Phobaeticus serratipes ( Gray, 1835 )

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 : 182-188

Phobaeticus serratipes ( Gray, 1835)

(Figs. 76, 112–113, 169–170, 243–245, 305–306, 332–333, 343–344, 354, 360, 392, 420)

Cladoxerus serratipes Gray, 1835: 42 . HT, ♂: 40-42-1316, Mal.; Type; serratipes G.R. Gray ; Malaysia, Cladoxerus serratipes Gray , Cladoxerus serratipes Malabar (BMNH) .

Phibalosoma serratipes, Westwood, 1859: 75 . Stål, 1875: 63.

Pharnacia serratipes, Kirby, 1904a: 359 . Hennemann, 1993: 45, figs. 1–6. Brock, 1995: 94. Seow-Choen, 1995: 12. Lipinski et al., 1999: 80, fig. 36a–h (REM-study of egg).

Phobaeticus serratipes, Brock, 1996: 29 . Seow-Choen, 1996: 32. Seow-Choen, 1997: 120, figs. 102–103. Seow-Choen, 1998a: 41. Seow-Choen, 1998b: 89. Brock, 1999: 133, 182, figs. 89a–b (♂), 90a–b (♀), 90c (egg), pl. 25 (egg), 27 (♀). Seow-Choen, 2000: 38, pl. 96 (♂, ♀, egg). Otte & Brock, 2005: 269.

Baculolonga serratipes, Hennemann & Conle, 1997a: 347 , figs. 8–9 (egg). Bragg, 2001: 385, fig. 145 (♂, egg)

Bacteria acanthopus Burmeister, 1838: 565 . HT, ♀: 749; acanthophus Westw.*, Bacteria acanthopus Burm. *, Singapore (MNHU). [Synonymised by Kirby, 1904: 359] Zompro, 2005b: 253.

Phibalosoma acanthopus, Westwood, 1859: 74 . Stål, 1875: 63.

Pharnacia acanthopus, Redtenbacher, 1908: 454 , pl. 21: 8 (♂). Giglio-Tos, 1910: 43. Werner, 1934: 2. Herbert, 1988: 9. Carlberg, 1988: 17. Carlberg, 1989a: 9. Carlberg, 1989b: 159.

Bactridium grande Rehn, 1920: 242 , pl. 10: 12 (♀). HT, ♀: Sta. Catharina, Brazil; Bactridium grande Rehn Holotype; No. 401 (ANSP). [locality erroneous] syn. nov.

Heteronemia grande, Otte & Brock, 2005: 158 .

Phibalosoma maximum Bates, 1865: 341 . HT, ♀: Sumatra, Wallace ; Phibalosoma maximum Bates ; Type, Bates, Phiba-

losoma maximum ; E. coll. (1830-73), W.W. Saunders, Purchased and pres.´73 by Mrs. F.W. Hope (OXUM, Nr. 622) syn. nov.

Pharnacia maxima, Kirby, 1904a: 359 (in part).

Redtenbacher, 1908: 450. [Only ♀♀; ♂ is Tirachoidea jiandenglingenis ( Bi, 1994) ]

Phobaeticus maximus, Otte & Brock, 2005: 269 .

Tirachoidea maxima, Karny, 1923: 240 .

Tirachoidea ajax Redtenbacher , in litt. [Specimens in ZMUH]

[Not: Pharnacia serratipes, Kirby, 1896: 450 . Misidentification relating to Phobaeticus kirbyi Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907]

[Not: Phasma (Cladoxerus) acanthopus, de Haan, 1842: 131 . Misidentification relating to Pharnacia biceps Redtenbacher, 1908: 451 ]

[Not: Phibalosoma acanthopus, Wood-Mason, 1877a: 161 . Misidentification. Described as Pharnacia ingens Redtenbacher, 1908: 453 but ♀ PLT from Myanmar (Upper Tenasserim: Moolai to Moolat) is Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 ]

[Not: Pharnacia maxima, Kirby, 1904a: 359 . Misidentification relating to Phobaeticus kirbyi Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907]

Further material: [40 ♀♀, 34 ♂♂, 10 nymphs, eggs]:

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA:

