Phobaeticus philippinicus (Hennemann & Conle, 1997)

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 : 171-173

Phobaeticus philippinicus (Hennemann & Conle, 1997)

( Figs. 119, 123, 175–176, 240–242, 348–350, 389)

Baculolonga philippinica Hennemann & Conle, 1997a: 349 , figs. 10–16. HT, ♂: Philippinen, Mindoro Id., Mt. Halcon 2000 m, leg. Mohagan 15.–18.V.1996 (ZSMC, ex coll. FH 0284-1); AT, ♀: Philippinen, Mindoro Id., Mt. Halcon 2000 m, leg. Mohagan 2.VI.1996 (ZSMC, coll. FH 0284-3); PT, ♂: same data as AT (coll. FH 0284-4); PT: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (nymph): same data as HT (coll. FH 0284-2 & 5); PT, ♂: Philippines, Mindoro Id., Barrio Luyang, Mt. Halcon 360m, 500 m, 14.–17.V.1981, leg. R.A. Müller (coll. OZ).

Phobaeticus philippinicus, Otte & Brock, 2005: 269 .

Further material: 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 1 egg]:

PHILIPPINES:

2 ♂♂: Philippinen, Mindoro Isl. , Mt. Halcon, leg. Mohagan 15.–26.V.1996 (coll. OC) ; 2 ♀♀, 1 egg: Philippinen, Mindoro Isl. , 08.2006 (coll. OC) .

Diagnosis: ♀♀ are very similar to Ph. serratipes ( Gray, 1835) from Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra and the Philippine Ph. lumawigi Brock, 1997 , and ♂♂ in particular resemble those of Ph. redtenbacheri ( Dohrn, 1910) from Borneo and Ph. palawanensis spec. nov. from Palawan. ♀♀ are characteristic for the apical lobe of the protibiae which otherwise only found in the Bornean Ph. redtenbacheri (Dohrn) . The eggs resemble those of Ph. redtenbacheri (Dohrn) but differ by the relatively larger micropylar plate and lateral holes instead of swellings of the dorsoventral keel of the capsule (Figs. 175–176).

From Ph. serratipes it is distinguished by: the longer subgenital plate of ♀♀, which slightly extends over the posterior margin of the anal segment (Fig. 240); the shorter, more globose and posteriorly narrowed head and shorter median segment of both sexes as well as the lack of tegmina and alae and more slender, apically tapered semi-tergites of the anal segment of ♂♂ (Fig. 242). The occasional presence of prominent sub-basal spine on the posteroventral carina of the profemora resembles Ph. lumawigi from which ♀♀ however clearly differ by: the much longer and more slender body; shorter apically rounded subgenital plate; flat and more rounded posteromedian incision of the anal segment (Fig. 241) and different armature of legs. ♂♂ differ from Ph. palawanensis spec. nov. by: the larger size and more slender body; posteriorly narrowed and less globose head; considerably shorter median segment; lack of vestigial tegmina and alae; less tooth-like dentations of the meso- and metatibiae and more slender semi-tergites of the anal segment (Fig. 242). From Ph. redtenbacheri it at once differs by: the much shorter, not lanceolate and apically rounded subgenital plate of ♀♀ (Fig. 240); shorter median segment and less distinct leg armature of both sexes, as well as the lack of tegmina and alae; apically tapered and acute semi-tergites of the anal segment and longer cerci of ♂♂.

Concerning to the length of the subgenital plate, ♀♀ represents a transitory from Ph. serratipes which has the subgenital plate just reaching the posterior margin of the anal segment to Ph. lumawigi and Ph. redtenbacheri in which it is increasingly elongated, and ± lanceolate.

Etymology: The name refers to the distribution of this very long species, the Philippine Islands.

Description: ♀♀ ( Fig. 119): Very long (body length 236.0– 247.5 mm) and slender species (maximum body width 5.0–6.0 mm), subgenital plate slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. General colouration of body and legs pale ochracheous to dark reddish brown, to a various degree all over furnished with numerous irregular lighter brown and blackish speckles. Head in the AT with distinct straw and dark brown patches especially along the coronal line. Eyes dark reddish brown. Legs with very faint pale transverse bands, armature very dark orange. Antennae mid brown and becoming darker towards the apex.

