Pharnacia borneensis, Hennemann & Conle, 2008

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 : 99-103

Pharnacia borneensis spec. nov.

( Figs. 94–95, 153–154, 197–199, 352, 371)

HT, ♂: N-Borneo, Mt. Kinabalu, Mesilau Camp., 1.–5.IV.1964, 5000 ft., Royal Soc. Exped., Coll. S. Kueh, BM 1964-

250 ( BMNH). PT, ♀: Brunei, Badas, swamp forest, leg. M. Herbert 1995 (coll. MH). PT, ♀: Borneo Exped. Dr. Nieuwenhuis, Mahakam Riv, 1894, Pharnacia rigida K. Günther det. ( RMNH). PT, ♂: Sabah, just outside Kinabalu Park HQ, found dead on ground, killed by domestic cat, P.E. Bragg 26-8-2001 (coll.

PEB, No. 3152). PT, ♂: Sabah, just outside Kinabalu Park HQ area, P.E. Bragg, 11.XII.2006 (coll. PEB, No. 3550). PT, ♂: Sabah, Kinabalu N. P. 26.IX.–15.XI.83 A. Harman, 5,000 ft. (coll. AJH). PT, ♂: Sabah (N. Borneo), Kudasang , 24. May 1984, Coll. C. L. Chan & J. Cocking (coll. CLC). PT, ♂: Kinabalu N.P., May 1986, C.L. Chan (coll. CLC). PT, ♂: Sabah, Kinabalu Park , Sabah E. Malaysia, 18.10.1993, leg. Patrick Gindal ( KNP, No. SP-EPH-00017). PT, ♂: P.H.Q., Kinabalu, 9.11.2001, Coll. Sinail. D. ( KNP, No. SP-EPH-00018). PT, ♂: Kinabalu Park HQ, Alt 1650 m, 08/May/2006, Coll: Sinail Dunsul ( KNP, No. SP-EPH-01288). PT, 10 eggs: Borneo, Brunei, Badas, swamp forest, leg. M. Herbert 1995 (coll. FH, No’s 0402-E & 0402-MP). PT, 2 eggs: Borneo, Brunei, Badas, swamp forest, leg. M. Herbert 1995, ex coll. F. Hennemann (coll. PEB) .

Pharnacia rigida, Günther, 1943: 155 . [Misidentification]

Baculolonga rigida, Bragg, 2001: 385 , map 24B. [Relating to misidentified specimen of Günther, 1943: 155]

Further material [2 ♀♀]:

BORNEO (SABAH):

1 ♀: Sabah, Tenom, Ulu Kallang , May 2004, Mornin B., Richard L.A. & Willibrord J. ( FRCS) ; 1 ♀: Sabah, Bandukan Park, Keningau , 20.07.1993, coll. Matth. Allai ( FRCS) .

Diagnosis: Closely related to Ph. sumatrana (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) from Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java and the type species Ph. ponderosa Stål, 1877 endemic to the Philippines. Apart from being endemic in Borneo it is easily distinguished from Ph. sumatrana by: the much smaller size of both sexes; distinctly less prominent armature of the legs and lack of red or purplish sports on the meso- and metasternum of ♀♀; as well as the slightly more elongate and apically less strongly constricted, semi-tergites of the anal segment and much longer and more slender cerci of ♂♂. The eggs differ by the smaller dimensions, more slender micropylar plate and having the polar-area flattened.

From Ph. ponderosa is can be distinguished by: the smaller size and more slender body and more distinct triangular dorsal lobe of the meso- and metatibiae of of both sexes (may sometimes be present in ponderosa ); the smaller lateral lobes of tergite VII; much longer cerci, and more elongate, apically tapered, roughly triangular semi-tergites of the anal segment of ♂♂. The eggs are smaller and have the polar-area not conspicuously indented and the micropylar plate differently shaped with the anterior apex rounded instead of elevated and truncate as in Ph. ponderosa .

Etymology: The name refers to the distribution of this species. It is endemic in Borneo and the only representative of Pharnacia Stål, 1877 known from the island so far.

Description: ♀♀ ( Fig. 92): Moderately sized (body length 180.0– 184.3 mm) and rather robust species (maximum body width 10.0–11.0 mm). General colouration of body and legs dull green with irregular brown mottling, or pale to dark yellowish or greyish brown with lighter brown to pale greyish mottling and speckles; often with shallow whitish portions on the head, pronotum, mesonotum and abdomen. The ♀ PT in RMNH is dark greyish brown and has a broad whitish longitudinal median stripe running along the complete dorsal surface of the head and body. Eyes greyish brown. Antennae mid brown.

