Haplopus brachypterus, Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016

Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XVI: Revision of Haplopodini Günther, 1953 (rev. stat.), with notes on the subfamily Cladomorphinae Bradley & Galil, 1977 and the descriptions of a new tribe, four new genera and nine new species (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae), Zootaxa 4128 (1), pp. 1-211 : 135-142

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B4D2CD84-8994-4CEF-B647-3539C16B6502

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6084964

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/387F3068-D3A7-FF09-FF27-EDBE21E51AAD

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Haplopus brachypterus
status

 

Haplopus scabricollis (Gray, 1835) (Figs. 257–275, 341, 361–362)

Diapherodes scabricollis Gray, 1835: 34 . LT (by present designation), ♂: no data [possibly from the Bahamas → see comments below] [ LSUK]; PLT, ♀: no data [ LSUK].

Moxey, 1972: 110 (in litt.).

Haplopus scabricollis Westwood, 1859: 88 .

Kirby, 1904a: 364.

Redtenbacher, 1908: 432.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 152.

Aplopus mayeri Caudell, 1905: 83 . HT, ♂: Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal. No. 54; Aplopus mayeri Caud. ♂ TYPE; Type No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; AT, ♀: Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal No. 54; Aplopus mayeri Caud. ♀ Type; Brooklyn Museum Coll. 1929; Allotype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♂: Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal. No. 54; Brooklyn Museum Coll. 1929; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♀: Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal. No. 54; Brooklyn Museum Coll. 1929; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♀: Loggerhead Key, Florida, Dry Tortugas; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M.; Aplopus mayeri Caudell ♀ Paratype [USNM]; PT, ♀ (penultimate instar): Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal. No.54; Brooklyn Museum Coll. 1929; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♀ (nymph n4): Florida. Loggerhead Key; Catal. No. 54; Brooklyn Museum Coll. 1929; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♂ (nymph n4): Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal. No. 54; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♀ (nymph n5): Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla; Catal. No. 54; Brooklyn Museum Coll. 1929; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♂ (in Ryker mount): Loggerhead Key Florida, Dry Tortugas, Dr. Mayer; Aplopus mayeri Caudell ♂ Paratype; Paratype No. 42774 U.S. N.M. [USNM]; PT, ♀: Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla. [AMNH]; PT, ♀ (nymph): Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla. [AMNH]. n. syn. Werner, 1929: 9, figs. B (♂) & C (♀). Stockard, 1908a: 239ff, figs. (♀, 1st instar nymph & egg). Stockard, 1908b: 43, figs. (♂, ♀ & egg). Caudell & Hebard, 1912: 159. [Designation of lectotype]

Rehn & Hebard, 1914: 101.

Arment, 2006: 18.

Haplopus mayeri, Redtenbacher, 1908: 433 .

Werner, 1929: 9, figs.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 152.

Haplopus evadne, Caudell, 1904: 949 , figs. 1 & 2 (♀). [Misidentification]

Aplopus similis Rehn, 1904: 65 . HT, ♂ (penultimate instar nymph): Swan Isl. Caribbean Sea; U.S. N.M. Acc. 19099, Cat. no. Aplopus similis Rehn TYPE; Type No.7343 U.S. N.M., wO192 [USNM], PT, ♀: acc 19099, Swan Isld., Caribbean Sea; Cat no. Aplopus similis Rehn TYPE; Type No. 7343 U.S. N.M. [USNM]. n. syn. Diapherodes similis, Moxey, 1972: 112 View in CoL (in litt.). Haplopus similis, Kirby, 1904a: 364 .

Redtenbacher, 1908: 432.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 152.

Further material [53 ♂♂, 44 ♀♀, 64 nymphs]:

DRY TORTUGAS:

16 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 10 ♂♂ (nymphs); 9 ♀♀ (nymphs): Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, Fla., July 8, 1912, R&H [ ANSP]; 1 ♀: Aplopus mayeri Caudell, Loggerhead Key, Fla. [ ANSP]; 10 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 7 nymphs: Loggerhead Key, Dry Tortugas, FLA; R. E. Woodruff coll. 2.IX.61; At Suriana maritima L. [ FSCA]; 1 ♀: Dry Tortugas, July 28, 1938, Jack Russel, No. 8271; Aplopus mayeri Caudell , det. R. E. Woodruff—70 [ FSCA]; 22 ♂♂, 23 ♀♀, 31 nymphs (n4 to penultimate instar): Tortugas, FLA., Loggerhead Key, VII. [various dates] 1938, Jack Russell; Aplopus mayeri Caud., Det. By T.N. Hubbell 1956 [ UMMZ].