5 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂: Grubauer 1902, Kwala Kangsar, Perak , Mus. Caes. Vindobon; 24.459 & 23.811 ( NHMW, No. 454) ; 2 ♀♀: Coll. Br. v. W., Malacca, Perak; 25.136 ( NHMW, No. 454) ; 1 ♂ (nymph): Coll. Br. v. W., Malacca, Perak ( NHMW, No. 454) ; 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂: W-Malaysia, Perak, leg. Grubauer, B. Jachau vend. 15.12.1901 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂: W-Malaysia, Perak, leg. Kinstler 31.I.1887 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀ (penultimate instar), 1 ♂ (penultimate instar): Perak, Kwala Kangsar, B. Jachau vend. 1.4.1901 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♂: Camp Jor, Wasserscheide zw. Perak und Pahang ( Malakka-Gebiet ), Alb. Grubauer leg.; vend. 30.12.1902 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♂: W-Malaysia, Perak, Tapah Hills , ca. 400 m, via Wong T.F. 10. 1993 (coll. FH, No. 0030-1) ; 3 ♀♀, 5 ♂♂: ex Zucht: F: Hennemann 1994, urspr. W-Malaysia, Perak (coll. FH, No’s 0030-2 to 9) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂: ex Zucht. F. Hennemann 1997, urspr.: W-Malaysia (coll. FH, No’s 0030-10 & 11); 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂, 1 ♂ (nymph): ex. Zucht O. Conle 1994, urspr. W-Malaysia (coll. OC, No’s 00201-204); 1 ♂: Penang, 96-85, " Hind wings used for drawings (Ragge)" ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: Perak 1904-117 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀: Perak 1904-117, Pharnacia acanthopus , Kuala Kangsar, Perak ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀: Penang ( BMNH) ; 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂: W-Malaysia, Cameron Highlands 2000ft., 20.– 30.5.1972, leg. C.C. Chua, BM 1975-604 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: Perak, F.M. S., Batang-Padang, Kuala Woh , "at light", ex. F.M.S. Mus., BM 1955-354 ( BMNH) ; 3 ♀♀, 1 ♂ (nymphs): Cameron Highlands 2000ft, 3.4.1972 – 23.2.1973 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: Malay, Penin. Jos. Camp 2000ft., 19.9.1922 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: Malay, Penin, Kedah Peak 3300ft., 26.3.1928, ex. F.M.S. Mus., BM 1955- 354 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: Penang, leg. Cantor ( OXUM) ; 1 ♀: Perak, Kwala-Kangsar ( MHNG) ; 2 ♀♀: Cameron Highlands , Perak, Malaysia, 1200–1600 m, achat Pfanner 1970 ( MHNG) ; 1 ♀: Malaisie, Perak, Cameron Highl. , 1200–1600 m, leg. Pfanner ( MHNG) ; 2 ♂♂: Malaisie, Elevage 1986, Don N. Mal ( ISNB) ; 1 ♀: Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Taikong , Aug. 1931, H.M. Pendlebury ( RMNH) ; 1 ♀ (nymphs): Malay Penin. , Kedah, Perak, 3.300 ft., 25.3.1928 ; 1 ♀ (nymph): Malay Penin. , Kedah, Perak, 3.300 –3.978 ft., 29.3.1928 ( RMNH) ; 1 ♀: Malaysia (Penins. Malacca), Perak, Gopeng , II. 1983, (acqistato indeterminato da G. Russo, Bologna, nel 1985); Pharnacia acanthopus (Burmeister) , det. R. Poggi 1985 ( MCSN) ; 1 ♀: Perak, Malacca, coll. Giglio-Tos ( MRSN) ; 1 ♂: Malacca, Künstler leg. ( MNHU) ; 2 ♀♀: Perak, Malakka; Collection A. Finot, Phryganistria sarmentosa Westwood ( MNHN, coll. Finot, Box-No. 279) ; 1 ♀: Sungei-Sipoet , Perak ( ZSMC) .

SUMATRA:

