Tirachoidea jianfenglingensis ( Bi, 1994 )

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 : 240-244

Tirachoidea jianfenglingensis ( Bi, 1994)

( Figs. 8–10, 23, 28, 48–49, 143–144, 159–160, 224–226, 296–297, 356, 365, 405, 424)

Pharnacia jianfenglingensis Bi, 1994: 10 . HT, ♀: Hainan Province, Ledong County, Mt. Jianfengling, 13.X.1992, leg. Liu Zuyao, Wang Tianqi & Yin Haisheng (SIES). Chen, Xu et al., 1994: 189. Chen, 1999a: 49, figs. Otte & Brock, 2005: 265. Chen & He, 2007: 349, figs. 316 a-c.

Tirachoidea jianfenglingensis, Chen et al., 2002: 108 . Hennemann et al., 2008: 40.

Pharnacia maxima, Redtenbacher, 1908: 450 (in part - only ♂ from Tonking [= N-Vietnam] in NHMW).

Tirachoidea westwoodi, Qi & Liu, 1992: 250 . [Description of ♂ from Yunnan Province, China. Misidentification ]

Further material: [29 ♀♀, 29 ♂♂, eggs]

N-VIETNAM:

1 ♂: Tonkin, Than Moi, 6./7.1899, leg. Fruhstorfer, Coll. Br. v. W., No. 24.321 ( NHMW, No. 858) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 egg: ex Zucht, F. Hennemann, 1998 –2001, S-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District , Ninh Binh Province ( NHMW, ex coll. FH) ;, 1 ♂: Tonkin, Than Moi, 6./7., H. Fruhstorfer ( ETHZ) ; 1 ♀: ex Zucht P. Heusi, IV. 1998, N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District, Ninh Binh Province (coll. FH, No. 0405-1) ; 15 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀, 300 eggs: ex Zucht, F. Hennemann, 1998 –2001, N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District, Ninh Binh Province (coll. FH, No’s 0405-2 to 33 & ED) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 egg: ex Zucht, F. Hennemann, 1998 –2001, N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District , Ninh Binh Province ( SMFM, ex coll. FH) ; 1 ♂: Museum Paris, Cho-Moi, Tonkin, m. Roget 111-96, alcool, determined as T. biceps Redt (MNHN) .; 2 ♂♂: Museum Paris, Tonkin, Reg. De Hoa-Binh , A. De Cooman 1930 ( MNHN) ; 1 ♀: Museum Paris, Tonkin, Hoa-Binh, A. Idoeman 1926 ( MNHN) ; 1 ♀: Hoa-Binh, Tonkin, A. De Cooman, 37e envoi ( MNHN) ; 1 ♀: Tonkin, Region de Hoa-Binh , Museum Paris, 1934 A. De Cooman ( MNHN) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 eggs: ex Zucht, F. Hennemann, 1998 –2001, S-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District , Ninh Binh Province ( ZSMC, ex coll. FH) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 eggs: ex Zucht, F. Hennemann, 1998 –2001, N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District , Ninh Binh Province (coll. OZ, ex coll. FH) ; 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 10 eggs: ex Zucht O. Conle VI. 2000, N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District , Ninh Binh Province (coll. OC) .

N-THAILAND:

1 ♂: Doi Chieng Dao , 1.7–21.´33, N Siam, Alt 4000 ft., de Schauensee Sinkler Exped. ( ANSP) .

Diagnosis: Closely related to T. siamensis spec. nov. and T. westwoodii ( Wood-Mason, 1875) but well characterized and distinguished from other members of the genus by the conspicuous dark transverse stripes in the posterior portion of the vertex of ♀♀ and distinct diagonal white stripe on the tegmina of ♂♂. The eggs distinguish T. jianfenglingensis from all other members of the genus by the elongate capsule which is conspicuously longer than high (Figs. 159–160).

From T. siamensis spec. nov. it is distinguished by: the more slender and elongate body; relatively longer basitarsi; less prominent spination of the legs and more conically raised vertex of both sexes, which bears two rounded humps (Figs. 296–297), as well as the less deeply excavated posterior margin of the anal segment of ♀♀ (Fig. 225). ♂♂ clearly differ by: the typical white diagonal stripe of the tegmina; more prominent black serrations on the anterodorsal carina of the profemora; shorter probasitarsus and shorter, broader semi-tergites of the anal segment (Fig. 226). Furthermore, the meso- and metasternum of ♀♀ are not considerably darker coloured than the remaining body.