FLORIDA KEYS:

1 ♂ (nymph n4): Key West, Fla. July 3–7, 1912, leg. R & H [ ANSP]; 1 nymph (n2): Long Key, Fla. July 13, 1912, R&H [ ANSP]; 1 nymph (n2): Key Largo, Florida, Monroe County, III, 18, 1910; A. mayeri Caud., Hebard Collection [ ANSP]; 1 ♀: Bahia, Honda, Fla. , VIII-14–38 [ ANSP]; 1 ♀ (nymph—in Ryker mount): Key West Fla, 6.IV.03; EA Schwarz Collector; Aplopus mayeri Caudell ? ♀ nymph [ USNM].

BAHAMAS:

1 ♀: Bahamas, J. L. Bouchote, 1902.-299, coll. J. L. Bouchote, Feb. 1902, Wood C. Andros, G. Smith [ NHMUK]; 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀: Nassau, N. P., Bahamas, Veronica Higgs!; Diapherodes scabricollis Gray , det. C. F. Moxey 1972 [ ANSP]; 1 ♀: “Pink House”, on road, vic FFS, WP 132, 13.V.03 [ ANSP]; 1 ♂: Bahamas: Eleuthera, Rainbow Bay, I-VII-1988, R.W. & D.B. Wiley [ FSCA]; 1 ♂ (penultimate instar), 1 ♀ (nymph n5): Bahamas: Andros Is., S. Fresh Creek nr. U.S. Naval Base; 26- VII-2006, Trevor Smith; beating [ FSCA].

NAVASSA ISLAND:

1 ♂: Navassa Island; near lighthouse, 80 m, 18°23.82’N, 75°00.74’W, 24 July 1998, Collrs. W. E. Steiner, J. M. Swearinger, et al. [ USNM].

CAYMAN ISLANDS:

1 ♂: Roy. Soc.-CIG Expdn. Little Cayman, BWI, North Shore track, N. Blossomvillage, 2.8.1975, R. R. Askew [ NHMUK]; 1 ♂: 17.IV.–26.VIII.1938, Oxf. Un. Cayman Is., Biol. Exped. Coll. By C. B. Lewis, G. H. Thompson, 2.VII.1938, Grand Cayman, East end of East end, Pres. Hope Dept. Oxford, B. M. 1967-147, East End Grand Cayman, VII-2-38, 7238 J. [ NHMUK]; 1 ♀: 17.IV.–26.VIII.1938, Oxf. Un. Cayman Is., Biol. Exped. Coll. By C. B. Lewis, G. H. Thompson, 9.VII.1938, Grand Cayman, N. coast of North Side, G. C., VII-9-38, 7938, Pres. Hope Dept. Oxford, B. M. 1967-147, Diapherodes pulverulentus Gray det. Moxey 1972 [ NHMUK]; 1 ♂ (nymph): 17.IV.–26.VIII.1938, Oxf. Un. Cayman Is., Biol. Exped. Coll. By C. B. Lewis, G. H. Thompson, 29.V.1938, Little Cayman, West end of S. W. Point area, Pres. Hope Dept. Oxford, B. M. 1967-147 [ NHMUK].

Diagnosis: This, the northernmost distributed representative of the genus, is easily distinguished from all other species in the genus by the very short alae of both sexes, which are considerably shorter than the tegmina ( Fig. 269 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ). The short alae of ♂♂ resemble H. brachypterus n. sp. from Hispaniola and H. woodruffi n. sp. from Cayman Brac ( Cayman Islands). From the first species ♂♂ clearly differ by: the more robust body; longitudinal white marking along the lateral margins of the pronotum ( Fig. 266 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ), and longitudinal white median markings on the median segment and abdominal tergites VIII–X; broader and less distinctly posteromedially indented anal segment ( Fig. 242 View FIGURES 236 – 248 ); differently shaped poculum ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ) and shorter terminal hook of the vomer ( Fig. 353 View FIGURES 349 – 356 ). From H. woodruffi n. sp. they differ by: the more slender body; longitudinal white marking along the lateral margins of the pronotum ( Fig. 266 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ), and longitudinal white median markings on the median segment and abdominal tergites VIII–X; presence of a posterolateral tooth or lobe on abdominal tergum VII ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); more slender three terminal abdominal segments ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); longer and more flattened anal segment ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); larger basal projection of the poculum ( Fig. 274 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ) and differently shaped vomer, which has the terminal hook considerably longer than in H. woodruffi ( Fig. 353 View FIGURES 349 – 356 ). Females differ from those of H. woodruffi n. sp. by: the acutely pointed and black-tipped horns of the head ( Fig. 268 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ); differently shaped anal segment and larger, shield-shaped epiproct ( Fig. 273 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); ± decided sub-apical dorsal tooth of the meso- and metafemora and sub-basal dorsal tooth of the corresponding tibiae and gently rounded dorsal carina of the probasitarsus.