Head: Oval, 1.7x longer than wide, oval in cross-section, vertex gently convex, posterior margin slightly pointed medially. A fine transverse impressed line between the bases of the antennae. Eyes circular and moderately convex; their length contained almost 4x in that of cheek. Antennae almost reaching to middle of mesonotum, segments increasing in length towards apices. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, parallel-sided, almost 3x longer than wide. Pedicellus cylindrical, about 1/3 the length of scapus.

94. Pharnacia borneensis spec. nov., 1908, ♀ PT, Brunei, Badas (coll. MH)

95. Pharnacia borneensis spec. nov., ♂ PT, Sabah, Mount Kinabalu (coll. PEB, No. 3550)

96. Pharnacia tirachus ( Westwood, 1859) , ♀ West Malaysia, Perak ( ZMUH)

97. Pharnacia tirachus ( Westwood, 1859) , ♂ Java, Mount Gede, Tjibodas ( MNHU)

Thorax: Pronotum rectangular, almost parallel-sided and about 1.4x longer than wide, distinctly shorter and narrower than head. Median transverse depression distinct and {-shaped, median line strongly impressed in anterior half of segment. Mesothorax of moderate length, about 2x longer than of head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum parallel-sided and very slightly constricted anteriorly. Metanotum parallel-sided, 2x longer than wide, less than half the length of mesonotum.

Abdomen: Median segment slightly more than 2/3 the length of metanotum, 1.3x longer than wide and parallel-sided. Segments II–VI increasing in length, II indistinctly longer than wide, III 1.5x, IV 2x longer than wide, all parallel-sided. Tergite VII slightly narrower and shorter than previous, Tergite VII ¾ the length of VI and in posterior half expanded into a narrow, very widely triangular lobe, which laterally extends by less than ¼ the width of the segment. Sternites II–VII smooth except for a fine longitudinal carina along lateral margins. Tergite VIII equal in length to previous but distinctly narrower, constricted medially, convex and 2.5x longer than wide. IX less than half the length of VIII, strongly convex and roughly quadrate. Anal segment as long as IX and with a faint median carina; posterior margin with a broad, [-shaped median excavation, posterolateral angles short and slightly truncate (Fig. 198). Supraanal plate short, roundly truncate, keeled and just not reaching apex of anal segment. Cerci small, laterally compressed, gently up-curving and slightly projecting over apex of anal segment. Gonapophyses elongate, slender, distinctly up-curving and projecting over anal segment. Subgenital plate strongly keeled, boat-shaped and projecting over apex of abdomen by about half the length of anal segment (Fig. 197).

Legs: All moderately long and of moderate strength for the genus, profemora a little longer than mesothorax, metafemora slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and hind tarsi just not reaching tip of abdomen. All carinae minutely but densely serrate (more sparingly on dorsal carinae of mid- and hind legs). Meso and metafemora very slightly broadened basally. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 12–15 acute triangular serrations, posteroventral carina with a similar number of rather pointed teeth. Medioventral carinae of meso- and metafemora with a row of 7–9 small spines. Posterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae with a distinct triangular lobe about 1/3 off the base and apically forming a slightly rounded lobe. All carinae of basitarsi minutely serrate, dorsal carina slightly raised (very gently rounded on meso- and metabasitarsus). Probasitarsus as long as remaining tarsomeres combined except claw. Meso- and metabasitarsus as long as combined length of following three tarsomeres.

♂♂ ( Fig. 93): Rather small (body length 103.8–110.0 mm) for the genus, moderately slender and with very long alae (62.0– 67.4 mm). General colouration of body and legs variable, ranging from yellowish over greenish to reddish mid brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae mid brown and sometimes greenish, the latter with irregular whitish markings. Head with irregular darker brown to black markings on the cheeks and five more or less parallel lines of small black spots on the vertex. Meso- and metasternum mid to dark green. Metapleurae green with posterior portion brown. Sternites of abdomen with irregular white markings and speckles. Anterior margin of tegmina and alae with a yellowish white longitudinal line, which only runs about 1/3 the way along the alae. Anal region of alae transparent grey with darker veins. All femora with indistinct greyish mottling. Antennae pale to mid brown and becoming darker brown towards the apex.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀, 1.6x longer than wide but eyes more prominent, strongly convex and projecting hemispherically; their length contained about 2.5x in that of cheek. Antennae consisting of 30 segments and reaching at least half way along abdominal tergite III. Segments distinctly increasing in length towards apices. Scapus und pedicellus as in ♀♀. Third antennomere about 2.5x longer than pedicellus. All antennomeres finely bristled.

