Hemiplasta Redtenbacher, 1908

Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5073 (1), pp. 1-189 : 127-129

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5073.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AA3269D1-CA2F-4528-BC9D-3A4C75D05BD9
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14198357
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DB87EE-FF8F-9DD7-FF40-5B66FA85F4E0
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scientific name	Hemiplasta Redtenbacher, 1908
status

Treatment

Genus Hemiplasta Redtenbacher, 1908

Type-species: Necroscia styligera Bates, 1865: 354 , pl. 45: 1, by subsequent designation by Hennemann & Conle, 1999: 10.

Sipyloidea (Hemiplasta) Redtenbacher, 1908: 543 . Günther, 1934: 86.

Hemiplasta, Bradley & Galil, 1977: 182 . Günther, 1938: 88, figs. 19–22. Hennemann, 1998: 112, 121, figs. 18–20, pl. 3: 1, 6 & 7, pl. 4: 1–2. Hennemann & Conle, 1999: 10. [Designation of type-species] Otte & Brock, 2005: 152.

Comments: Originally described as a subgenus of Sipyloidea Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893, this very distinctive genus appears to be endemic to Sulawesi, the Talaud Islands, Banggai Islands and the Sula archipelago. While previously only known from the ♀♀, also the now available ♂♂ of certain species and egg of one species still do not allow a proper definition of Hemiplasta and separation from Cylindomena Günther, 1935 rev. stat. (→ see below). Hence, a sufficient re-description is still inappropriate and must await more comprehensive knowledge of both genera.

Apparently, Hemiplasta is closely related to Cylindomena Günther, 1935 rev. stat. (type-species: Parasipyloidea acuminata Redtenbacher, 1908 ) with which it shares the distinctive morphology of the genitalia of ♀♀ ( Fig. 49 View FIGURE 49 ). In both genera, the subgenital plate is strongly elongated, gradually narrowed towards an acutely pointed apex and has both lateral surfaces strongly up-curving and coalescent to form a more or less tube-like structure. The gonapophyses VIII and IX are enormously elongated but hidden within the subgenital plate in the resting position. While the lower pair of gonapophyses (VIII) are slender, rather filiform and tri-carinate in cross-section with a fine medio-longitudinal carina interiorly, the even longer upper pair (IX) are much broadened, laterally flattened and sword-blade like in shape ( Fig. 49 View FIGURE 49 ). The two apterous Javanese species that belong in Cylindomena according to Günther (1935b: 139), this is C. acuminata (Redtenbacher, 1908) and C. scalprifera Günther, 1935 , merely differ from ♀♀ of Hemiplasta by the more stocky shape and averaging smaller size. Although not recorded as a synonym Brock (1998: 12) listed the type-species of Cylindomena , C. acuminata (Redtenbacher, 1908) , in the original genus Parasipyloidea Redtenbacher, 1908 , hence erroneously synonymised Cylindomena with Parasipyloidea . Since this was obviously unwanted and Cylindomena strikingly differs from the type-species of Parasipyloidea in various morphological aspects, Cylindomena is here re-established as a valid genus (rev. stat.) and comprises the two species originally attributed by Günther (1935b: 139, see above). A proper delimitation of the genus and separation from Hemiplasta must await knowledge of the still unknown ♂♂ of Cylindomena . However, taking into account the remarkable morphological resemblance to the only known apterous ♀ of Hemiplasta , H. aptera Günther, 1938 ( Figs. 50E–G View FIGURE 50 ), suggests Cylindomena might turn out to be synonymous.

Another genus that certainly is closely related to Hemiplasta and Cylindomena , is the monotypical Sulawesian endemic Moritasgus Günther, 1935 (type-species: Moritasgus stresemanni Günther, 1935 ). Females of Moritasgus exhibit the same distinctive morphology of the genitalia described for the other two genera above, but has the lateral surfaces of the subgenital plate less strongly coalescent and subgenital plate as well as the gonapophyses less distinctly elongated. Both sexes may however be separated by the two rounded posterior swellings of the head and expanded posterolateral angles of the abdominal terga II–VII. Males furthermore differ by the shape of the cerci, which are obtusely thickened towards an angular and interiorly impressed apex. A ♀ of an as yet undescribed spe-cies of Moritasgus (Fig. ##) has the abdominal terga armed with posterior spines, the abdominal sterna set with small lobes, the thoracic segments unevenly tuberculose to spinulose and all three pairs of femora irregularly furnished with tooth-like lobes.

Distribution: Sulawesi, Talaud Islands, Banggai Islands and Sula archipelago.