Head: Oval slightly globose, 1.4x longer than wide, broadest at eyes and narrowed towards the posterior. Vertex gently rounded and with a fine impressed coronal line. Eyes rather small, circular and projecting hemispherically; their length contained more than 2.5x in that of cheeks. Antennae consisting of about 28 segments and reaching almost 2/3 the way along mesonotum, all antennomeres finely sethose. Scapus about 2.5x longer than wide, dorsoventrally compressed and slightly narrowed towards the base. Pedicellus slightly longer than wide, cylindrical and about 1/3 the length of scapus. 3 rd Segment indistinctly longer than pedicellus and tapered towards apex. Following segments first increasing then decreasing in length towards apex of antennae.

Thorax: Pronotum 2x longer than wide, slightly shorter and narrower than head, the anterior half strongly constricted. Just behind anterior margin with a transverse furrow, which is bended backwards at the outer angles of the segment. Median transverse depression a short but prominent semicircle, opened anteriorly. Mesothorax about 3.6x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided and with a faint, slightly impressed longitudinal median line. Metanotum almost 4x longer than wide, parallel-sided. Meso- and metasternum smooth.

Abdomen: Median segment about 3/5 the length of the metanotum, almost 3x longer than wide and gradually widened towards the posterior. Segments II–V increasing in length, II a little longer than median segment and about 3.5x longer than wide, V almost 5x longer than wide. VI a little shorter than V, VII considerably shorter than VI. Tergite VII shorter than previous, about 2/3 the length of VI and 2.5x longer than wide, lateral margins very gently deflexed posteriorly. Tergites II–VI with a blunt posteromedian tubercle, this most distinct on III–V. Praeopercular organ formed by two distinct and slender, pointed spines at posterior margin of sternum VII. Tergite VIII distinctly narrower than previous, constricted medially, strongly convex and about 3.5x longer than wide. IX indistinctly longer than wide, strongly convex. Anal segment with a fine longitudinal median carina, posterior margin with wide and rounded median excavation, the posterolateral angles roundly triangular (Fig. 241). Supraanal plate short, rounded posteriorly, keeled and with a minute posteromedian notch. Cerci long, slender, round in cross-section, gently in-curving and tapering towards a narrow apex. Subgenital plate longitudinally keeled and slightly (2.0–4.0 mm) projecting over posterior margin of anal segment, apex rounded (Fig. 240).

Legs: All very long and slender, profemora about as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora roughly equal in length to mesothorax, metafemora projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatibiae exceeding apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 18–25 prominent, sharp serrations which decrease in size towards apex of femur. Posteroventral carina very sparsely set with minute teeth and occasionally with a single ± enlarged tooth sub-basally (♀ nymph PT, Fig. 350). Posterodorsal carina of protibiae set with one or two triangular teeth of moderate size and forming a conspicuous, rounded and dentate lobe at the apex of tibia. Meso- and metafemora with all carinae dentate, more sparsely although on dorsal carinae. Posterodorsal carina occasionally with two slightly enlarged teeth in basal quarter, the posteroventral carina often with a conspicuous needle-like spine sub-basally. Medioventral carina very fine and with a few minute spines. Posterodorsal carina of mesotibiae (indistinct on metatibiae) with three ± enlarged, broadly triangular teeth in great distance to another (Fig. 348) and with the apex forming a rounded, dentate lobe. Otherwise all carinae of meso and metafemora minutely dentate, although more sparsely on dorsal carinae. Probasitarsus very elongate and about as long as remaining tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina gently deflexed towards the apex, all carinae unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi a little shorter than combined length of remaining tarsomeres, ventral carinae minutely dentate.

♀ (nymph): The PT nymph in coll. FH (No. 0284-5) has the leg armature decidedly more developed than the adult ♀♀ at hand. The posteroventral carina of the profemora bears a very prominent hook-like tooth subbasally (Fig. 350). Both ventral carinae and the posterodorsal carina of meso- and metafemora are armed with a prominent triangular sub-basal tooth (Fig. 349). The three dorsal lobes of the meso- and metatibiae are considerably larger and lobe-like (Fig. 348).

