Hermagoras celebensis Hennemann, 1998

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 : 30-32

Hermagoras celebensis Hennemann, 1998 n. stat.

( Figs. 13 , 68A )

Hermagoras foliopeda celebensis Hennemann, 1998: 100 , fig. 6, pl. 3: 8–10. HT, ♂: 7916; Holotypus; Hermagoras foliopeda celebensis Hennemann, 1998 , det. F. Hennemann I.1997 ♂; S-Sulawesi, Lembang, Maros, leg. Gunawan 12.1995 [MNHU]; AT, ♀: 7917; Holotypus; Hermagoras foliopeda celebensis Hennemann, 1998 , det. F. Hennemann I.1997 ♀; S-Sulawesi, Lembang, Maros, leg. Gunawan 12.1995 [MNHU]; PT, ♂: Sarasin, 28.I.–1.II.1895, Luwu, Flachland, Boran-Djaladja, Centr.-Cel.; Lonchodes haematomus K. Günther det. [NHMB, No. VI.D.133].

Hennemann & Conle, 1999: 10. (Catalogued)

Otte & Brock, 2005: 153.

Zompro, 2005: 262. (Catalogued)

Henneman & Conle, 2007: 23.

Comments: Careful re-examination of the type-specimens and comparison with extensive material of the nominate form of H. foliopeda (Olivier, 1792) from several islands of eastern Wallacea (e.g. Seram, Buru, Ambelau, Kei Islands and Waigeo in the Raja Ampat archipelago) at hand from the author‘s collection and evaluation of specific distinctive characters amongst various species of Hermagoras show the diagnostic characters of this taxon, along with its isolated western distribution on Sulawesi, to justify raising it to species level. Hence, this Sulawesian form now becomes H. celebensis Hennemann, 1998 (rev. stat.). Re-examination of the ♀ from Luwu listed along with the ♂ paratype of H. celebensis in NHMB by Günther (1938: 78) as “ Lonchodes haematomus ”, clearly shows the specimen is not conspecific and moreover not a member of Hermagoras . It is here described as a new species (→ see Mnesilochus luwuense n. sp. below).

A ♂ from Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, Gorontalo province was examined from a photograph taken by Pavel Kirillov in December 2012 and is the first record of H. celebensis from northern Sulawesi ( Fig. 68A ).

Differentiation: Since ♀♀ of H. foliopeda are remarkably polymorphic and show extreme intraspecific variability (see Hennemann & Conle, 1997), likely differences between ♀♀ are dificult to define with only a unique ♀ of H. celebensis known to date ( Figs. 13A–B ). Males however show very obvious and constant distinguishing characters and in contrast to ♀♀ of Hermagoras do not show any noteworthy intraspecific variability. The distinctive black spiniform tubercles near the posterior margin of the metanotum ( Fig. 13J ), pale granulation of the thorax, contrasting darker median sections of the meso- and metathorax (colour plain in foliopeda ), the pale cream or grey and black apex of the femora as well as the more slender and apically pointed hemi-tergites of the anal segment ( Fig. 13H ) readily distinguish ♂♂ from those of H. foliopeda .

Distribution: S-Sulawesi, Prov. Selatan (Lembang, Maros); N-Sulawesi, Prov. Gorontalo (Bogani Nani Wartabone N.P.).

Figures

FIGURE 13. Hermagoras celebensis (Hennemann, 1998) n. stat.: A. ♀ (AT), lateral view [MNHU, No. 7917]; B. ♀ (AT),dorsal view [MNHU, No. 7917]; C. ♂ (HT), lateral view [MNHU, No. 7916]; D. ♂ (HT), lateral view [MNHU, No. 7916]; E. ♂ from Luwu, dorso-lateral view [NHMB]; F. Apical half of abdomen of ♂ from Luwu, lateral view [NHMB]; G. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ from Luwu, dorsal view [NHMB]; H. Terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (HT), lateral view [MNHU, No. 7916]; J. Metanotum and median segment of ♂ from Luwu, dorso-lateral view [NHMB].

FIGURE 68. Live insects from Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, Gorontalo Province, Northern Sulawesi (all © Pavel Kirillov). A. ♂ of Hermagoras celebensis (Hennemann, 1998); B. ♂ of an as yet undescribed species of Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908; C. ♀ of an undescribed species of Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908, close to A. rufescens Redtenbacher, 1908 and possibly the opposite sex of the ♂ shown in figure B. D. ♀ of an undescribed species of Neoclides Uvarov, 1940 showing remarkable twiglike camouflage; E. ♀ of the same Neoclides species seen in figure D, which is the only record of this genus from Sulawesi.