Parhaplopus cubensis (Saussure, 1868) Saussure, 1868

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 : 152-156

Parhaplopus cubensis (Saussure, 1868) n. gen., n. comb.

( Figs. 290–297 , 344 )

Haplopus cubensis Saussure, 1868: 68 . HT, ♀: Cuba; Haplopus cubensis Sauss. [MHNG]. Saussure, 1871–1872: 192.

Bolívar, 1888: 40.

Kirby, 1904a: 364 (in part).

Redtenbacher, 1908: 433.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 151.

Aplopus cubensis, Rehn, 1909: 200 (in part).

Zompro & Brock, 2003: 10.

Diapherodes cubensis, Moxey, 1972: 95 (in litt; in part—not ♀ from Turiguano, Cuba). [Description of ♂] Further material [1 ♂, 1 ♀]:

CUBA:

1 ♀: Museum Paris, Cuba, La Havane, P. Serre 1910; Haplopus cubensis Sauss., L. Chopard & L. Bertrand 191 [MNHN]; 1 ♂: Cuba, Mr. H. d. Saussure; Haplopus evadne Westw. [MHNG].

Diagnosis: Similar to P. navarroi n. sp. from Hispaniola but differing by: the larger size and relatively longer mesothorax of both sexes; less distinct pair of tubercles on the vertex ( Fig. 296 ); tuberculate abdominal segments; more decidedly posterolaterally expanded abdominal tergum VII ( Fig. 293 ); broadly truncate apex of the subgenital plate ( Fig. 293 ) and more undulate dorsal carinae of the protibiae of ♀♀. Males differ by the plain greenish brown head ( Fig. 297 ) and more robust legs.

Description: ♀ ( Fig. 290–291 ). Large (body length including the subgenital plate 164.5 mm) and characteristic for the broadly truncate apex of the subgenital plate. Colour greyish to ochraceous brown, with irregular pale grey mottling on dorsal surface of abdomen, meso- and metasternum. Metapleurae and ventral surface of abdomen pale greyish. Antennae pale brown dorsally and reddish mid brown ventrally. Eyes dull ochraceous. Spines of the thorax dull yellow to ochre, those of the mesonotum and pleurae with dark brown tips. Tegmina and costal region of alae greyish mid to dark brown with slight darker mottling in the basal and lateral portions; the venations ochre. Anal region of alae transparent drab and all major longitudinal and transverse veins broadly marked with dark brown.

Head: Ovoid, about 1.3x longer than wide; vertex gently convex and armed with a pair of small cephalad tubercles ( Fig. 296 ); a few small tubercles present near posterior margin. Eyes fairly prominent, circular and contained slightly more than 2x in length of cheeks. Antennae broken in both specimens available, but at least reaching to posterior of metanotum and consisting of> 50 segments. Scapus 2.2x longer than wide with the lateral margins gently rounded and slightly constricted towards the base. Pedicellus about half the length of scapus and longer than III, roughly cylindrical.

Thorax: Pronotum about equal in length but slightly narrower than head, 1.6x longer than wide, roughly rectangular and with the lateral margins gently emarginated medially. Transverse median sulcus distinct, gently curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment. Dorsal surface with a pair of spiniform tubercles just in front of the median sulcus and in posterior portion with several small, irregularly disposed tubercles ( Fig. 296 ). Probasisternum with a transverse row of four pointed tubercles. Profurcasternum with a few small tubercles along lateral margins. Mesothorax about 2.2x longer than head and pronotum combined, constricted at the anterior and conspicuously swollen medially. Mesonotum slightly widening towards the mid of segment, median portion swollen and in posterior portion almost parallel-sided. Surface with a fine longitudinal median carina and with a good number of very prominent, irregularly paired, conical spines of variable sizes; usually with two strongly enlarged pairs of spines in anterior half ( Fig. 296 ). Along lateral margins with a marginal row of about 16 pointed spines. Mesopleurae armed with a longitudinal row of about 20 rather prominent and acute spines, metapleurae merely with a marginal row of eight tubercles. Mesosternum all over covered with irregularly disposed short spines, metasternum only with a few tubercles. Tegmina broadly ovate, coriaceous, with the venation very distinct, dense and irregularly disposed; roughly reaching to posterior margin of metanotum. The median protuberance very shallow. Alae a little longer than tegmina and reaching about 2/3 the way along median segment.

Abdomen: Median segment 1.8x longer than wide and very gently narrowed medially, in posterior portion with two small granules. Tergites II and III each with a few scattered tubercles, II–V with a transverse row of four tubercles along posterior margin and sternites II–IV each with a small median pair of tubercles; remaining segments unarmed. Segment II about 1.2x longer than median segment but shorter than III, rectangular and about 1.7x longer than wide. III–VI roughly equal in length and slightly longer than II, on average about 1.6x longer than wide. Tergum VII shorter and narrower than VI and about 1.7x longer than wide, lateral margins roundly deflexed posteriorly ( Fig. 293 ). Sternum VII with the praeopercular organ formed by an elongate wart-like structure near posterior margin ( Fig. 344 ). Tergum VIII about ¾ the length of VII, gently narrowed medially and roughly 1.4x longer than wide. IX almost rectangular and about half the length of VIII. Anal segment with a very faint longitudinal median carina, narrowed in posterior half and with a deep but narrow posteromedian emargination; epiproct very small ( Fig. 295 ). Cerci very small and conical. Subgenital plate very long, naviculate, longitudinally carinate, gradually flattened and widened towards a broad and roundly truncate apex; extending over abdomen by more than the combined length of tergites VIII–X ( Figs. 293–294 ).