From T. westwoodii ( Wood-Mason, 1875) ♀♀ differ by the more slender body and relatively more elongate body segments; lack of a posteromedian tubercle on abdominal tergite VII; smaller lateral lobes of tergite VII and shorter subgenital plate (Fig. 224). ♂♂ differ by: the more robust body; relatively shorter mesothorax, abdominal segments and legs; more prominently swollen abdominal tergite VIII; less distinctly in-curving cerci; less truncate, apically constricted semi-tergites of the anal segment (Fig. 226); smaller number of triangular serrations on the anterodorsal carina of the profemora; less numerous but distinct teeth of the mid and hind legs and more prominently rounded dorsal carina of the meso- and metabasitarsi. In addition to these morphological features T. jianfenglingensis is well separated by its geographical pattern, being distributed more eastward than T. westwoodi and restricted to Northern Vietnam, South China and NE-Thailand (Fig. 405).

Etymology: The name refers to the type-locality of this magnificent species, Mount Jianfengling in the Ledong County of Hainan Province, S-China.

Description: ♀♀ (Figs. 143, 415): Large to very large (body length 200.0–280.0 mm) and rather slender for the genus (maximum body width 10.0–13.0 mm). General colouration of body and legs yellowish or greyish pale to mid brown, occasionally dark greenish Entire body surface furnished with numerous paler and darker speckles and legs with irregular and ± distinct transverse whitish bands. Back of head with two irregular dark brown transverse stripes. Pronotum in posterior half with a dark brown, roundly M-shaped marking. Metanotum with a ± distinct C-shaped posterolateral marking. Border between meso- and metasternum with a broad white and beige transverse band. Meso- and metasternum coloured like rest of body. Abdominal sternites with distinct irregular white speckles and markings, tergite II almost entirely white. Eyes yellowish brown. Antennae brown with all antennomeres except scapus and pedicellus dark brown ventrally. Leg armature brown with black points.

Head (Fig. 296): Oval, 1.5x longer than wide with the vertex strongly conically swollen and armed a pair of rounded humps; the sinistral one smaller than the dextral. A fine, slightly curved transverse impression behind the bases of the antennae and an oval, smooth and slightly raised area between the eyes. Eyes large and moderately convex; their length contained almost 3.5x in that of cheek. Antennae almost reaching posterior margin of mesonotum and consisting of 34–35 antennomeres; these first increasing then decreasing in length towards apex of antenna. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, 2.5x longer than wide and strongly constricted basally. Pedicellus cylindrical and less than 1/3 the length of scapus. III longer than pedicellus, IV strongly shortened, V–XII increasing in length. Following antennomeres elongate. All finely bristled.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head and about 1.5x longer than wide, posterior margin broader than anterior margin. Anterior margin distinctly raised and followd by a rather deep transverse furrow. Median transverse depression slightly curved and very short, not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax about 2x longer than head and pronotum combined, very slightly constricted at anterior margin and gently widened at the posterior. Mesonotum with a fine, pale brown longitudinal median line and roughly parallel-sided. Mesosternum with a very indistinct longitudinal median carina. Metanotum a little less than 2/ 5 the length of mesonotum, about 2.2x longer than wide, rectangular and with a minute posteromedian tubercle; very gently constricted medially. Metasternum smooth.

Abdomen: Median segment about 2/3 the length of metanotum and gently constricted medially. Segments II–V increasing in length, II about 1.5x, V 2.5x longer than wide, VI as long as III. Tergites IV–VI with a small, transverse posteromedian tubercle, most decided on V. Tergite VII about ¾ the length of VI, posterolaterally dilated into a broad rounded lobe, which extends by as much as ¾ the width of segment. Praeopercular organ rather distinct and formed by two converging carinae near posterior margin of sternum VII (Fig. 365). Tergite VIII very slightly longer than VII and longer than IX and X combined , distinctly narrower than previous, constricted medially and almost 4x longer than wide. IX 1.5x longer than wide, parallel-sided. Anal segment as long as IX, with a faint longitudinal median carina and a broad, roundly triangular excavation posteromedially; posterolateral angles broadly rounded (Fig. 225). Supraanal plate broad, rounded and with a fine median carina. Cerci small, oval in cross-section tapered towards a pointed apex and at best very slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Gonapophyses dark reddish brown, elongate, up-curving and ± distinctly projecting over anal segment. Subgenital plate strongly keeled and boat-shaped, posterior margin rounded and reaching to or slightly projecting over apex of anal segment (Fig. 224).