Description: ♀ ( Figs. 257–260 View FIGURES 257 – 262 ). Moderate to large (body length including the subgenital plate 125.0–164.0 mm) and moderately slender for the genus (maximum width of mesothorax 5.0–6.0 mm) with very short alae (5.3–8.0 mm); body surface very slightly glabrous. Colour variable and ranging from dark over mid and pale brown to pale grey; pale specimens are often all over furnished with mid to dark brown markings and speckles ( Figs. 258, 260 View FIGURES 257 – 262 ). Ventral body surface mostly with a yellowish or greenish wash. Head with one or two small elongate black markings above the eyes. Antennae greyish mid brown, sometimes with a slightly reddish hue. Eyes dark reddish brown. Spines of the thorax dark sepia with the points black. Tegmina and costal region of alae dark brown with the venations of a slightly paler colour; the latter black basally. Anal region of alae transparent pink and all major longitudinal and transverse veins marked with dark brown.

Head: About 1.4x longer than wide and ovoid with the cheeks slightly convex. Vertex very gently rounded and armed with a pair of moderately sized, pointed cephalad spines ( Fig. 268 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ). Behind these often with a further pair of tubercles. Eyes circular and contained about 2.5x in length of cheeks. Antennae reaching about half way along median segment. Scapus about 2x longer than wide with the lateral margins gently rounded. Pedicellus roughly half the length of scapus and a little shorter than III.

Thorax: Pronotum longer but narrower than head, about 2x longer than wide, roughly rectangular and with the lateral margins roundly emarginated medially. Transverse median sulcus faint, gently curved and not reaching lateral margins of segment. Dorsal surface with a pair of moderately sized, blunt spines in the anterior portion; otherwise with a variable number of small rather irregularly disposed spines ( Fig. 268 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ). Mesothorax about 2.4x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum very slightly gradually widened towards the posterior, the surface armed with a variable number of irregularly disposed spines or acute tubercles of variable sizes; usually a ± enlarged pair of spines is present in central portion. Lateral margins with a marginal row of about 8–12 small but pointed spines. Meso- and metapleurae armed with an irregular longitudinal marginal row of moderately sized spines. Mesosternum with a variable number of low spines or tubercles. Tegmina oval, coriaceous, with the venation very distinct, dense and irregularly disposed; hardly reaching to posterior margin of metanotum. The median protuberance very shallow and conspicuously displaced towards the apex of tegmen. Alae only 2/3 the length of tegmina and reaching only about 1/3 the way along median segment ( Fig. 269 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ).

Abdomen: Median segment about 1.8x longer than wide and very gently widened towards the posterior. All segments unarmed, except for a pair of retrorse and compressed posteromedian spines on tergites II–IV; this most prominent on II but sometimes poorly developed on all three segments. Segments II–VI roughly equal in length and width, all rectangular and about 1.8x longer than wide. Tergum VII slightly shorter and narrower than previous, about 2.2x longer than wide and slightly expanded posteriorly ( Fig. 273 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ). Praeopercular organ formed by a low, rounded swelling some distance off the posterior margin of sternum VII ( Fig. 341 View FIGURES 334 – 341 ). Tergum VIII slightly shorter than VII, narrowed anteriorly and roughly 2.5x longer than wide. IX slightly narrowed towards posterior and somewhat less than half the length of VIII. Anal segment with a very faint longitudinal median carina, narrowed in posterior half and with a very small triangular posteromedian incision. Epiproct of moderate size, roundly triangular and shield-shaped ( Fig. 273 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ). Cerci small and conical with a rather acute tip; slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Subgenital plate very long, lanceolate, longitudinally carinate and with a rather acute apex; extending over apex of abdomen by ± the combined length of tergites VIII–X ( Figs. 272–273 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ).

