Phryganistria fruhstorferi

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 : 201-204

Phryganistria fruhstorferi (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov.

( Figs. 131–132, 284–285, 396)

Phobaeticus fruhstorferi Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 184. LT [by present designation], ♀: Mt. Cariani , D. Tornatore 1898; Phobaeticus fruhstorferi Br. , Type, Birma (MCSN).

[Not: PLT’s in NHMW; all are Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 , see comments below] Brock, 1996: 28. Brock, 1998a: 30. Otte & Brock, 2005: 268.

Phryganistria grandis, Günther, 1935b: 124 . [Erroneous synonym]

[Not: Phobaeticus frühstorferi, Vanschuytbroeck & Cools, 1981: 16 . Misidentification = Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 ]

[Not: Phobaeticus fruhstorferi, Chen, 1993: 87 . Misidentifiaction. Specimens from China (Guangxi) are most likely

Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 ]

Further material: [2 ♂♂]:

N-MYANMAR:

1 ♂: Myanmar, Tenasserim, leg. Lehmann 20.III.1994 (coll. FH, No. 0210-1) ; 1 ♂: N-Myanmar, Tenasserim Highland, Dawna, leg. Lehmann 27.–28.V.1996 (coll. FH, No. 0210-2).

Diagnosis: Distinguished from all other species in the genus by the relatively longer median segment, which is about a little more than 1/3 the length of the metanotum. ♀♀ are similar to Ph. grandis Rehn, 1906 and Ph. heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) but easily distinguished from both species by: the smaller size (body length <200 mm); smaller lobes of the praeopercular organ (Fig. 284); relatively shorter and broader legs and tarsi and having only 4–5 prominent spines on the posteroventral carina of profemora. ♂♂ are similar to the type species Ph. virgea ( Westwood, 1848) with which they have the slender meso- and metafemora and lack of a prominent sub-apical spine on the two outer ventral carinae of these femora in common. They however differ by: the slightly longer median segment; black lateral surfaces of the thorax; unarmed posteroventral carina of the profemora (at best with two single teeth); less numerous and less distinct serrations of the anterodorsal carina of the profemora; slightly more tapered semi-tergites of the anal segment and longer cerci (Fig. 285).

Etymology: Dedicated to H. Fruhstorfer who collected vast amounts of insects in the Oriental Region during the early 19 th century, which he sold to most major museums in Europe.

Description: ♀♀ ( Fig. 131): Rather small (body length 197.0 mm) and moderately slender for the genus (maximum body width 6.5 mm), surface smooth and slightly glabrous. General colouration of body and legs almost plain ochraceous mid brown, abdomen slightly darker (slightly discoloured in the LT caused by provisional conservation in alcohol). Eyes dark reddish brown.

Head: Oval, 1.6x longer than wide and slightly narrowed posteriorly with the vertex very gently rounded. Posterior margin with a pair of impressions which continue towards the eyes as an impressed, longitudinal line and a slightly impressed coronal line. Between the bases of the antennae with an oval, transverse impression and two very faint impressions between the eyes. Eyes of average size, circular and moderately convex; their length contained almost 3x in that of cheek. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, 2x longer than wide and rectangular (remaining antennomeres lacking in the LT).

Thorax: Pronotum narrower and shorter than head, anterior margin slightly narrower than posterior margin, 1.4x longer than wide. Anterior margin raised and followd by a deep transverse furrow. Median transverse depression indistinct and slightly curved, not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax 2.2x longer than head and pronotum combined, mesonotum parallel-sided except for being very indistinctly broadened posteriorly. Metanotum less than half the length of mesonotum, parallel-sided and almost 3x longer than wide. Pleurae and sterna simple.

Abdomen: Median segment slightly more than 1/3 the length of metanotum, rectangular, 1.3x longer than wide. Segments II–VI slightly increasing in length and very slightly, gradually narrowing (II–IV broadest), II 1.5x, VI almost 3x longer than wide. Tergite VII about ¾ the length of VI and dilated into a narrow, rounded lobe posterolaterally. Tergite VI with a minute posteromedial tubercle. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of moderately sized, carinated spines at posterior margin of sternum VII. Tergite VIII distinctly narrower than previous, slightly shorter than VII, strongly convex and constricted medially, 3.5x longer than wide. IX half the length of VIII, almost rectangular. Anal segment longer than IX, parallel-sided, with a faint median carina and a bold triangular median incision at posterior margin. Posterolateral angles narrowed and rounded apically. Supraanal plate small, triangular and with a fine median carina, not projecting over apex of anal segment. Cerci small, oval in cross-section, tapered towards the apex. Gonapophyses elongate, up-curving and slightly projecting over apex of anal segment. Subgenital plate keeled, boat shaped and reaching to apex of anal segment (Fig. 284).

