Sipyloidea brevicerci Hasenpusch & Brock, 2007

Brock, Paul D. & Hasenpusch, Jack, 2007, Studies on the Australian stick insects (Phasmida), including a checklist of species and bibliography, Zootaxa 1570 (1), pp. 1-81 : 23-25

Sipyloidea brevicerci Hasenpusch & Brock , spec. nov. [Short-cerci Winged Stick-insect]

( Figs. 29–33 )

Description

Female (holotype) ( Figs. 29–31 ): Fairly stocky, robust-looking, dark brown, mottled species (legs indistinctly banded lighter and darker shades), with short cerci. Body length 79 mm.

32 30

31

Head: Almost as wide as long, eyes small. Bold black central longitudinal line, with fainter lines either side of eyes, which have a narrow black stripe. Antennae with c. 80 indistinct segments, basal and second segments broader, but shorter than third segment. Antennae easily exceeding length of fore legs.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter than head, with central almost central cross-like indentation. Mesonotum not quite three times length of pronotum, conspicuously granulated, mainly along ridges. Metanotum less than twice length of mesonotum.

Wings: Fore wings large, subtruncate at tip. Hind wings dusky brown, reaching end of 6 th abdominal segment; pre-anal part mottled, as in body colour.

Abdomen: Ridged. Anal segment shorter than 9 th, tapered to an almost rounded at tip, deeply incised in centre; operculum broad, almost rounded at tip, exceeding end of 9th segment. Cerci short, rounded at tip, almost hidden beneath abdomen.

Legs: Moderate length, hind legs not reaching end of abdomen. Inconspicuously banded dark brown and paler brown, fore femora rather broadened.

Paratype females (9).

Same as holotype except for minor size differences (body length 66–82 mm).

Paratype males (4) ( Figs. 29 , 32).

Smaller, similar to the female, except much slenderer. Anal segment similar shape, subgenital plate also broad, but not quite reaching end of 9 th abdominal segment. Hind legs exceed end of abdomen. Body length 54–60 mm.

Egg ( Fig. 33 ). Small, oval, dark brown heavily sculptured capsule (including operculum), broad central micropylar plate almost central rim. Capsule length 1.6 mm, width 1.2 mm, height 1.2 mm.

Holotype ♀, Australia: north Queensland, Polly Creek, Garradunga, nr. Innisfail , 20.i.1993, J. Hasenpusch ( QMBA) . Paratypes (all north Queensland, Australia): ♂, same data (in copula with holotype), ♀, same data except 11.i.2006 (both QMBA), ♀, same data, except i. iii.2006 ( ANIC), ♀, same data, except 13–19.ii.2006, J. Hasenpusch & P.D. Brock ( BMNH), ♀, same data, except 25.x.1997, P.D. Brock & J. Hasenpusch, 2♀, same data as previous entry, except 29.x.1997, ♀, same data, except reared by P.D. Brock on Rubus fruticosus , xii.1998 (all P.D. Brock coll.), ♀ same data, J. Hasenpusch, except 19.xi.2006, 3 ♂, same data except collected 25.ix.2000, 13.i.2006, 13.xi.2006, ♀, Ella Bay , 16.xi.2006 (all J. Hasenpusch coll.). Eggs (not paratypes) have also been deposited in all collections mentioned above .

Distribution So far found only in rainforest in north Queensland, from Garradunga.

Notes

Observed feeding on rainforest plants, including Brombya platynema (Rutaceae) and fairly easy to rear, including on Rubus (Rosaceae) . This species is very similar in appearance to S. larryi , although the eggs indicate an affinity with S. garradungensis ; it is possible they have a hybrid origin.

Derivation of name Short cerci, a key feature in this species.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Sipyloidea brevicerci holotype female & male paratype (QMBA), 79 & 54 mm.

FIGURE 33. Sipyloidea brevicerci egg a) dorsal, b) lateral (scale bar, 1 mm).