Phryganistria virgea ( Westwood, 1848 )

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 : 212-216

Phryganistria virgea ( Westwood, 1848)

( Figs. 129–130, 190–191, 286–287, 399)

Bacteria virgea Westwood, 1848: 66 , pl. 32: 2. HT, ♂: Silhet; Type, Westwood, Bacteria virgea 1848 , pl. 32, fig. 2, Type: Orth 535, Bacteria virgea Westwood (OXUM, No. 535).

Lonchodes virgeus, Westwood, 1859: 46 .

Phryganistria virgea, Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 183. Günther, 1934b: 94, fig. 6 (♀, abdomen) Otte & Brock, 2005: 272.

Bacteria sarmentosa Westwood, 1848: 65 , pl. 32: 1. HT, ♀: Silhet; Type, Westwood, Bacteria sarmentosa 1848 , pl. 32, fig. 1, Type: Orth. 534, Bacteria sarmentosa Westwood (OXUM, No. 534). [Synonymised by Westwood, 1859: 46, see comments below].

Phryganistria sarmentosa, Stål, 1875: 63 .

Kirby, 1904a: 358.

Giglio-Tos, 1910: 16.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 272. [As a synonym of Ph. virgea ( Westwood, 1848) ]

Further material: [43 ºº, 20 ♂♂, 2 nymphs, eggs]:

NE-INDIA:

1 ♀: Coll. Br. v. W. Assam, Thorey , det. Br. v.W. Phryganistria virgea Westw. , 2.701 ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♀: Coll. Br. v. W. Assam, Thorey , det. Br. v.W. Phryganistria virgea Westw. , 3.513 ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Coll. Br. v. W. Assam, Thorey, det. Br. v.W. Phryganistria virgea Westw. ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♀: Coll. Br. v. W. Assam, leg. Brunner 1866 ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: without data, ♀, det. Br. v.W. Phryganistria virgea Westw. , 25. 043; 2 ♀♀: Samarang , leg. Mason ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀ Coll. Br. v. W. Silhet, Deyrolle , det. Br. v.W. Phryganistria virgea Westw. ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♀: Silhet ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♀: Indien, Assam, Liman , H. Rolle, Berlin S.W.M., ex coll. Werner, ex coll. Ebner ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 2 ♀♀ + glas-tube with eggs: Darjeeling , leg. Gutmann 28.I.1905, vend. 28.7.1905, det. F. Hennemann 1.1998 ( ZMUH) ; 2 ♂♂: Assam, leg. Fink 1878 ( SMNS) ; 3 ♀♀: Assam, leg. Dingenbach 1874 ( SMNS) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Assam, Nr. 21 & 34 ( SMNS) ; 4 ♀♀: Assam, leg. Diefenbach 1834 ( SMNS) ; 1 ♀: Assam, 34 ; 1 ♂: Assam, 21 ; 1 ♂: Assam, leg. Finkh 1878 ( SMNS) ; 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀: Silhet ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀: N-India ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀: Rothschild , Bequest B.M. 1939.-I. ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀: Bacteria sarmentosa Westw. Sylhet, 48.55 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♀: Silhet ( OXUM) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂: Assam, leg. Jerkins ( OXUM) ; 1 ♀: Assam, Khasi Geb. , Pres. 1907 by Dr. Brancsick ( OXUM) ; 3 ♀♀: Inde, Matloffinum, Musea de Stuttgart ( MHNG) ; 1 ♀: Assam, Khasi Hills, Lait Pyng Kot , 16.III.1966, F. Schmid, Don F. Baud 1978 ( MHNG) ; 1 ♀: Indie orient., D. Henfrey, coll. Giglio-Tos ( MRSN) ; 1 ♂: Silhet ( MNHN) ; 1 ♀: Lamin , Assam, H. Rolle leg., Berlin ( MNHU) ; 1 ♂: Sylhet, Nr. 3200, „ virgea “ det. ( MNHU) ; 1 egg: Darjeeling , leg. Gutmann 28.I.1905, vend. 28.7.1905, ex coll. ZMUH (coll. FH, No. 0347-E) ; 1 ♀: Assam ( ZSMC) ; 1 ♂: Khasi Hills , Assam, Phryganistria sarmentosa (Westw.) , Det. Rehn 1934, Hebard Collection ( ANSP) .

THAILAND [with doubt]:

1 ♀: Siam ( BMNH) .

PENINSULAR MALAYSIA [with doubt]:

1 ♀: W-Malaysia, Pulau Penang?, leg. Rolle ( NHMW, Nr. 306) .

JAVA [in error?]:

2 ♀♀: Java, Samarang, leg. Mason 1874, coll et det. Br. v.W. Phryganistria virgea Westw. ( NHMW, No. 306) ; 1 ♂: Java ( MHNG) .

NO DATA:

1 ♀: 45,33 ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: 5b,8 ( BMNH) ; 2 ♂♂: ( BMNH) ; 1 ♂: data unreadable, [5] ( ZMUH) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♀ (nymph): "Ashmol. Mus." ( OXUM) ; 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (nymph): no data ( OXUM) .