Legs: All moderately long and rather robust. Profemora longer, mesofemora as long as mesonotum, metafemora reaching about half way along abdominal segment IV and hind legs projecting over apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora armed with 10–11 prominent, triangular serrations. Posteroventral carina smooth except for 4–5 distinct, pointed teeth. Posteroventral carina of protibiae minutely serrate, remaining carinae unarmed. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora each set with 10–14 triangular, black tipped teeth in almost regular distance to each other. Dorsal carinae smooth except for 2–4 small and paired teeth. Medioventral carina of femora faint and set with 5–6 minute but pointed spines. Ventral carinae of meso- and metatibiae serrate, dorsal carinae very sparingly and minutely dentate. Probasitarsus as long as remaining tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina strongly raised but of uniform height. Meso- and metabasitarsi as long as following three segments combined, with the dorsal carina gently raised and rounded, all carinae serrate.

♂♂ ( Fig. 132): Rather small (body length 143.5–144.0 mm) and very slender for the genus (maximum body width 2.3 mm), body surface smooth and glabrous, legs all very long and slender. General colouration of body and legs dark yellowish brown, legs with a slight greenish was. Cheeks occasionally with a black postocular line (coll. FH, No. 0210-2). Pronotum black with a bold, longitudinal greyish stripe medially. Meso- and metathorax with a bold black longitudinal lateral stripe, which covers the complete pleurae, sterna as well as the extreme lateral margins of the meso- and metanotum. Abdominal tergites dark brown at their hinder margin. Tergites IX and X each with a longitudinal, pale marking laterally. Tibiae each with three faint greyish transverse bands, the basal one being the most prominent. Basal half of all basitarsi and bases of profemora pale greyish to straw. Antennae dark brown, the ventral surfaces off all segments, except the scapus and pedicellus, black.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀ but slightly less than 1.5x longer than wide. Eyes large, very prominent, circular and projecting hemispherically; their length contained about 2x in that of cheek. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of metanotum (broken in both examined specimens). Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, 2x longer than wide, rectangular. Pedicellus cylindrical and less than half the length of scapus. Following antennomeres increasing in length towards apex of antennae.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head, 1.4x longer than wide, posterior margin broader than anterior margin; the latter raised. Median transverse depression distinct, gently curved but not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax more than 3x longer than head and pronotum combined; mesonotum parallel-sided except for being very slightly broadened posteriorly. Mesosternum in posterior portion with a hint of a median carina, otherwise smooth. Metanotum about half the length of mesonotum, about 8.5x longer than wide and very gently constricted medially. Posterior margin at each outer angle with a small, rounded hump (residues of the alae). Metasternum simple.

Abdomen: Median segment about 2/5 the length of metanotum, narrowed medially and almost 4x longer than wide. Segment II–VI roughly of equal length, about 4.5x longer than wide and gently constricted medially. VII ¾ the length of previous, 3.5x longer than wide and slightly widened towards posterior margin. Tergite VIII ¾ the length of VII, 2.5x longer than wide, strongly convex and broadened towards posterior margin. IX slightly shorter and distinctly narrower than VIII, 3x longer than wide and strongly constricted medially. Anal segment conspicuously longer than IX, laterally compressed, strongly keeled and split. Semi-tergites elongate and distinctly tapered towards a narrow, rounded apex (Fig. 285). Interior surfaces swollen apically and densely covered with minute black teeth. Cerci very elongate, slightly lanceolate, slightly in-curving at the apex and almost reaching apex of anal segment. Poculum moderately convex, cup-like and with a blunt, rounded central hump; reaching about half way along tergite IX.

Legs: All very long and slender. Profemora slightly longer than head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora 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. Armature generally as in ♀♀ but less prominent. The spination of the meso- and metatibiae in particular considerably less distinct. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 6–11 black, moderately sized triangular teeth. Posteroventral carina smooth (coll. FH, No. 0210-1) or with two single black teeth (left profemur of coll. FH, No. 0210-2). Probasitarsus slightly longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi as long as remaining tarsomeres combined, unarmed.

Comments: When Brunner v. Wattenwyl (1907: 184) described Phobaeticus fruhstorferi he did not recognize that his type series consisted of two distinct species. Nor did Günther (1935b: 124), who synonymised Ph. fruhstorferi Brunner v. Wattenwyl with Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 but without designating a lectotype. Critical and detailed examination of the complete type-series, a ♀ from Myanmar in MCSN as well as 3 ♂♂ and a penultimate instar ♀ nymph from Tonkin (= Northern Vietnam) in NHMW have confirmed Günther’s synonymy only in part. Only Brock (1996: 28, 1998b: 30) stated that the ♀ from Myanmar in MCSN was very unlikely to represent the same species as the remaining type series. In fact, the MCSN ♀ is obviously a distinct species while the remaining syntypes from Vietnam in NHMW all represent Ph. grandis Rehn. Thus , to fix Brunner v. Wattenwyl’s species and in order to prevent the need of a new specific name, the ♀ in MCSN specimen is here selected as the lectotype of Ph. fruhstorferi Brunner v. Wattenwyl.

Brock (1998b: 30) stated the specimens from Tonkin, Chiem Hoa in ISNB to be likely syntypes, but as these were not listed in the original description by Brunner v. Wattenwyl (1907: 184) nor bear any hand-written labels of that author, their type-status is rather doubtful. Examination has shown all specimens traced in ISNB (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀) to represent Ph. grandis Rehn .

Eggs unknown.

Distribution (Fig. 396): N-Myanmar (Highland of Tenasserim: Mount Cariani & Dawna).

Number of specimens examined: 3