Legs: Profemora about 4/5 the length of mesothorax, mesofemora ± reaching posterior margin of median segment and metafemora reaching about half way along abdominal segment IV. Profemora occasionally with two spines in the apical half of the medioventral carina, otherwise unarmed. Anteroventral carina of meso- and metafemora with two, posteroventral carina with one sub-apical spine; medioventral carina armed with 4–6 pointed spines. Both dorsal carinae with a ± distinct triangular tooth sub-apically. Anterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae with an angulate expansion sub-basally. Basitarsi roughly equal in length to following three tarsomeres combined; dorsal carina of probasitarsus gently rounded.

♂ ( Figs. 261–262 View FIGURES 257 – 262 ). Moderate to large (body length 83.0–121.0 mm) and fairly stocky (maximum width of mesothorax 2.8–3.1 mm) for the genus with conspicuously shortened alae (length 4.2–6.2 mm). Colouration variable and ranging from pale to mid greenish brown, the abdomen ranging from drab to dark brown. Ventral body surface green, the meso- and metapleurae green with a dull orange longitudinal stripe along lower margin. Head plain green but occasionally with a ± defined whitish postocular stripe. Dorsal spines of pro- and mesothorax mid brown with black tips. Lateral margins of pronotum and abdominal tergites II–IX broadly white. Median segment with a ± defined white longitudinal median stripe, often also with a white longitudinal median marking or stripe on abdominal tergites VII–X. Tegmina and costal region of alae dark brown, the latter black basally. Anal region of alae pink with all major veins brown. Antennae drab to pale brown. Tarsi mid brown.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀ but eyes more prominent, projecting hemispherically and their length contained only about 2x in that of cheeks ( Figs. 266–267 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ). Antennae moderately robust and slightly projecting over abdominal segment II; with about 65 segments.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly longer but a little narrower than head, general shape as in ♀♀; surface smooth except for a moderate pair of spines in the anterior portion ( Figs. 266–267 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ). Mesothorax only about 2.0–2.1x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum with 5–16 irregularly disposed and paired spines of moderate size in the anterior 2/3; the pair at anterior margin largest ( Fig. 266–267 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ). Mesosternum with ± ten and metasternum with two pairs of spiniform tubercles. Mesopleurae with a marginal row of granules, metapleurae smooth. Tegmina oval and very slightly projecting over posterior margin of metanotum, central protuberance very shallow. Alae small, shorter than alae and hardly reaching 1/3 the way along median segment.

Abdomen: Segment II a little shorter than III–IV and equal in length to V, about 2.5x longer than wide. IV longest segment and roughly 2.8x longer than wide. V–VII gradually decreasing in length with VII no more than 1.7x longer than wide. All tergites and sternites smooth. VII with a ± distinct, roundly triangular tooth posterolaterally ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ). VIII almost equal in length to VII and gently widening towards the posterior; IX slightly shorter than VIII and narrowed in posterior 2/3. Anal segment with a very faint longitudinal median carina in basal portion and gradually widened toward the posterior; the posterior margin broadly rounded with a very shallow median indentation ( Fig. 275 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); slightly swollen and on ventral surface armed with several small, black incurving denticles. Epiproct very small and roughly triangular. Vomer with a fairly small, roughly semi-circular base and a long, papillate, up-curving terminal hook ( Figs. 361–362 View FIGURES 357 – 364 ). Cerci large, obtuse and about equal in length to anal segment. Poculum moderately convex, cup-like and with a fornicate basal hump ( Fig. 274 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); posterior portion with a fine longitudinal median keel and somewhat indented medially ( Figs. 361–362 View FIGURES 357 – 364 ).

Legs: Profemora roughly equal in length to mesothorax, mesofemora about ¾ the length of mesothorax and metafemora just not reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment IV. All less carinate than in ♀♀ but armature generally alike, except for the dorsal sub-apical teeth of the meso- and metafemora very distinct. Tarsi relatively more elongate and basitarsi a little longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

Nymphs: Immature ♀♀ usually have the retrorse posteromedian spines on abdominal tergites II–IV more prominent than adult insects and possess a well developed posterolateral tooth on tergum VII. Colour various shades of brown, grey and white.

