Micropodacanthus 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 : 54-55

Micropodacanthus Brock & Hasenpusch , gen. nov.

Type species. Micropodacanthus sztrakai Brock & Hasenpusch sp. nov., here designated.

Characteristics of the genus

Robust, small Tropidoderinae , body length c. 43 mm in males, 53–66 mm in females.

Head large, as broad as long, with series of granules present. Eyes large. Three ocelli present. Antennae long, with 25–28 segments, but shorter than length of fore leg. Mesonotum broad, rugged appearance, heavily granulated / tuberculated, includes laterally. Pronotum slightly shorter or same length as head, mesonotum short, slightly longer than pronotum, with several conspicuous tubercles, perhaps spine-like, varying in size. Metanotum not quite one and a half times length of mesonotum. Underside of thorax lighter and, as in Podacanthus , with an oval central area posteriorly. Fore wings very long and leaf-like, hind wings also long, reaching up to end of abdomen. Abdomen broad, carina either side of median line. End of anal segment in female boldly triangular incised, supraanal plate may be visible. Operculum large, boat-shaped, about reaching end of anal segment; in male end of anal segment divided into two lobes. Cerci about as long as anal segment, broad, taper to tip. Subgenital plate swollen, subtruncate at tip, not reaching end of 9 th abdominal segment. The legs are robust, rather hairy (in type species) reasonably long, hind legs about reaching end of abdomen. All femora with apical spine. Mid and hind femora with several well spaced serrations ventrolaterally, hardly noticeable on the tibiae. Tarsi of modest length.

Notes: From the general appearance, Micropodacanthus looks closest to Podacanthus , but in addition to its much smaller size, it is easily distinguished by sparse spines on mid and hind legs, compared with Podacanthus . In addition, eggs lack the distinctive sculpturing of Podacanthus .

Distribution

Whilst the two described species are known from just a few specimens from north Queensland, we are also aware of a male of an as yet undescribed species from south-east Queensland.

Species included

Micropodacanthus sztrakai Brock & Hasenpusch sp. nov., Micropodacanthus mouldsi Brock & Hasenpusch sp. nov.

Derivation of name Small Podacanthus (named after its prickly mesothorax).