♂♂ ( Fig. 123): Medium sized to large (body length 143.0–165.5) and very slender (maximum body width 2.0–3.0 mm) for the genus, apterous. General colouration of body and legs plain green or mid to dark brown, occasionally with slightly lighter areas on head and thorax. Green specimens to a variable degree furnished with brownish speckles. Leg armature dull yellow with black points. Eyes creamish brown with darker mottling. Antennae pale greenish brown in green specimens, mid brown in brown specimens.

Head: Indistinctly longer than wide and almost trapezoidal in dorsal aspect, being distinctly narrowed from the eyes towards the posterior; vertex flat. Posterior margin with three slightly impressed, short longitudinal lines. Eyes large, very prominent and projecting hemispherically; their length contained a little more than 2x in that of cheeks. Antennae projecting over posterior margin of median segment, all antennomeres densely sethose. Otherwise generally as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum narrower but slightly longer than head, almost 2x longer than wide and slightly constricted in anterior half; otherwise as in ♀♀. Mesothorax about 3.7x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided. Metanotum parallel sided, about 2/5 the length of mesonotum and roughly 7x longer than wide. Meso- and metasternum with a fine longitudinal median carina (less decided on metasternum).

Abdomen: Median segment slightly shorter and narrower than metanotum, about 5x longer than wide and slightly constricted medially. Segment II 6x, III–VI 7x longer than wide, all gently constricted medially. Tergites IV–VI with a minute posteromedian tubercle, which is most distinct on V. VII shorter than VI, 4.5x longer than wide and gently widened at the posterior. Tergite VIII ¾ the length of VII, strongly widening towards the posterior. IX half the length of VIII, convex and strongly constricted in posterior portion. Anal segment as long as VII, strongly keeled, tectiform and laterally compressed. Semi-tergites long, straight and with the apex narrow (Fig. 242). Interior surface apically with a prominent longitudinal median bulge which is covered with minute teeth. Cerci elongate, tapering towards a pointed apex and distinctly in-curving. Poculum strongly convex, cup-like, angular and with a blunt central spine; reaching about half way along tergite IX.

Legs: All very long and slender, profemora longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora about as long as combined length of pro- and mesothorax, metafemora slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatibiae considerably exceeding apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with ± 20 moderately prominent and sharply triangular serrations. Posteroventral carina set with only 6–12 small teeth. Protibiae unarmed, except for a few minute teeth on posteroventral carina. All carinae of mid and hind legs regularly set with small but pointed spines, more prominent on ventral carinae. Medioventral carina faint and unarmed. Probasitarsus 1.5x longer than remaining tarsomeres combined. Meso- and metabasitarsi slightly longer than combined length of remaining tarsomeres, all carinae with a few minute teeth.

Eggs (Figs. 175–176): The following description is based on an egg taken from the ovipositor of one of the ♀♀ in the second author’s collection (OC).

Capsule basically lens-shaped, laterally compressed and about 1.5x longer than high. General colouration of capsule and operculum greyish mid brown, surface very minutely granulose and slightly rugulose. Whole capsule surrounded by prominent, rugulose dorsoventral keel, beginning and ending at the operculum and only interrupted near the polar-area and the micropylar plate. Polar impression distinct. Ventral and dorsal surfaces of keel each and on each side with a rounded swelling near operculum, and a second swelling near polar end. This swellings dorsally with a rather well defined, impressed dark brown area. Micropylar plate slightly darker brown than capsule, decidedly bilobed and distinctly constricted medially. Micropylar cup small, rounded and placed at polar end of plate. Operculum surrounded by raised rim, oval and very slightly convex. In its centre with a moderately sized, irregularly cone-shaped, dark brown capitulum.

Measurements [mm]: length (incl. capitulum) 7.2, length 6.2, height 4.4, width 3.1, length of micropylar plate 1.8.

Comments: A comparatively small ♂ PT in the first author’s collection (No. FH 0284-2) was mistaken for a penultimate instar nymph. The two primary types have subsequently been deposited in ZSMC .

Distribution (Fig. 389): Philippines (Mindoro Island: Mount Halcon, Barrio Luyang).

Number of specimens examined: 10