Variability: This very widely distributed species shows considerable variability in size, colouration (see description above), number and size of the thoracic spines and leg-armature. Specimens from the Bahamas on average are larger and somewhat more slender than specimens from the Florida Keys or Dry Tortugas, with ♂♂ usually longer than 90.0 mm and ♀♀ exceeding 140.0 mm including the subgenital plate. Furthermore, specimens from the Bahamas have the cephalad horns more acute and usually tipped with black (♀♀ in particular), whereas these are less developed, blunt and not tipped with black in ♀♀ from the Dry Tortugas or Florida Keys. Also the thoracic armature on average is more prominent in the Bahamas specimens with the pronotum usually bearing more than six spiniform tubercles to short spines. Examples from the Cayman Islands and Santanillas rather resemble specimens from the Bahamas in aspect of the cephalic and thoracic armature, having the cephalad horns distinct, acute and tipped with black and the prothoracic armature strongly developed.

A fairly small ♂ (body length 84.5 mm) at hand from Navassa ( Fig. 263 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ), a small island only some kilometres southwest off Hispaniola, differs from typical specimens of H. scabricollis from the Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys and the Bahamas by lacking distinct tubercles on the meso- and metasternum, entirely smooth meso- and metapleurae, lack of a posterolateral lobe or tooth on abdominal tergum VII ( Fig. 271 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ), less prominent basal projection of the poculum ( Fig. 270 View FIGURES 270 – 275 ); broader basal portion of the vomer ( Fig. 354 View FIGURES 349 – 356 ) and having only 56 antennomeres (roughly 65 in typical scabricollis ). Furthermore, the dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora entirely lack a sub-apical tooth and there is also no sub-basal tooth on the anterodorsal carina of the corresponding tibiae. The lack of a posterolateral tooth on abdominal tergum VII and smooth dorsal carinae of the mid and hind legs resemble H. woodruffi n. sp. from Cayman Brac ( Cayman Islands), but the acutely pointed and black tipped horns of the head ( Fig. 264 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ), white lateral margins of the pronotum ( Fig. 264 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ), white longitudinal median marking of the median segment, very short alae ( Fig. 265 View FIGURES 263 – 269 ) and morphology of the genitalia rather attribute it to H. scabricollis . However, more material from Navassa Island, including the unknown ♀ and egg, is required for any broader discussion on the identity of the present ♂.

Comments: This species was first described by Gray (1835: 34) based on a ♂ and ♀ without locality now housed in the Linnean collection in London (LSUK). Both specimens were examined from detailed photographs kindly provided by Paul D. Brock (NHMUK) and in aspect of the large size (body lengths: ♂ lectotype 121.0 mm, ♀ paralectotype 164.0 mm including the subgenital plate; according to Redtenbacher, 1908: 432), acute and blacktipped cephalad horns and strong armature of the pronotum, most certainly are from the Bahamas. The ♀ paralectotype matches pretty well with a specimen from the island of Andros in NHMUK and the ♂ with a specimen from the island of Eleuthera in FSCA. Due to the strongly shortened alae, Gray (1835: 34) misinterpreted the ♂ to be a nymph, which is here selected as the lectotype of Diapherodes scabricollis in order to guarantee stability of the name and the new synonymy here established.

Examination of the types of Aplopus mayeri Caudell, 1905 from Loggerhead Key in USNM leaves no doubt they are conspecific with Gray's scabricollis , hence Caudell's species is a junior synonym (n. syn.). Two further paralectotypes, an adult ♀ which lacks the terminal three segments of the abdomen and a large ♀ nymph, are housed in AMNH. These are the specimens that had previously been described and figured by Caudell (1904: 949, figs. 1, 2) as H. evadne Westwood, 1859 , a distinct species from Hispaniola.

Haplopus similis (Rehn, 1904) was described based on a ♀ and an immature ♂ from the Swan Islands (also Islas Santanilla or Islas del Cisne). Careful examination of these specimens show slight differences from typical H. scabricollis from the Dry Tortugas and Florida Keys. The prominent, acutely pointed and black-tipped cephalad horns and the prominently armed pronotum of the ♀ paratype resemble specimens from the Bahamas and Cayman Islands, but the specimen differs from H. scabricollis from all other localities by the more numerous spiniform tubercles of the mesonotum and meso- and metapleurae in particular, somewhat longer alae and having the praeopercular organ on abdominal sternum VII formed by two rough granules instead of one. The cephalic and thoracic armature are most certainly within the range of variability of H. scabricollis and the praeopercular organ may merely be an individual trait of this particular specimen. The immature ♂ holotype is not useful to distinguish it from H. scabricollis . Consequently, H. similis is here synonymised with H. scabricollis (n. syn.) although this synonymy deserves further evaluation by the availability of fresh material from this far off locality (see comments on distribution below).

