Ramulus Saussure, 1862

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 : 69

Genus Ramulus Saussure, 1862

( Figs. 28–35 )

Type-species: Bacillus humberti Saussure, 1862: 472 [= Ramulus pseudoporus ( Westwood, 1859: 42, pl. 4: 6)], by original monotypy.

Comments: This is one of the most speciose genera of Australasian Phasmatodea and due to intraspecific variability in ♀♀ and strong sexual dimorphism obviously comprises numerous synonyms that have yet to be revealed. There-fore, the entire genus deserves a comprehensive revision at the species level. Günther (1938: 58) and Hennemann (1998: 124) have listed the species of Ramulus recorded from Sulawesi. A list of all species that have so far been recorded from Wallacea is presented below. The author is aware of at least four further potentially undescribed species from Sulawesi, but while one is only known from the ♀♀ and is not unlikely be the opposite sex of Ramulus supernumerarius (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907; see comments on this species below), the other three species are only known from single rather incomplete ♂ specimens. It is hope that more material of this genus from Sulawesi becomes available to increase our knowledge of the true diversity of Ramulus on the island.

Species recorded from Wallacea:

Figures

FIGURE 28. Ramulus extensus n. sp. ♂, holotype [NHMB]: A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Terminal abdominal segments seen laterally; C. Terminal abdominal segments seen dorsally; D. Head and orothorax in dorsal aspect.

FIGURE 29. Ramulus globosicaput (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907): A. ♀, dorsolateral view [coll. FH, No. 0303-2]; B. ♀, dor- solateral view [coll. FH, No. 0303-1]; C. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ seen laterally [coll. FH, No. 0303-1]; D. Terminal abdominal segments of ♀ seen dorsally [coll. FH, No. 0303-2]; E. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen laterally [coll. FH, No. 0303-4]; F. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen dorsally [coll. FH, No. 0303-4]; G. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ seen ventrally [coll. FH, No. 0303-4]; H. Head with antennae and prothorax of ♀ in dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0303-2]; J. Head with antennae and prothorax of ♀ in dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0303-3]; K. Head and prothorax of ♀ in lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0303-2]; L. Head with antennae and prothorax of ♂ in dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0303-4]; M. Head with antennae and prothorax of ♂ in lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0303-4].

FIGURE 30. Ramulus melanurus n. sp. ♂, holotype [MNHU]: A. Habitus, dorso-lateral view; B. Terminal abdominal segments seen laterally; C. Head and prothorax seen laterally.

FIGURE 31. Ramulus pelengense n. sp.: A. ♀ (PT), dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0790-5]; B. ♀ (PT), dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0790-6]; C. ♂ (PT), dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0790-6]; D. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-4]; E. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-4]; F. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-4]; G. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-3]; H. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-3]; J. Dorsal view of median segment (= abdominal tergum I) of ♂ (HT) [ZSMC];K. Head and prothorax of ♀ (HT) seen dorso-laterally [ZSMC]; L. Head and prothorax of ♂ (HT) in dorsal view [ZSMC];M. Head and prothorax of ♀ (PT) seen dorso-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0790-5]; N. Head with antennae and prothorax of ♀ (PT) seen dorso-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0790-29]; O. Apex of right mesofemur of ♀ (PT) seen intero-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0790-4].

FIGURE 32. Ramulus togianense n. sp.: A. ♀ (PT), dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0733-4]; B. ♀ (PT), dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0733-]; C. ♂ (HT), dorso-lateral view [ZSMC]; D. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0733-31]; E. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0733-31]; F. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0733-31]; G. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (HT) [ZSMC]; H. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (HT) [ZSMC]; J. Head and prothorax of ♀ (HT) seen dorsolaterally [ZSMC]; K. Head and prothorax of ♀ (PT) seen dorso-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0733-30]; L. Apex of right mesofemur of ♀ (PT) seen intero-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0733-6].

FIGURE 33. Ramulus togianense n. sp., live insects: A. ♀ (inset: head and prothorax); B. Close up of head, pro- and mesothorax of ♂; C. ♂.

FIGURE 34. Ramulus torajanus n. sp.: A. ♀ (PT), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 1064-3]; B. ♂ (PT), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 1064-4]; C. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-3]; D. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-3]; E. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064- 3]; F. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-2]; G. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-2]; H. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-2]; J. Apex of right mesofemur of ♀ (PT) seen intero-laterally [coll. FH, No. 1064-63]; K. Head and prothorax of ♂ (PT) in dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 1064-5]; K. Head and prothorax of ♂ (PT) in dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 1064-5]; L. Head and prothorax of ♂ (PT) in dorso-lateral view [coll. FH, No. 1064-8].

FIGURE 35. Ramulus spp., eggs: A. R. globosicaput (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0303-E]; B. R. globosicaput (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0303-E]; C. R. torajanus n. sp., dorsal view (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-E]; D. R. torajanus n. sp., lateral view (PT) [coll. FH, No. 1064-E]; E. R. togianense n. sp., dorsal view (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0733-E]; F. R. togianense n. sp., lateral view (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0733-E]; G. R. pelengense n. sp., dorsal view (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-E]; H. R. pelengense n. sp., lateral view (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0790-E];