Diagnosis: ♀♀ are easily distinguished from all other members of the genus by the laterally broadened and rounded abdominal tergites III–VI and long, lanceolate subgenital plate, which considerably projects over the apex of the abdomen (Fig. 286). ♂♂ are similar to Ph. fruhstorferi (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) but differ by: the plain brown body colouration; slightly shorter median segment; sparsely dentate posteroventral carina of the profemora; more numerous and distinct serrations of the anterodorsal carina of the profemora; less decidedly tapered semi-tergites of the anal segment; shorter cerci (Fig. 287) and shorter antennae which project no further than to the posterior margin of the mesonotum.

Etymology: The specific name virgea is derived from the Latin “ virga ” (= twig) and refers to the slender body of ♂♂.

Description: ♀♀ ( Fig. 129): Very long (body length 190.0–234.0 mm; including subgenital plate 220.0– 248.0 mm) and moderately slender species (maximum width of thorax 8.0– 9.5 mm), with lateral margins of abdominal tergites II–VI gently rounded and the subgenital plate very long and lanceolate. Colour variable; general colouration of body and legs usually yellowish, ochracheous or greyish mid to dark brown, but occasionally dull green specimens occur. Body surface smooth and slightly glabrous. Spination of legs dark red with black points. Bases of tarsi pale brown or grey. Eyes dark brown. Antennae greyish mid brown with ventral surface darker.

130. Phryganistria virgea ( Westwood, 1848) , ♂ HT, N-India, Silhet ( OXUM)

131. Phryganistria fruhstorferi (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), ♀ LT, N-Myanmar, Mount Cariani (MCSN) 132. Phryganistria fruhstorferi (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), ♂, N-Myanmar, Tenasserim (coll. FH, No. 0210-1)

Head: Oval, broadest just behind the eyes, 1.5x longer than wide, vertex very slightly rounded and posterior margin gently elevated. A pair of oval impression between the eyes and a deep, transverse depression between the bases of antennae. Posterior margin of head capsule with a longitudinal impression on both sides of the coronal line, the latter one very faint. Eyes small, circular and moderately convex; their length contained about 3x in that of cheek. Antennae almost reaching posterior margin of mesonotum. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, 1.5x longer than wide and slightly narrowed basally. Pedicellus cylindrical, slightly longer than wide and about 2/3 the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum shorter and narrower than the head, 1.3x longer than wide, posterior margin slightly broader than anterior margin. Anterior margin raised and followd by transverse furrow, posterior margin rounded. Median transverse depression distinct, slightly rounded but not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax slightly dorsoventrally compressed and oval in cross-section, about 2.8x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum very indistinctly, gradually widened towards the posterior. Metanotum parallel-sided and about 3.2x longer than wide. Pleurae and sterna smooth.

Abdomen: Median segment about 1/3 the length of metanotum, slightly longer than wide and rectangular. Segments II–V increasing in length, II 2x, V about 2.5x longer than wide, VI as long as V. Tergite II rectangu- lar, III–VI with lateral margins ± distinctly deflexed and gently rounded. VII a little longer than II and parallel-sided except for a slight lobe posterolaterally, roughly 3x longer than wide and distinctly narrower than previous. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of distinct, slender, back-curving spines at posterior margin of sternum VII. Remaining sternites smooth. Tergite VIII slightly narrower than VII, about 2.3x longer than wide, strongly convex and very gently constricted medially. IX less than half the length of VIII, quadrate. Anal segment longer than IX, with a very fine median carina and a wide triangular excavation posteriomedially; posterolateral angles tapered and roundly triangular. Supraanal plate very small, triangular and sharply keeled. Cerci small, cylindrical and tapered towards a pointed tip; finely bristled. Subgenital plate very long and lanceolate, gradually tapered towards a pointed apex and projecting over anal segment by more than the combined length of tergites VIII–X (Fig. 286).

Legs: All long and moderately slender. profemora slightly longer than head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora longer than mesonotum, metafemora reaching about half way along abdominal segment V and metatibiae slightly projecting over apex of anal segment. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 14–26 prominent and acute black serrations. Posteroventral carina armed with 8–18 rather more slender and distinctly pointed teeth. Posteroventral carina of protibiae sparingly and minutely serrate, other carinae unarmed. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora set with 8–14 distinct but rather slender and pointed teeth, which decrease in size towards the apex of femur. Medioventral carina indistinct, unarmed. Dorsal carinae with a similar number of conspicuously smaller teeth; posterodorsal carina of mesofemora occasionally with an enlarged triangular, lobe-like tooth one quarter off the base. All carinae of meso- and metatibiae minutely dentate, although more sparsely on dorsal carinae. Posterodorsal carina of mesotibiae often with a slightly enlarged, triangular tooth about 1/3 off the base of tibia. Probasitarsus slightly longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, very slender and with all carinae unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi about as long as following three tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina slightly rounded apically and ventral carinae very minutely serrate.

