGURES 190 – 192 ). Of moderate size (body length including the subgenital plate 134.0– 153.5 mm) but slender for the genus with a rather weakly developed thoracic armature. Colour ranging from drab over pale to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish or greenish wash. Abdomen to a variable degree furnished with paler and darker mottling and speckles. Head with the cheeks irregularly whitish and an elongate black marking running from the upper portion of the eyes towards the occipital horns; occasionally a further pair of black spots on the frons between the bases of the antennae. Antennae pale to mid brown. Spines of the thorax either brown or very dull green. Tegmina and costal region of alae mid to dark brown, rarely with a greenish wash; the latter blackish basally. Anal region of alae transparent with all major longitudinal and transverse veins broadly marked by dark brown bands.

Head: About 1.2x longer than wide, globose. Vertex rounded and with a pair of prominent but variably sized cephalad spines; these usually with a pointed tip ( Fig. 193 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Eyes circular and contained almost 3x in length of cheeks. Antennae ± reaching half way along median segment and consisting of 54–56 segments. Scapus almost 2x longer than wide and slightly narrowed towards the base. Pedicellus about half the length of scapus and distinctly shorter than III.

Thorax: Pronotum a little longer but slightly narrower than head, about 1.5x longer than wide, roughly rectangular but the lateral margins with a deep ± semi-circular median emargination. Transverse median sulcus deep, strongly curved but not reaching lateral margins of segment. Dorsal surface with a pair of low spiniform tubercles in the anterior portion, otherwise unarmed ( Fig. 193 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Prosternum and profurcasternum smooth. Mesothorax 2.5–2.6x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum rather narrow anteriorly and very slightly widened in median portion which is about as wide as posterior margin; surface with a variable number of spiniform tubercles or low spines; a rather defined marginal row of evenly sized tubercles is present laterally. Meso- and metapleurae with an irregularly longitudinal marginal row of spiniform tubercles. Meso- and metasternum sparsely granulose. Metanotum about ¼ the length of mesonotum, unarmed. Tegmina oval, coriaceous, with the venation very distinct, dense and irregularly disposed, and slightly projecting over posterior margin of metanotum; median protuberance very shallow. Alae longer than tegmina and reaching 2/3 to ¾ the way along median segment.

Abdomen: Median segment 2x longer than wide and slightly narrowed medially. All segments unarmed. Segments II–V of roughly equal length, VI a little shorter than V, VII just a little more than ¾ the length of V; on average 2x longer than wide. VII with lateral margins very slightly expanded posteriorly ( Fig. 196 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Praeopercular organ formed by a rough V-shaped swelling and two slight semicircular expansions at posterior margin of sternum VII ( Fig. 338 View FIGURES 334 – 341 ). VIII slightly shorter than VII, gently narrowed medially and almost 2.5x longer than wide. IX rectangular, slightly longer than wide and roughly half the length of VIII. Anal segment with a slight longitudinal carina which becomes gradually more decided towards the posterior, narrowed in posterior half and with a small triangular posteromedian indentation. Epiproct very small and acutely triangular ( Fig. 197 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Cerci very small, conical with a fairly acute tip and slightly laterally compressed; hardly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Subgenital plate very long, lanceolate, longitudinally carinate and with a ± acute apex; extending greatly over apex of abdomen ( Figs. 195–196 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ).

Legs: Profemora ¾ the length of mesothorax, mesofemora reaching about ¾ the way along abdominal segment II and metafemora almost reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment IV. Profemora occasionally with 1–3 minute spines in the apical half of the medioventral carina. Anteroventral carina of meso- and metafemora with two, posteroventral carina with only one sub-apical spine; medioventral carina armed with four distinct spines. Basitarsi about as long as following three tarsomeres combined.

♂ ( Fig. 192 View FIGURES 190 – 192 ). Of moderate size (body length 97.0–98.0 mm) and rather slender for the genus with well developed alae (length 37.0–41.0 mm). Colouration fairly complex with head and great parts of mesometapleurae, ventral body surface and legs green. Head plain green with the frons slightly yellowish ( Fig. 194 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Dorsal surface of thorax creamish mid brown, and drab to pale brown in abdomen. Spines of thorax with black tips. Meso- and metapleurae each with a pale brown longitudinal band along lower margin. Lateral margins of abdominal tergites VIII and IX broadly white. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale to mid brown, the latter with a few irregularly disposed pale markings along anterior margin and black basally. Basal portion of posterior margin of tegmina broadly white. Anal region of alae pink with all major veins brown. Antennae drab to ochraceous. Tarsi pale brown.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀ but with the cephald horns more slender and acute (Fig, 194). Eyes more prominent, projecting hemispherically and their length contained less than 2x in that of cheeks. Antennae very robust and ± reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment III; with> 50 segments (broken in all specimens at hand).

