Sipyloidea larryi Hasenpusch & Brock, 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 : 28-32

Sipyloidea larryi Hasenpusch & Brock , spec. nov. [Hurricane Larry Stick-insect]

( Figs. 43–51 )

Description

Female (holotype) ( Figs. 43–45 , 51 ): Fairly stocky, robust-looking, mid brown, mottled wings (dark blotches) and indistinctly mottled legs; cerci moderately long. Body length 80 mm.

Head: Almost as wide as long, eyes small. Bold central longitudinal line, with two fainter lines before eyes, which have a partly obscured dark stripe reaching back of head. Three black spots present between eyes.

Antennae with c. 88 indistinct segments, basal and second segments broader, third segment marginally longer than second. Antennae easily exceeding length of fore legs.

Thorax: Pronotum same length as head, with central almost central cross-like indentation. Mesonotum not quite three times length of pronotum, indistinctly carinate, ridges conspicuously granulated. Metanotum less than twice length of mesonotum.

Wings: Fore wings large, subtruncate at tip; hind part with large black blotch; lateral margin darker brown. Hind wings dusky brown, reaching almost end of 7 th abdominal segment; pre-anal part same as body colour except for several large blackish blotches.

Abdomen: Anal segment same length as 8 th & 9 th segments, tapered to an almost rounded tip, incised in centre; operculum tapered to a rounded tip, fractionally short of end of anal segment. Cerci moderately long, fairly slender, rounded at tip.

Legs: Long, hind legs exceeding end of abdomen. Apices of all femora and tibiae darker brown, fore femora hardly broadened. Right hind leg broken off and missing.

Paratype females (15).

Same as holotype except for minor size differences (body length 76–85 mm) and variation in colour. The attractive black blotches are absent in some specimens, but vary in extent and may be present on the thorax. Plainer examples lack the dark band from eyes to back of head, so far always noted in males; whilst often pale to mid-brown, some females are dark brown and rather mottled.

Paratype males (22) ( Figs. 46 –48).

Smaller, similar to the female, except much slenderer. Anal segment similar shape, subgenital plate reaching end of 9 th abdominal segment. Hind legs exceed end of abdomen. Body length 53–60 mm.

Egg (Fig. 49). Large for the size of the species, oval, dark brown, rather plain capsule (including operculum), although sometimes mottled. Narrow micropylar plate from base to three-quarter length of capsule. Capsule length 2.4 mm, width 1.5 mm, height 1.8 mm.

Holotype ♀, Australia: north Queensland, Polly Creek, Garradunga, nr. Innisfail , 13.ii.2006, J. Hasenpusch & P.D. Brock ( QMBA) . Paratypes (all north Queensland, Australia): ♂ , same data ( QMBA), 2♂, ♀ , same data ( ANIC), 2♂ , same data, ♀ , Ella Bay , 25.ii.2006, J. Hasenpusch (all BMNH), 2♂, ♀ , ex. Cairns , reared on bramble ( Rubus fruticosus ) by P.D. Brock, iii.1996, ♀ , Cairns , 26.x.1997 (as nymph), P.D. Brock, ♂ , Polly Creek , Garradunga, nr. Innisfail, x.1997, ♂ , same data, except 26.x.1997, P.D. Brock & J. Hasenpusch, 2♀ , same data, except 19.i.2002, J. Hasenpusch, ♀ , same data, except 21.ix.2006, J. Hasenpusch (all P.D. Brock coll.), ♀, 16°48ʹS; 145°38ʹE ( GPS) , Qld , Kuranda, 335 m., (Top of the Range) 19 Butler Dr , 15– 31.i.2005, D.C.F. Rentz, ♂ , same data, except 20–30.xi.2004, ♂, 16°40ʹS; 145°38ʹE ( GPS) , Qld , Kuranda, 335 m., (Top of the Range) 11 Victor Pl , 12.i. 2006, 381m, G. & R. Wilson & D.C.F. Rentz (all ANIC), ♂, 5♀ , Polly Creek , Garradunga, nr. Innisfail, 12.xi.2006, J.Hasenpusch, 4♂ , same data except 2.xi.2006, 3♂, 1♀ , 19.xi.2006, 2♂, ♀ , 26.xi.2006, ♂, 19.i.2007 (all J.Hasenpusch coll.). Eggs (not paratypes) have also been deposited in all collections mentioned above.

Distribution

So far found only in rainforest in north Queensland, where it appears to be widespread. In addition to the type series, also noted from Davies Creek (17km E. by S. of Mareeba), Mt. Haig, The Boulders and Yungaburra .

Notes

Observed feeding on low-growing rainforest plants, including Rubus (Rosaceae) . This species is very similar in appearance to S. brevicerci , but commoner is some years than others, and appears to be much more widespread. The three black spots between the eyes in larryi is a reasonably reliable feature enabling them to be distinguished from brevicerci , whose eggs are, however, quite distinct. S. larryi is sometimes found paired and readily takes flight. In captivity, known to accept a wide range of plants, including Acronychia acidula , Eucalyptus, Meliocope elleryana, Psidium guajava, and Rubus .

Derivation of name

Named after cyclone Larry, a Category 5 Cyclone that devastated the town of Innisfail and much of its surrounding rainforests in March 2006, home of these and many other wonderful and unusual insects.

Figures

FIGURE 43. Sipyloidea larryi holotype female (QMBA), 80 mm.

FIGURES 44–45. Sipyloidea larryi holotype female 44. end of abdomen, dorsal view. 45. end of abdomen, lateral view.

FIGURE 46. Sipyloidea larryi male paratype (QMBA), 52 mm.

FIGURE 47. Sipyloidea larryi end of abdomen in male paratype, dorsal view. 48. end of abdomen in male paratype, lateral view. 49. egg a) dorsal, b) lateral (scale bar, 1 mm).

FIGURE 50. Sipyloidea larryi mating pair, Garradunga.

FIGURE 51. Sipyloidea larryi holotype female, Garradunga (note parasite).