Legs: Profemora about 3/5, mesofemora about 2/3 the length of mesothorax and metafemora just not reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment III. Medioventral carina of profemora with 7–9 small spines, in meso- and metafemora armed with five very prominent and strong, back-curving spines. Anterodorsal carina of profemora strongly raised and slightly undulate, the anterodorsal carina of the protibiae lamellate and furnished with four rounded lobes. Anteroventral carina of meso- and metafemora with two, posteroventral carina with one strong subapical spine; both carinae minutely granulose. Both dorsal carinae with a slight triangular lobe-like tooth subapically. Anterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae with a roundly triangular elevation sub-basally and subapically. Probasitarsus about as long as the following two tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina rounded. Meso- and metabasitarsi simple and just a little longer than 2nd tarsomere.

♂ ( Fig. 292 ). Unfortunately, the terminal abdominal segments are broken off and missing in the only specimen available. Of moderate size and fairly slender for the genus. Colour greenish brown, the posterior portion of the pronotum and bases of the profemora dull green. Ventral surface of body and profemora mostly whitish to pale grey with darker speckles, metapleurae green. Cheeks with a slight dark brown wash ( Fig. 297 ). Apices of all femora mid brown. Dorsal spines of pro- and mesothorax with black tips, those of the mesopleurae and sternum dark olive. Tegmina and costal region of alae with anterior margin white, then a broad brown longitudinal band, and innermost portion green. Anal region of alae pale transparent pink with a slight greyish hue along the outer margin. Antennae dark ochracheous with a few dark brown transverse bands, tarsi pale brown.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀ but vertex flattened and smooth except for two small cephalad spines ( Fig. 297 ); eyes much more prominent, projecting hemispherically and their length contained only about 1.8x in that of cheeks. Antennae moderately robust and projecting over posterior margin of median segment; consisting of 61 segments. Otherwise as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head with the lateral margins gently concave medially; surface smooth ( Fig. 297 ). Transverse median sulcus shallow, gently rounded and just not reaching lateral margins of segment. Probasisternum with a small median pair of granules. Mesothorax about 1.9x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum armed with about ten distinct paired spines in the anterior 2/3. Mesopleurae with a longitudinal row of acute tubercles, metapleurae only with a few small granules. Mesosternum with numerous irregular low spiniform tubercles; metasternum smooth. Tegmina oval and reaching about ¼ the way along median segment, central protuberance roundly conical. Alae almost reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment VI (46.0 mm).

Abdomen: Segments II-V roughly equal in length and about 3.6x longer than wide; all unarmed. VI slightly shorter than previous and hardly 3x longer than wide. Remaining segments missing in the unique specimen available.

Legs: Legs all fairly short and moderately robust. Profemora very slightly longer, and mesofemora a little shorter than mesothorax, metafemora projecting a little over posterior margin of abdominal segment III. All less carinate than in ♀♀ and lacking any dorsal elevations or teeth. Armature of medioventral carina of the femora as in ♀♀ but considerably less developed. Tarsi relatively more elongate, probasitarsus almost equal in length to following three tarsomeres combined, meso- and metabasitarsus about as long as combined length of following two segments. Dorsal carina of probasitarsus gently rounded.

Comments: Brief examination of the ♀ recorded by Moxey (1971: 95, in litt.) from Isla de Turiguano in ANSP has shown this to be a distinct species, hence this is an erroneous record (→ Haplopus sobrinus n. sp.). Eggs unknown.

Distribution: Cuba (Camagüey & Oriente, Santiago de Cuba [USNM; Moxey, 1972: 97, in litt.]); NW- Cuba (Havanna) [MNHN].

Number of specimens examined: 3

Figures

FIGURES 290 – 292. Parhaplopus cubensis (Saussure, 1868) n. gen., n. comb .. 290. ♀: Cuba, Havanna [MNHN]; 291. ♀ HT: Cuba [MHNG]; 292. ♂: Cuba [MHNG].

FIGURES 293 – 297. Parhaplopus cubensis (Saussure, 1868) n. gen., n. comb .. 293. ♀ apex of abdomen: Cuba, Havana (dorsal view) [MNHN]; 294. ♀ apex of abdomen: Cuba, Havana (lateral view) [MNHN]; 295. Anal segment and epiproct of ♀ HT (dorsal view) [MHNG]; 296. Head, pro- and mesothorax of ♀ HT [MHNG]; 297. Head and pronotum of ♂ [MHNG].

FIGURES 342 – 348. Ventral view of abdominal sternum VII of ♀♀ showing the praeopercular organ. 342. Haplopus sobrinus n. sp. ♀ HT: Cuba, Camagüey [ANSP]; 343. Parhaplopus navarroi n. gen., n. sp. ♀ PT: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo Province, Santo Domingo [USNM]; 344. Parhaplopus cubensis (Saussure, 1868) n. gen., n. comb. ♀: Cuba, Havana [MNHN]; 345. Diapherodes venustula (Audinet-Serville, 1838) n. gen., n. comb. ♀: captive reared from NW-Cuba, Pinar del Rio [coll. FH, No. 0599 - 3]; 346. Diapherodes angulata (Fabricius, 1793) ♀ NT: Guadeloupe [MNHN]; 347. Diapherodes dominicae Rehn & Hebard, 1938 ♀ HT: Dominica [ANSP]; 348. Diapherodes gigantea gigantea (Gmélin, 1789) ♀: captive reared from Grenada [coll. FH, No. 0359 - 1].