1 ♂: Sumatra , Medan , Siboelangit, Batak Plateau, leg. Grubauer; B. Jachau vend. 1899 15.7.1900 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♂: Sumatra , Indragiri, leg. W. Burchard 18.XII.1905; Tirachoidea ajax Redt. , Type. Männchen Type in Hauptsammlung, nomen nudum! ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♀: Sumatra , Indragiri, Somgai-Lulah, leg. W. Burchard 20.7.1904; Tirachoidea ajax Redt. , Type. Männchen Type in Hauptsammlung, nomen nudum! ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♂: NO-Sumatra, Banda-Kwala , leg. P. Puttfurchen 5. 8.1898 ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♀: Sumatra , Padang distr., leg. Van der Poll, Coll. Brought of Janson 1909, 1909-695, Buy. Proepoe, Pad. Bovenland, ± 1600, 5.-8.´98 (Collector D.) ( OXUM) ; 1 ♀ (nymph): Indrapoera , Sumatra, leg. Weyers ( ISNB) ; 1 ♂: Tamjang , Sumatra, V. Nill leg., det. W. Potvin ( ISNB) ; 1 ♂: Palambay , Sumatra; " Cladoxerus acanthopus " K. Günther det. ( RMNH) ; 1 ♀: Sumatra , Modigliani; Best. Verz. Nr. 76 ( MCSN) ; 1 ♂ (nymph): Sumatra, D. Martin, (95/ 6) ( ZSMC) ; 1 ♂: Sumatra , ex coll. Le Moult ( MNCN) .

NO DATA:

1 ♂: aus Zucht ( MNHU) ; 1 ♂: ex Zucht: O. Zompro, det. O. Zompro VI.1993 ( MNHU) ; 1 ♂: no data ( MNHN) ; 1 ♀: Ent. - Club 44-12 ( BMNH) .

Diagnosis: Related to Ph. kirbyi Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907 and Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov. from Borneo and the Sumatran Ph. sobrinus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907. From the first species it is readily distinguished by: the more elongate and flat head (Figs. 305–306); densely serrate posteroventral carina of the profemora of both sexes (Figs. 343–344); longer subgenital plate which roughly reaches the apex of the anal segment (Fig. 243) and longer, more slender lobes of the praeopercular organ of ♀♀; more slender and parallel-sided semitergites of the anal segment (Fig. 245) and lack of a black ventrolateral marking on the cheeks of ♂♂ (Fig. 306); as well as the kidney-shaped micropylar plate and lack of radial ridges on the posteroventral keel of the egg capsule (Figs. 169–170). From Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov. it at once differs by: the smaller size and less elongate, more robust body; relatively shorter body segments; much more prominent triangular lobes of the praeopercular organ; lack of a conspicuous sub-basal spine on the two outer ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora (Figs. 332–333) and more numerous serrations of the profemora of ♀♀, as well as the considerably shorter alae, relatively longer legs and much more elongate and slender semi-tergites of the anal segment of ♂♂ (Fig. 245). Eggs clearly differ by lacking the leaf-like appendages of the dorsoventral keel of the eggcapsule seen in Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov.. From the smaller Ph. sobrinus it can be distinguished by: the longer median segment of both sexes; lack of the prominent lobes on the dorsal and ventral carinae of the protibiae, mesofemora as well as the meso- and metatibiae of ♀♀; presence of tegmina and alae, more distinct leg spination; more acutely pointed hump of the poculum and roundly angulate anterodorsal crest of the anal segment of ♂♂ (Fig. 245).

Etymology: The specific name serratipes is a combination of the two Latin words “ serratus ” (= serrate) and “ pes ” (= foot) to refer to the distinct black serrations of the extremities of ♂♂, the original sex described.

Description: ♀♀ (Fig. 76, 112): Very long (body length 228.0–278.0 mm) and slender species (maximum body width 5.0–6.0 mm), subgenital plate not extending over tip of abdomen. Variable in size, colouration and armature of the mid legs. General colouration of body and legs pale to dark green or brown, either uniformly coloured or with darker speckles. Occasionally green specimens may have the anterior portion of abdominal VIII brown to dark brown. Sometimes specimens occur which have distinct white dorsal markings or most of the dorsal body surface white. Along lateral margins of the mesonotum with a fine, orange longitudinal line (Fig. 420). Armature of legs orange or pale brown in green specimens and dull reddish brown in brown specimens. Eyes pale ochracheous with sepia brown mottling. Antennae mid to dark brown and blackish ventrally. Scapus and pedicellus mid brown.

Head (Fig. 305): Elongate, oval in cross-section, 1.5x as longer than wide and slightly narrowing towards the posterior. Vertex flat and in posterior half with a slightly impressed longitudinal lines. Between the bases of the antennae with an almost straight, but decided transverse depression. Eyes of moderate size, circular and projecting strongly from head capsule; their length contained about 2.3x in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of metanotum. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, more than 3x as longer as wide and very gently constricted towards the base, 2.5x longer than pedicellus. Pedicellus round in cross-section and indistinctly longer than wide. III about as long as pedicellus, following antennomeres first increasing then decreasing in length towards apices of antennae.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly narrower and indistinctly shorter than head, gently constricted pre-medially and posterior margin a little broader than anterior margin. Transverse median depression distinct, slightly curved but not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax 3.1–3.2x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided. Metanotum about 1/3 the length of mesonotum, 3.5x longer than wide and rectangular. Meso- and metasternum simple.