This is the northernmost distributed representative of the entire Haplopodini, and the only species of Haplopus known to occur on the Bahamas, Florida Keys and even some localities near the coast on mainland Florida. This remarkable disjunct distribution appears obscure and warrants special mention and liekely explanation. H. scabricollis is distributed throughout the Dry Tortugas, Florida Keys and Bahamas but there are also apparently disjunct records from Navassa, a small island southeast off Hispaniola, the Cayman Islands and even as far southeast as the Swan Islands, a group of three small islands some 150 km off the coastline of Honduras. Interestingly however, there have so far been no records from the coastlines of Hispaniola or Cuba. Since H. scabricollis is apparently restricted to coastlines and localities near the coast and is almost exceptionally peculiar to its main host-plant Suriana maritima (Simarubaceae) , an occurrence in such habitats on Hispaniola and Cuba can not be fully excluded. The phasmatodean fauna of Cuba is still poorly prospected and perhaps this is also true for such habitats in eastern Hispaniola. Suriana maritima is a pantropic plant and found along coastlines throughout the entire Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands and Swan Islands and is also frequently found along the coasts of Central America. Since Suriana maritima is found on all the islands from which H. scabricollis has so far been recorded, a sufficient precondition is present for the occurrence of this species, a fact that is also true for Cuba and eastern Hispaniola. The coastal habitats of H. scabricollis may explain the wide and disjunct distribution of this particular species, since its distribution near the coast makes it prone to over-water dispersal on flotsam caused by frequent strong hurricanes within the Caribbean.

As shown by a large series of specimens H. scabricollis is apparently very abundant on Loggerhead Key of the Dry Tortugas (Stockard, 1908a: 239; 1908b: 43), e.g. the collection of UMMZ containing 22 ♂♂, 23 ♀♀ and 31 nymphs of various sizes all collected during a single month on Loggerhead Key. Rehn & Hebard (1914: 387) also reported it from Bird Key and Garden Key, the other islands of the Tortugas group, as well as Key West and Long Key. Rehn & Herbard (1912) furthermore recorded it from Key Largo, the Everglades and Dade County, Florida, which are the only records from the United States mainland. In the wild H. scabricollis is known to feed almost exclusively on bay cedar ( Suriana maritima , Simaroubaceae ) and to be excellently camouflaged in these shrubs. Only a few specimens have so far been encountered on sea grape ( Coccoloba uvifera , Polygonaceae ), which however is known to be eaten by these insects. Stockard (1908a, 1908b) provided detailed studies on the habitats, biology and behaviour of H. scabricollis (as Aplopus mayeri ).

Distribution: Dry Tortugas (Loggerhead Key [USNM]; Bird Key [Rehn & Hebard, 1914: 387]; Garden Key [Rehn & Hebard, 1914: 387]); Florida Keys (Key West [USNM]; Long Key [ANSP]; Key Largo [ANSP]; Bahia Honda Key [ANSP]; Big Pine Key [photo by Alejandro Lopez-Couto]; Key Biscane, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park [photo by Elizabeth Golden]); Florida (Miami Dade County [Rehn & Hebard, 1912: 243]; Everglades [Rehn & Hebard, 1912: 243]); Bahamas (South Bimini [AMNH]; Eleuthera [FSCA]; Nassau, New Providence [ANSP]; Andros [NHMUK]); Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman [NHMUK]; Little Cayman [NHMUK]) and Swan Islands [USNM].

Number of specimens examined: 177

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ANSP

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

FSCA

Florida State Collection of Arthropods, The Museum of Entomology

UMMZ

University of Michigan, Museum of Zoology

USNM

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

FFS

University of Stellenbosch

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Curculionidae

Genus

Haplopus

Loc

Haplopus brachypterus

Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert 2016
2016
Loc

Diapherodes similis

Moxey 1972: 112
1972
Loc

Haplopus mayeri

Redtenbacher 1908: 433
1908
Loc

Aplopus mayeri

Caudell 1905: 83
1905
Loc

Haplopus evadne

Caudell 1904: 949
1904
Loc

Aplopus similis

Rehn 1904: 65
1904
Loc

Haplopus similis

Kirby 1904: 364
1904
Loc

Haplopus scabricollis

Westwood 1859: 88
1859
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