Leprocaulinus sulawesiense, Hennemann, 2021

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 : 33

5. Leprocaulinus mammatus (Rehn, 1904: 44) [ Carausius ]. HT, ♀: Obi Island, Moluccas; Carausius mammatus Rehn , Type No. 5143; Carausius mammatus Rehn [ANSP]. rev. stat., n. comb.

Comments: Examination of the HT clearly places this species in Leprocaulinus and proves it to be not a synonym of L. vipera bituber (Sharp, 1898) , a taxon described from New Britain. Instead, L. mammatus appears to be closely related to L. vipera vipera ( Kaup, 1871) and L. obiensis (Rehn, 1904) and is here re-established as a valid species. Characters that distinguish it from the latter have been presented by Rehn (1904: 46) and a proper distinction from the nominate form of L. vipera ( Kaup, 1871) , originally described from ♂♂ from Sulawesi, would need material of both sexes.The subspecies and numerous synonymies currently attributed to Kaup’s vipera are very doubtful and require critical evaluation.

Distribution: Maluku Islands, Obi [ANSP].

6. Leprocaulinus obiensis (Rehn, 1904: 46) [ Carausius ]. HT, ♀ (penultimate instar): Obi Island, Moluccas; Carausius obiensis Rehn , Type No. 5142 [ANSP].

= Carausius bilobulatus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 273. HT, ♀ (nymph): “Ins. Moluccae” [MNCN, not traced]. [Synonymised by Günther, 1934b: 84]

= Diardia modesta Redtenbacher, 1908: 485 . ST, ♂: Moluques, Obi Major, Waterstadt 1902 ; type! Diardia modesta Br. ; Sintipo; MNCN Cat. Tipos N° 7623 [MNCN]; ST, ♂: Nouv.- Guinée, Dorey, Raffray & Maindron, 78, 102; Type; Diardia modesta Redt. Type [MNHN]. [Synonymised by Günther, 1934b: 84]

= Carausius stultus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 273. HT, ♀: “Ins. Moluccae” [MNCN, not traced].

[Synonymised by Günther, 1934b: 84]

Distribution: Maluku Islands, Obi [ANSP, MNCN, MNHN].

7. Leprocaulinus sulawesiense n. sp.

Distribution: S-Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan, Gunung Latimojong, Rantemario, Uru 800 m [MNHU]; S-Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan, Rantepao Palopo km12, ca. 1100 m [coll. FH]; S-Sulawesi, Prov. Su-lawesi Selatan, Tana Toraja, 700 m [coll. FH]; SE-Sulawesi, Mengkoka Mountains, Gunung Tanke Salokko [MNHU].

8. Leprocaulinus vipera vipera ( Kaup, 1871: 39) [ Necroscia ]. LT, ♂: Necroscia vipera Kp. Celebes [HLDH]; PLT, ♂: Necroscia vipera Kp. Celebes [HLDH, not traced].

Comments: Unfortunately, no fresh material of this species has so far become available for properly re-describing and distinguishing it from closely related taxa. Furthermore, the ♂ LT in HLDH is incomplete and lacks the apex of the abdomen, which adds to the current difficulties concerning the taxonomy of Leprocaulinus of Wallacea. The three subspecies and six synonyms currently listed under L. vipera are very doubtful. One of these, C. mammatus (Rehn, 1904) , is here removed from synonymy under L. vipera and reinstated as a valid species.

Distribution: “ Sulawesi ” [HLDH].