Species included

1. Hemiplasta aptera Günther, 1938: 90 , figs. 21–22.

Distribution : Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (“Talekadjo-Mountains” 1200-1600 m)

2. Hemiplasta flavifrons n. sp.

Distribution: Central Sulawesi (Luwuk).

3. Hemiplasta mustea ( Bates, 1865: 355, pl. 45: 8). n. comb.

= Aruanoidea densegranulosa Redtenbacher, 1908: 521 . n. syn.

= Hemiplasta falcata Redtenbacher, 1908: 550 , pl. 27: 2. n. syn.

Distribution: Sula Islands (Pulau Mangole & Sanana “Sulabesi”); Banggai Islands (Pulau Peleng: Tinangkung Utara District: nr. Luksagu village; Buko District, btw. Tatendeng and Eben village, 400–550 m & Tinanasu).

4. Hemiplasta nigra ( Hennemann, 1998: 108, fig. 12, pl. 3: 5). n. comb.

Distribution: Central Sulawesi; Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (Tana Toraja: Rantepao 700–800 m).

5. Hemiplasta parva n. sp.

Distribution: Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Tengah (Palu).

6. Hemiplasta rostrata Redtenbacher, 1908: 550 . rev. stat.

Distribution: N-Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Utara (Minahasa).

7. Hemiplasta sarasinorum Günther, 1938: 88 , figs. 19–20.

Distribution: Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (Luwu: Lempongpangi).

8. Hemiplasta styligera ( Bates, 1865: 354, pl. 45: 1).

Distribution: Sula Islands (Pulau Mangole); Peleng Island (Buko District, btw. Tantendeng village & Eben village, 400–550 m); Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (Tana Toraja: Rantepao 700–800 m); Talaud Islands (Karakelang Island: Lobo).

Keys to the species of Hemiplasta

♀♀ *

1. Winged............................................................................................. 2

- Apterous; Sulawesi ( Fig. 50E View FIGURE 50 )....................................................................... aptera

2. Alae long and at least reaching to abdominal segment V....................................................... 3

- Brachypterous, alae only reaching posterior margin of median segment; Sulawesi ( Fig. 50A View FIGURE 50 )................ sarasinorum

3. Cerci strongly elongated, much longer than anal segment...................................................... 4

- Cerci shorter than anal segment, not projecting beyond apex of abdomen; Sula Islands, Sulawesi and Talaud Islands ( Figs. 58D–G View FIGURE 58 )....................................................................................... styligera

4. Stocky species; alae at best reaching to abdominal segment VI................................................. 5

- Slender species; alae reaching to abdominal segment VIII; Sulawesi ( Fig. 57 View FIGURE 57 )................................ rostrata

5. Brown; mesothorax 3.9x longer than prothorax; tegmina with three pale green spots; Sulawesi ( Fig. 54 View FIGURE 54 )............. nigra

- Multicoloured; mesothorax 5x longer than prothorax; no pale spots on tegmina; Sula Islands & Peleng ( Figs. 52A–B View FIGURE 52 ).................................................................................................... mustea

* ♀♀ of H. flavifrons n. sp. and H. parva n. sp. are not known

♂♂ *

1. Large, body length> 48 mm; alae at least reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment VI........................ 2

- Small species, body length <45 mm; alae only reaching half way along abdominal segment VI; Sulawesi ( Fig. 57 View FIGURE 57 )................................................................................................... parva n. sp.

2. Rather robust insects: mesonotum heavily granulose; head without longitudinal lines................................ 3

- Very slender insects; mesonotum only with a few scattered granules; head with a distinct black postocular and coronal line; Sulawesi, Sula Islands and Talaud Islands ( Fig. 59A View FIGURE 59 )................................................... styligera

3. Abdominal segments VII–X club-shaped and notably broader than preceding segments.............................. 4

- Abdominal segments VIII–X indistinctly wider than preceding ( Fig. 51E View FIGURE 51 ); head with a bold yellow marking on frons ( Fig. 51C View FIGURE 51 ); Sulawesi ............................................................................ flavifrons n. sp.

4. Brown ( Fig. 55A View FIGURE 55 ); costal region of alae plain brown; posterior margin of anal segment widely concave ( Fig. 55C View FIGURE 55 ); Sulawesi ................................................................................................. nigra

- Multicolourous ( Fig. 53L View FIGURE 53 ); costal region of alae green with anterior margin orange to brown; posterior margin of anal segment excavated triangularly ( Fig. 53E View FIGURE 53 ); Sula Islands & Peleng................................................. mustea

* ♂♂ of H. aptera Günther, 1938 , H. sarasinorum Günther, 1938 and H. rostrata Redtenbacher, 1908 are not known