Pharnaciini Günther, 1953

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2008, Revision of Oriental Phasmatodea: The tribe Pharnaciini Günther, 1953, including the description of the world's longest insect, and a survey of the family Phasmatidae Gray, 1835 with keys to the subfamilies and tribes (Phasmatodea: " Anareolatae ": Phasmatidae), Zootaxa 1906, pp. 1-316 : 66

5.1 Pharnaciini Günther, 1953

( Figs. 20–22, 35, 40 46, 54, 76–77, 82)

Type genus: Pharnacia Stål, 1877: 40 .

Pharnaciini Günther, 1953: 555 (in part). → for a complete list see chapter 6.

Pharnaciini are distributed over great parts of the Oriental region, including complete Sundaland and as far west as western India with the most northern dispersal being Bhutan and northern Central China (→ Fig. 1).

The tribe includes some of the world’s longest Phasmatodea and exhibits less primitive characters than the more derived Clitumnini . The mesothorax is usually smooth and destitute of spines (exception Phobaeticus foliatus (Bragg)) . The insects exhibit strong sexual dimorphism with ♂♂ much smaller and more slender than ♀♀. ♀♀ are apterous, ♂♂ either fully winged, brachypterous or apterous as well. The median segment is of variable length; it is equal in length or even slightly longer than the metanotum in taxa with winged ♂♂, and shorter but at least ¼ the length of the metanotum in taxa with apterous ♂♂. Ocelli are absent. The seventh abdominal tergite is more or less distinctly dilated posterolaterally (♀♀ in particular). ♀♀ of most taxa exhibit a prominent praeopercular organ on sternum VII, often formed by a pair of spine-like appendages or lobes. The semi-tergites of the ♂♂ anal segment are either short and roughly triangular in lateral aspect, or more or less prominently elevated apically, being ± elongate, slender and finger-like. The interior surfaces are in the apical portion either densely armed with minute teeth or bear a longitudinal, dentate bulge (= “ Dornenfeld”, Figs. 35 & 40). The cerci are small, usually cylindrical or oval in cross-section but my be laterally compressed and sickle-shaped in certain species. The external vomer of ♂♂ is strongly reduced and hidden underneath sternum XI (= paraproct). Sometimes it is seen to be an elongate, straight, tube-like or papillate organ ( Fig. 40), or in Baculonistria gen. nov. is represented as a conspicuous “Y”-shaped sclerotised structure. The antennae of ♂♂ are slightly longer than those of the corresponding ♀♀, but at best slightly longer than the head and complete thorax combined; with> 25 segments. The scapus is simple and slender. All antennomeres are elongate and distinctly longer than wide (exception Baculonistria gen. nov.). Most carinae of the legs are more or less prominently spinose, serrate or armed with foliaceous lobes. The medioventral carina of the meso- and metafemora is spinose.

Eggs of Pharnaciini are similar to those of Phasmatinae : Phasmatini or Tropidoderinae : Tropidoderini ( Phasmatidae s. str.), mostly being of an ovoid or spherical general shape (Fig. 54a). In some cases the capsule is laterally compressed, lens-shaped and surrounded by a more or less prominent dorsoventral keel which may be considerably elevated. The micropylar plate is of a variable shape, either being transverse and kidneyshaped ( Phobaeticus ), lanceolate and pointed towards the anterior ( Phryganistria ), or shaped like an inverted “Y” ( Pharnacia and Tirachoidea ). Internally the plate is open and has a median line (Fig. 54b). The operculum always bears a distinct hat or knob-like, stalked capitulum.

The broader taxa of Pharnaciini with pterous ♂♂ show remarkable habitual similarities to certain genera of taxa of Phasmatinae : Phasmatini ( Phasmatidae s. str.), and some ♀♀ may at first glance appear like wingless forms of Phasmatini . Examples include Tirachoidea and Peloriana Uvarov, 1940 or Phobaeticus and Ctenomorpha Gray, 1833 .

A complete revision of Pharnaciini at the species level and a detailed new diagnosis is provided below (→ 6.).