Abdomen: Median segment slightly shorter than metanotum, 3x longer than wide and gently constricted medially. Segments II–VI slightly increasing in length, II 2.3x, IV about 3x and VI 4x longer than wide; VII as long as III. Tergite VII with lateral margins gently rounded in posterior portion. Praeopercular organ formed by two prominent triangular, carinate and slightly sickle-shaped lobes at posterior margin of sternum VII (Fig. 360). Tergite VIII distinctly narrower than previous, ¾ the length of VII, slightly broadened before apex and roughly 3x longer than wide. IX rectangular, half the length of VIII and about as long as wide. Anal segment longer than IX, with a fine longitudinal median carina and a widely triangular median excavation at posterior margin, posterolateral angles rounded (Fig. 244). Subgenital plate longitudinally keeled, boatshaped and roughly reaching to apex of anal segment (Fig. 243).

Legs: All very long and slender, profemora about as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora a little longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching about ¾ the way along abdominal segment V and metatibiae ± reaching apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora distinctly raised and armed with 20–30 prominent and acutely triangular serrations (Fig. 343). Posteroventral carina with a similar number of considerably smaller but pointed triangular teeth. Dorsal and posteroventral carinae of protibiae very indistinctly and sparsely serrate. Dorsal carinae of meso-. And metafemora only with 2–5 teeth each; single or all of the teeth on the posterior carina of the mesofemora often ± enlarged or sometimes forming triangular, lobe-like teeth (Figs. 332–333). Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora densely and regularly set with pointed teeth of moderate size. Medioventral carina indistinct and armed with a few small spines. All carinae of meso- and metatibiae densely serrate, the dorsal carinae less distinctly although. Posterodorsal carina forming a rounded, dentate lobe at the apex of each tibiae; on mesotibiae occasionally with a ± prominent, triangular tooth medially. Probasitarsus about twice the length of remaining tarsomeres combined, with the dorsal carina distinct but uniformly elevated, a few very minute teeth may be present on ventral carinae. Mesobasitarsi a little shorter, metabasitarsi slightly longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina raised and gradually raised towards the apex, all carinae minutely serrate.

♂♂ ( Fig. 113): Medium-sized to large (body length 133.5–176.5 mm) and very slender for the genus with shortened alae (36.5–42.0 mm) and characteristic black leg armature. Body greenish pale to mid brown, legs greyish-green, tegmina and costal region of alae greyish brown. Lateral margins of mesonotum with a black longitudinal line and a washed, slightly broader blue longitudinal stripe interiorly. Anterior margin of tegmina and alae broadly white and interiorly bounded by a fine longitudinal black stripe. Anal region of alae transparent pale brown with brown veins. Leg armature distinctly black. Eyes reddish ochracheous with brown mottling. Antennae greyish mid to dark brown dorsally and dark brown to black ventrally.

Head (Fig. 306): Generally as in ♀♀ but more distinctly narrowed towards the posterior. Eyes considerably more prominent, relatively larger and projecting hemispherically; their length contained only about 1.8x in that of cheeks. Antennae projecting over abdominal segment III, otherwise as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum distinctly narrower than head, 1.5x longer than wide and trapezoidal, being narrowed towards the anterior. Median transverse depression distinct, gently curved but not reaching to lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax about 3.2x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided except for being very gently widened posteriorly. Metanotum considerably shorter than mesonotum and ony half the length of median segment. Meso- and metasternum with a fine longitudinal median carina. Tegmina elongate, spatulate, strongly narrowed in basal half and with a small, conical central hump. Alae reaching ± half way along abdominal segment III.