♂♂ ( Fig. 130): Medium-sized (body length 141.0–154.0 mm) and moderately slender for the genus (maximum body width 3.0 mm), body surface smooth and glabrous. General colouration of body and legs plain greyish, yellowish or reddish mid to dark brown and but occasionally dark green specimens may occur; meso- and metathorax slightly darker than rest of body. Cheeks sometimes with a faint dark postocular stripe. Tibiae often with a few faint, pale transverse bands; the basal one most distinct. Antennae dark brown.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀. Eyes very prominent, convex and projecting hemispherically; their length contained a little more than 2x in that of cheek. Antennae as in ♀♀ but relatively longer, projecting over posterior margin of metanotum.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and distinctly narrower than head, 1.5x longer than wide, otherwise as in ♀♀. Mesothorax 3.7x longer than combined length of head and pronotum; mesonotum parallel-sided and very gently broadened at posterior margin. Metanotum about 3/5 the length of mesonotum, parallel-sided and almost 9x longer than wide. Posterior margin at each outer angle with a small, rounded hump (residues of the alae). Pleurae and sterna smooth.

Abdomen: Median segment slightly more than 1/3 the length of metanotum, rectangular and about 1.6x longer than wide. Segments II–VII gently constricted medially, II–V slightly increasing in length, II 2.5x, V 4.5x longer than wide, VI as long as V. Tergite VII about ¾ the length of VI and roughly 2.5x longer than wide. VIII 2/3 the length of VII, strongly broadened towards posterior margin and 1.5x longer than wide. IX equal in length but considerably narrower than VIII, 2x longer than wide and slightly constricted medially. Anal segment a little longer than IX, laterally compressed and strongly tectiform. Semi-tergites elongate, slightly gradually tapered towards a rounded apex (Fig. 287). Interior surfaces apically swollen and densely covered with minute black teeth. Cerci small, cylindrical, tapered towards a pointed apex and finely bristled; staying clearly beyond apex of anal segment. Poculum moderately convex, cup-like, with a blunt hump at the angle and reaching about half way along tergite IX.

Legs: All very long and slender, armature generally as in ♀♀ but less prominent. Profemora considerably longer than head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora about as long as combined length of pro- and mesonotum, metafemora reaching about half way along abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. Posteroventral carina of profemora just sparsely dentate. Probasitarsus very elongate and slender, longer than remaining tarsomeres combined. Meso- and metabasitarsi as long as or a little longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina not raised apically.

Eggs (Fig. 190–191): Medium-sized, capsule oval in lateral aspect, with a flat impression near polar-area, slightly laterally compressed and oval in cross-section. Capsule with a slight keel on dorsal and ventral surfaces and polar-area, beginning and ending at operculum. Capsule surface minutely granulated (70x), not glossy. General colouration of capsule and micropylar plate dark brown, operculum black. Micropylar plate, elongate, covering slightly less than 2/3 the length of capsule, tapered towards anterior end and posteromedially with a distinct gap. Outer margin black. Micropylar cup placed in the posteromedial gap of plate, small and dark brown. Median line distinct and projecting over posterior margin of plate. Operculum oval and slightly concave, outer margin raised. Capitulum large, dark reddish brown, funnel-shaped and with several large lateroventral impressions. Stalk obvious, whitish.

Measurements [mm]: Length including capitulum 5.2, length 4.5, width 3.1, height 4.0, length of micropylar plate 2.6.

Comments: When Westwood (1848) described Bacteria sarmentosa from the ♀ ( Westwood, 1848: 65, pl. 32: 1) and Bacteria virgea from the ♂ ( Westwood, 1848: 66, pl. 32: 2) he already noticed they might just represent the opposite sexes of one and the same species and commented on Bacteria virgea : “The proportions and general appearance of this insect indicate that it is most probably the male of the proceeding. It is on this account that I have represented them both on one plate.”. Subsequently, Westwood (1859: 46) synonymised both species and listed Lonchodes virgeus (Westwood) as the valid species. Although sarmentosa has page priority Westwood’s synonymy as the first reviser is valid and in accordance to Article 24.2.2 of the Code (ICZN, 1999) on the precedence between simultaneously published names spelling or acts. Stål (1875: 63) Kirby (1904a: 358) and Giglio-Tos (1910: 16) have erroneously listed Phryganistria sarmentosa as the valid name.

Distribution (Fig. 399): Northeastern India (Assam: Khasi Hills, Lait Pyng Kot; Liman; Samarang and Silhet). The records from “ Siam ” (= Thailand), Peninsular Malaysia (Pulau Penang) are doubtful and excluded from Fig. 399. Java as a locality for a ♀ in NHMW and a ♂ in MHNG is most certainly wrong, since all other confirmed records are from Northeastern India, thus from the asian continent.

Number of specimens examined: 65