Phasmotaenia godeffroyi ( Redtenbacher, 1908 ) Redtenbacher, 1908

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2009, Studies on the genus Phasmotaenia Navás, 1907, with the descriptions of five new species from the Solomon Islands, a revised key to the species and notes on its geographic distribution (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Phasmatidae s. l.: Stephanacridini), Zootaxa 2011, pp. 1-46 : 17-18

Phasmotaenia godeffroyi ( Redtenbacher, 1908) n. comb.

Hermarchus godeffroyi Redtenbacher, 1908: 447 . HT, Ƥ: Ƥ, 0 99 Ƥ Ponapi, MG 17386; 96; M. God. 17386 “ Hermarchus sp. n. ” Hermarchus godeffroyi n. spec. Jos. Redtenbacher determ. 1890, public 1891. Bestimm.-Verz. Nr. 96 (ZMUH).

Günther, 1931: 791.

Günther, 1937: 8.

Weidner, 1966: 230.

Kevan & Vickery, 1997: 332.

Zompro, 2002: 188.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 155.

[Not: Phasmotaenionema australe Günther, 1933: 155 ; erroneous synonym of Günther, 1937: 8]

[Not: Phasmotaenia godeffroyi, Bresseel & Hennemann, 2008: 18 ; = Phasmotaenia australe ( Günther, 1933) ]

Diagnosis: ƤƤ, the only sex known, are similar to P. australe ( Günther, 1933) , P. bukaense n. sp. and P. guentheri n. sp. all from the Solomon Islands. From P. australe it differs by: the much less globose head; spinulose mesopleurae; strongly reduced and rudimentary tegmina and alae; distinct posteromedian incision of the anal segment; shorter lower gonapophyses, which merely reach half the way along the extending part of the subgenital plate, and pale transverse sub-apical band of the meso- and metafemora. With the other two species it shares the rudimentary wings, but it is distinguished from P. bukaense n. sp. by: the more slender body; less globose head; lack of enlarged tubercles on the mesonotum; spinulose mesopleurae; smooth abdominal tergite VI; more triangular posteromedian incision of the anal segment; shorter gonapophyses, and smooth dorsal carinae of the meso- and metafemora. From P. guentheri n. sp. ƤƤ well differ by: the smaller size (body length of the HT 144.5 mm); more elongate and flat head; lack of a black longitudinal median stripe on the pronotum; much shorter and apically rounded subgenital plate; longer gonapophyses which distinctly project over the apex of the anal segment, and unarmed dorsal carinae of the mid and hind legs.

Comments: P. godeffroyi was described based on the unique Ƥ HT from Ponape (Carolines, Micronesia) in ZMUH. Günther (1937: 8) recorded another Ƥ from Truk (Carolines) in SMTD and erroneously stated P. australe ( Günther, 1933) from the Solomon Islands was a synonym of P. godeffroyi . Examination and comparison of the HT’s of both species has however shown these two represent two clearly distinct species, so P. australe is here removed from synonymy with P. godeffroyi (rev. stat.). Günther (1937: 8) based his synonymy on the fact that the HT of P. godeffroyi has very small, rudimentary tegmina and alae, a feature overseen in the original description by Redtenbacher (1908: 447), who stated these organs to be absent.

Indeed, P. godeffroyi is very similar to the three PT’s of P. australe from San Cristobal which also have strongly reduced wings, but it differs from these by several other features summarized above. The concerned PT’s of P. australe are specifically distinct from the HT and here described as a new species ( P. guentheri n. sp.). 3 and eggs unknown.

Distribution ( Fig. 59 ): Micronesia. Carolines ( Ponape & Truk Islands).

Figures

FIGURE 59. Geographic distribution of Phasmotaenia Navás, 1907 with the concrete records indicated by red spots.