Abdomen: Median segment 5x longer than wide and narrowed towards the posterior. Abdominal segments II–V slightly increasing in length, II less than 4x, V 5x longer than wide. VI as long as IV, VII about ¾ the length of VI; all gently constricted medially. Posterior margin of tergite V slightly transversely raised and forming a faint, rounded tubercle medially. Tergite VIII about 2x longer than wide, strongly swollen and gradually widened towards posterior margin. IX a little shorter than VIII, slightly narrowing towards the posterior and constricted medially. Anal segment as long as VII, strongly keeled, laterally compressed and tectiform. Semi-tergites long, slender, straight and with a rounded apex (Fig. 245). Interior surface apically set with numerous slightly back-curving spines. Dorsal margin strongly raised and slightly angular in anterior portion. Cerci elongate, slender, cylindrical in cross-section and in-curving, apex constricted. Poculum strongly convex, cup-like, reaching about 2/3 the way along tergite IX and with a prominent, conical central spine.

Legs: All very long and slender, profemora longer and mesofemora almost as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, metafemora projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatibiae considerably exceeding tip of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 12–20 very prominent and sharp, black triangular serrations; posteroventral carina with a similar number of small teeth (Fig. 344). Mid and hind legs with all carinae distinctly dentate, although much more sparsely on dorsal carinae. Medioventral carina of femora indistinct and with a few minute spines in median section of femur. Meso- and metatibiae occasionally with a slightly enlarged median tooth on posterodorsal carina. Probasitarsus very elongate and slender, 2.5x longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina gently raised, all carinae unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi 2x the length of remaining tarsomeres combined, ventral carinae minutely serrate, dorsal carina unarmed except for a few minute teeth at the apex.

Eggs (Figs. 169–170, 354): Capsule basically lens-shaped, laterally compressed, longer than high. General colouration of capsule and operculum creamish pale brown, keel, capitulum and micropylar plate a darker brown. Capsule surface almost smooth and slightly shiny. Whole capsule surrounded by an acute dorsoventral keel, beginning and ending at the operculum and only interrupted near the polar-area and the micropylar plate. Polar impression widely rounded and slightly displaced towards the micropylar plate. Micropylar plate slightly bilobed and roughly kidney-shaped, with the anterior margin decidedly impressed medially. Outer margin with a dark brown line. Micropylar cup small, rounded and placed in an oval impression at polar end of plate. Median line very short. Operculum flat, oval and in its centre with a roughly cone-shaped capitulum on a short stalk.

Measurements [mm]: length (including capitulum) 5.1–5.7, length 4.2–4.9, width 2.9–3.3, height 3.8–4.2, length of micropylar plate 1.0–1.4, width of micropylar plate 2.3–2.5.

Comments: Gray (1835: 42) originally described Cladoxerus serratipes based on a single ♂ from “Malabar” in BMNH. Bragg (2001: 388) correctly stated the type locality, Malabar in S.W. India, given by Gray (1835: 42) to be rather suspect as there were no subsequent records from this region. The ♂ HT of Ph. serratipes (Gray) in BMNH was labelled “Mal” actually referring to Malacca (Peninsular Malaysia) and perhaps misinterpreted as “Malabar” by Gray himself.

Burmeister (1838: 565) described the corresponding ♀ as Bacteria acanthopus based on a specimen from Singapore in MNHU, which was synonymised with C. serratipes Gray by Kirby (1904a: 359). Westwood (1859) and Stål (1875) had not identified these two species were identical and listed both as valid. Nor did Redtenbacher (1908: 454) who illustrated the supposedly unknown ♂ of Pharnacia acanthopus ( Burmeister, 1838) , but stated this species was likely to be a synonym of Ph. serratipes (Gray) . The 330 mm ♀ that Redtenbacher erroneously attributed to Pharnacia serratipes (Gray) was the misidentified Bornean specimen of Kirby (1896: 450) in BMNH, which had already been described as Phobaeticus kirbyi by Brunner v. Wattenwyl (1907: 185). In Kirby (1904a: 359) decided this tentatively identified Bornean ♀ to be Pharnacia maxima ( Bates, 1865) a species described from Sumatra.

Examination of the HT of Phibalosoma maximum Bates, 1865 in OXUM has shown this to be a fairly typical, brown ♀ of Phobaeticus serratipes (Gray) and hence a junior synonym (syn. nov.). Redtenbacher (1908: 450) listed Pharnacia maxima ( Bates, 1865) as a valid species and described the supposed ♂ based on a specimen from Tonkin (= N-Vietnam) in NHMW, which however is a typical ♂ Tirachoidea jianfenglingensis ( Bi, 1994) . Examination of the ♀ HT of Bactridium grande Rehn, 1920 in ANSP has proven this to be a synonym of Ph. serratipes ( Gray, 1835) and the type locality “Sta. Catharina, Brazil ” to be obviously wrong (syn. nov.).