Thorax: Pronotum as in ♀♀, 1.5x longer than wide, distinctly narrower and shorter than head. Mesonotum very slightly broadened at posterior margin. Mesonotum and metapleurae irregularly set with a few small granules. Metanotum very short. Mesosternum with a very faint longitudinal median carina which terminates about half the weavy along segment. Tegmina oval, constricted basally, almost 2x longer than wide and with a blunt conical central hump. Alae ± reaching posterior margin of abdominal tergite VI.

Abdomen: Median segment 2x longer than metanotum. Segments II–VI ± 4x longer than wide and very slightly constricted medially. Tergite VII ¾ the length of VI and posteriorly dilated into a rounded lobe, which laterally extends by almost half the width of the segment. VIII slightly shorter than previous, strongly swollen and widening towards posterior; posterior margin almost 2x broader than anterior margin. IX distinctly narrower than previous, 2x longer than wide, constricted medially. Anal segment about 1.2x longer than IX. Semi-tergites rather slender, triangular and gradually tapered towards an acute apex (Fig. 199). Cerci very elongate, about 2/3 the length of anal segment and slightly projecting over apex of abdomen; cylindrical, slightly up-curving and laterally compressed at the apex. Poculum strongly convex, cup-like, with a conical hump at the angle and reaching about 2/3 the way along tergite IX.

Legs: Generally as in ♀♀ but relatively longer, more slender and with the spination more decided. Profemora about as long as head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora longer than mesonotum, metafemora reaching about 1/3 the way along abdominal tergite V and hind tarsi projecting over apex of abdomen. Meso- and metatibiae often lacking the triangular median lobe on posterodorsal carina.

Eggs (Figs. 153–154, 352): The following description is based on a number of eggs which were laid by the ♀ PT from Brunei (Badas) in coll. MH. Unfortunately, the capitulum is missing in all examples at hand.

Medium-sized, capsule slightly laterally compressed and oval in cross-section, longer than high. Seen laterally the polar-area is slightly truncate. Capsule surrounded by a faint dorsoventral keel, beginning and ending at operculum. General colouration of capsule and micropylar plate greyish mid brown, operculum blackish. Capsule surface densely but very minutely granulated. Micropylar plate gently raised with the outer margin darker brown. General shape like a bold inverted Y; all three extension rounded at apices. Median line short, not extending over posterior of micropylar plate. Micropylar cup small, rounded and placed in centre of the posteromedian gap of the plate. Operculum flat, oval and with a white cone-shaped, capitular stalk in the centre.

Measurements [mm]: length 3.9–4.1, width 3.2–3.3, height 3.7–3.8, length of micropylar plate 2.8–3.0.

Comments: Examination of the ♀ from Mahakam, Borneo in RMNH, which was erroneously identified as Pharnacia rigida Redtenbacher by Günther (1943: 155), has proven this to represent a specimen of Ph. borneensis spec. nov., here designated a PT. Ph. rigida Redtenbacher, 1908 , a synonym of Ph. sumatrana (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 (syn. nov.)., is restricted to Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Java and although closely related easily distinguished from the Bornean Ph. borneensis spec. nov. by numerous morphological features (see diagnosis above). Already Bragg (2001: 385) doubted this Bornean specimen really was Ph. rigida and provided a brief characterization and measurements.

During a one-day visit at Mulu National Park (Sarawak) in August 1994 the first author observed a dark green ♀ on the hand rail of the main plank-walk, that leads from the park headquarters to “Deer Cave”. As seen from the recorded localities Ph. borneensis spec. nov. has a wide distributional range in the northern half of Borneo, which comprises Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and the northern portions of Kalimantan, but appears to be rather uncommon .

Distribution (Fig. 371): Northern and Central Borneo, endemic. Sabah (Mt. Kinabalu, Mesilau 5000 ft. & Kinabalu Park Headquarters 1500 m), Brunei (Badas, swamp forest), Sarawak (Mulu National Park, near Dear Cave & Kuching) and Kalimantan (Mahakam River).

Number of specimens examined: 13