Paratropidoderus spinosus Brock & Hasenpusch, 2007

Brock, Paul D. & Hasenpusch, Jack, 2007, Studies on the Australian stick insects (Phasmida), including a checklist of species and bibliography, Zootaxa 1570 (1), pp. 1-81 : 61-63

Paratropidoderus spinosus Brock & Hasenpusch , spec. nov. [Orange-spined Stick-insect]

( Figs. 114–117 )

Description

Male (holotype) ( Figs. 114–117 ): Medium sized elongate green insect, with conspicuous white stripes on head and mesonotum, the latter with a sequence of bold orange conical spine-like tubercles. Body length 87 mm.

Head: Much longer than wide. Large whitish patch between eyes, then running in a longitudinal band to back of head. Further whitish band beneath eyes, also to back of head. Eyes large, brown. Antennae brown, longer than fore femora, with 24 segments; basal segment broader, twice length of second segment, which is shorter than third; segments 3–6 short, then sequence of longer segments.

Thorax: Pronotum much shorter than head. Mesonotum almost four times length of pronotum, with series of 8 pairs of conspicuous orange conical, paired spine-like tubercles. Smaller sparse tubercles present laterally and ventrally. Metanotum conspicuously shorter than mesonotum.

Wings: Fore wings long, leaf-like, green with cream streak on outer margin, and a short yellowish central streak. Hind wings also fairly long, translucent whitish, reaching end of 6 th abdominal segment. Pre-anal part of wings green, with cream streak and reddish inner margin (also ventrally).

Abdomen: Slender, 8 th abdominal segment smaller than 7 th, 9 th slightly shorter than 8 th, in turn slightly longer than anal segment. End of anal segment margins rounded, slightly incised in centre. Subgenital plate swollen, subtruncate at tip, reaching end of 9 th abdominal segment. Cerci fairly short, but broad and leaf-like.

Legs: Long, hind legs about reaching end of abdomen. Mid and hind legs spiny. Right mid leg broken off and missing.

Paratype males (4)

Description as in holotype except for size differences, particularly legs (two specimens are final instar nymphs). One adult has three additional, smaller orange tubercles on posterior of mesonotum. One adult only has the left fore leg and right mid leg present. Body length of adults 90–101 mm.

Female not known.

Holotype ♂, Australia, Queensland, 6 km. SE. by E. of Bundeema, H.S., 29.xi.1973, at light, R.C. Lewis ( ANIC) . Paratypes (all Australia): ♂, Qld, Cunnamulla (aerodrome), 22.iii.1972, at light, R.C. Lewis, ♂, Qld, 9 ml. WNW. of Thargomindah, 24.ii.1965, at light, L.J. Chinnick, 2♂ juv. (final instar), New South Wales, 6 km. W. of Cobar, 10.xii.1971, M.J.D. White (all ANIC) .

Distribution

So far known by few males attracted to lights in New South Wales and Queensland. Apart from type localities, also present in A. J. Emmott’s private collection from Longreach, north Queensland .

Notes

Nothing is known about this colourful species, except that males are attracted to light. It is likely that the female will be large, with broad wings, and a series of tubercles on the mesonotum.

Derivation of name Named after the spine-like tubercles, which clearly distinguish it from related genera. * 2 male nymphs 78 & 81 mm, excluded from measurements

Figures

FIGURE 114. Paratropidoderus spinosus holotype male (ANIC), 87 mm.

FIGURES 115–117. Paratropidoderus spinosus holotype male. 115. head and thorax, dorsal view. 116. end of abdomen, dorsal view. 117. end of abdomen, lateral view.