Wood-Mason (1877a: 161) recorded Phibalosoma acanthopus (Burmeister) from N-Myanmar (Upper Tenasserim, from Moolai to Moolat, 4000–6000 feet) based on a misidentified ♀ which most certainly represented Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 . Redtenbacher (1908: 453) apparently misinterpreted Wood- Mason’s ♀ which made it become the PLT of Pharnacia ingens Redtenbacher, 1908 , a clearly distinct not even congeneric species from the Malabar Coast of SE-India. A typical ♂ and ♀ from Sumatra (Indragiri, Somgai Lulah) and a ♀ collected by Kinstler in Perak in ZMUH bear the unpublished and therefore unavailable manuscript name “ Tirachoidea ajax Redt. ”.

Seow-Choen (1995: 12) described a ♀ from Tasek Chini, Peninsular Malaysia as being the longest insect in the world. The author recorded a body length of 278 mm and an overall length of 555 mm. This is only exceeded by Ph. chani Bragg spec. nov. measuring a maximum body length of 357 mm and 567 mm in overall length. In view of the overall length Ph. serratipes can thus be regarded the second longest extant insect in the world.

Brock (1999: 133) listed numerous records of Ph. serratipes in Peninsular Malaysia, stating it to be quite common in parts of Kedah (Gunung Jerai), Pahang (Genting Highlands, Pulau Tioman & Tasek Chini) and Perak (Kuala Kangsar, Tapah Hills & Ulu Piah). This species is widely distributed in Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra and found at both low and high altitudes. A 3 rd instar nymph was observed in Tanah Rata (Cameron Highlands) at 1500 m by the authors during July 1996. The record “Java” goes back to de Haan (1842: 131) and concerned to misidentified specimens of Pharnacia biceps ( Redtenbacher, 1908) . Hence, and since there are no subsequent records from Java, it can be regarded wrong. Redtenbacher (1908: 454) listed material of Pharnacia acanthopus (Burmeister) from Borneo to be in the collection of NHMW, which has so far remained the only record of Ph. serratipes from Borneo. However, detailed research of the NHMW-collection has not traced any Bornean specimens of Ph. serratipes , why this records as well can be regarded erroneous.

* according to Seow-Choen (1995: 12) based on a specimen from Peninsular Malaysia (Tasek Chini).

Seow-Choen (2000: 35) listed the following foodplants to be accepted in captivity in Singapore and Malaysia: Macaranga conifera , Macaranga trilobata (Euphorbiaceae) , Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae) , Psidium guajava (Myrtaceae) , Rubus fruticosus and Rubus moluccanus (Rosaceae) . Ph. serratipes (Gray) is successfully cultured in Europe since the early 1980’s and was included on the Phasmid Study Group culturelist as culture No. 25. It is easily reared in large cages and readily accepts bramble ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ), oak ( Quercus spp. , Fagaceae ) and various other Rosaceae and Fagaceae as alternative foodplants. Numerous papers have since dealt with the captive breeding of Ph. serratipes and have provided illustrations of both sexes, the nymphs and eggs, e.g. Carlberg (1988), Hennemann (1993) and Herbert (1988). Descriptions and / or illustrations of the adults were also presented by Bragg (2001), Brock (1999) and Seow-Choen (2000). A detailed REM-study of the egg was provided by Lipinski et al. (1999: 80, figs. 36a–h).

Distribution (Fig. 392): Peninsular Malaysia (Pulau Penang; Malacca; Perak (Kuala Kangsar; Ulu Piah [ Brock, 1999: 134]; Camp Jor; Sungei-Sipoet; Gopeng; Kuala Lumpur: Taikong; Tapah Hills; Batang- Padang: Kuala Who & Cameron Highlands: Tanah Rata); Pahang (Tasek Chini [ Brock, 1999: 134]; Pulau Tioman [ Brock, 1999: 134] & Genting Highlands [ Brock, 1999: 134]; Selangor (Kepong; Kedah: Kedah Peak 3300 ft. & Gunung Jerai [ Brock, 1999: 134])), Sumatra (Palambay; Tamjang; Indragiri: Somgai-Lulah; Banda Kuala; Medan: Siboelangit, Batak Plateau & Padang District) and Singapore. Java & Northern Myanmar (Upper Tenasserim: Moolat to Moolat) [in error].

Number of specimens examined: 88