Thorax: Pronotum slightly longer but narrower than head, general shape as in ♀♀; surface smooth except for a faint pair of low tubercles in the anterior portion ( Fig. 194 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). Mesothorax about 2.3x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum with 4–8 small but pointed, rather irregularly disposed spines in the anterior 2/3. Mesosternum and metasternum with a few irregularly disposed granules to low spiniform tubercles. Tegmina oval and slightly projecting over posterior margin of metanotum, central protuberance rather distinct and roundly conical. Alae slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV.

Abdomen: Segments II–IV of equal length and about 3.5x longer than wide. V–VII gradually decreasing in length with VII no more than 2.3x longer than wide. All tergites and sternites smooth. VII ± expanded posteriorly ( Fig. 199 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ). VIII shorter than VII and gently widening towards the posterior; IX ¾ the length of VIII and constricted medially. Anal segment with a faint longitudinal median carina which becomes gradually more decided towards the apex. Posterior portion strongly narrowed and laterally emarginated, the posterior margin with a distinct concave emargination medially ( Fig. 199 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ), slightly swollen and on ventral surface armed with several small, black incurving denticles. Epiproct small and with a posteromedian notch. Vomer with a large, roundly triangular base and a moderately long, up-curving terminal hook, which is about equal in length to basal portion ( Fig. 357 View FIGURES 357 – 364 ). Cerci large, obtuse, about equal in length to anal segment and slightly laterally compressed basally. Poculum moderately convex, cup-like and with a prominent, conical basal hump ( Fig. 198 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ); the posterior portion carinate longitudinally ( Fig. 357 View FIGURES 357 – 364 ).

Legs: Pro- and mesofemora a little longer than mesothorax, metafemora projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV. All legs less carinate than in ♀♀ but armature generally alike. Tarsi relatively more elongate and basitarsi a little longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

Egg ( Figs. 200–201 View FIGURES 193 – 201 ): Rather large for the genus, capsule elongate ovoid and 1.8x longer than wide; dorsal surface more convex than ventral surface. Capsule surface strongly coriaceous and irregularly granulose. Micropylar plate almost 3/5 the length of capsule and generally shaped like a bold inverted “Y”; the anterior half narrow and roughly parallel-sided, the posterior portion strongly diverging. Posterior margin with a wide and deep triangular emargination. Micropylar cup small and wart-like. Operculum ± round in cross-section, irregularly conically raised and strongly tuberculate. Colouration of capsule variable, ranging from pale drab over ochre to grey and to a variable degree furnished with weakly defined, dark brown to black markings. Capitulum pale drab to grey.

Measurements [mm]: Length 3.9–4.4, length (including operculum) 4.1–4.7, width 2.2–2.3, heigth 2.4–2.7, length of micropylar plate 2.0–2.1.

Variability: This species shows much less intraspecific variability than e.g. H. micropterus (St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1838) or H. scabricollis (Gray, 1835) . In addition to the size and colouration the only features that underlie some variation in ♀♀ are the length of the subgenital plate, number and size of the mesothoracic tubercles and size of the cephalad horns. No considerable variation is seen in the two ♂♂ at hand, except for one having eight and the other one only four spines on the mesonotum. One specimen only has two or three spines on the medioventral carina of the mesofemora.

Comments: This species was originally described from a single ♀ in RMNH and just briefly recognized by subsequent authors (e.g. Westwood, 1859 and Redtenbacher, 1908). Examination of the holotype and comparison with captive reared specimens originating in the Dominican Republic has shown these to be conspecific. The captive reared specimens include the so far unknown ♂♂ and eggs. Since only one additional wild-caught specimen is recorded here and none are represented in the extensive material from the Dominican Republic at hand H. bicuspidatus appears to be apparently rare.

Culture stock of H. bicuspidatus collected in the Dominican Republic was imported to Europe in the early 1980's (Adams & Adams, 1982) and included on the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as culture No. 48 “ Aplopus sp.” (later corrected to Haplopus cytherea ). In captivity it readily accepts rose ( Rosa spp., Rosaceae ), bramble ( Rubus fruticosus , Rosaceae ), raspberry ( Rubus idaeus , Rosaceae ), oak ( Quercus robur & Q. petraea , Fagaceae ), guava ( Psidium guajava , Myrtaceae ), eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus gunnii , Myrtaceae ) and hawthorn ( Pyracantha spp., Rosaceae ) as alternative food plants.

Distribution ( Fig. 380 View FIGURES 379 – 380 ): Hispaniola ( Dominican Republic: Distrito Nacional) [NHMUK, USNM]. Number of specimens examined: 12

* a captive reared ♀ in coll. FH is unusually small, measuring only 116.0 mm (including the subgenital plate) and hence excluded from the table above.