Legs: All long and moderately robust with all carinae of mid and hind legs acutely spinose, meso- and metafemora very slightly down-curving. Profemora slightly longer than mesonotum, mesofemora about as long as mesothorax, metafemora roughly reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergite IV and hind tarsi reaching posterior of tergite IX. Anterodorsal carina of profemora armed with 13–17 large, triangular serrations; posterodorsal carina set with 8–11 small teeth. Posteroventral carina with 16–20 small, pointed teeth; anteroventral carina unarmed. Anterodorsal carina of protibiae sparsely but rather regularly serrate, posteroventral carina densely armed with minute spines. All carinae of meso- and metafemora armed with pointed spines, which increase in size towards the base of femur; less numerous and slightly smaller on dorsal carinae. Ventral carinae of mesofemora very gently widened basally. Posterodorsal carina occasionally with 1–2 slightly enlarged triangular teeth about ¼ off the base. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora armed with 5–7 strong and rather long, gently hooked spines which increase in size towards base of femur. All carinae of meso- and metatibiae densely armed with minute, pointed spines; more sparsely on dorsal carinae. Posterodorsal carina usually with a ± prominent triangular lobe pre-medially and forming a small, rounded and dentate lobe apically. Probasitarsus with all carinae smooth but distinctly elevated, as long as remaining segments combined except claw. Dorsal carina of meso- and metabasitarsi distinctly raised and rounded apically, all carinae minutely dentate; slightly longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

♂♂ (Fig. 144): Large to very large (body length 139.5–183.0 mm) and slender for the genus with long alae (74.5–90.0 mm) and characteristic white markings on tegmina. General colouration of body, legs, tegmina and costal region of alae yellowish or greyish mid brown; the abdomen furnished with irregular, small pale and dark brown speckles. Occasionally a few white spots are present on mesonotum. Back of head with two ± distinct dark brown transverse stripes, sometimes interrupted medially. Abdominal tergite IX with a bold white marking anterolaterally. Pro, meso- and metasternum each with a distinct white marking posteriorly. Abdominal sternites II–V set with a few whitish spots and markings and the posterior margin broadly white. Anterior margin of tegmina broadly white and basal portion of anterior margin of alae with a white longitudinal band. Tegmina with a broad white diagonal band. Anal region of alae transparent greyish brown with brown veins. Spination of legs black, ventral surfaces ± distinctly marbled with pale grey or white. Eyes dark reddish brown. Antennae brown with ventral surfaces of all antennomeres except scapus and pedicellus blackish brown.

Head (Fig. 297): Generally as in ♀♀, but depression behind bases of antennae very indistinct. Eyes much more prominent and projecting hemispherically; their length contained only a little more than 2x in that of cheek. Antennae projecting over posterior margin of tergite III, otherwise as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum as in ♀♀ but about as head, 1.8x longer than wide. Mesothorax almost 2.5x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum parallel-sided, very slightly widening at posterior margin and occasionally covered with a few very minute whitish granules. Mesosternum with a fine longitudinal median carina. Metasternum smooth and with an indistinct pale longitudinal median line. Tegmina oval, rounded apically, tapered towards the base and with a distinct , roundly conical central hump. Alae reaching to or projecting over posterior margin of abdominal tergite V.

Abdomen: Median segment distinctly longer than metanotum, smooth and gently narrowing towards the posterior. Segments II–V very slightly increasing in length and in average about 6x longer than wide; VI slightly shorter. Tergites V and VI with a small, transverse posteromedian tubercle (sometimes lacking on VI). Tergite VII about 3/5 the length of VI and about 3x longer than wide; lateral margins in posterior portion slightly dilated and forming a ± distinct, rounded lobe, which extends by at best 1/3 the width of segment. Tergite VIII slightly longer than VII, prominently swollen and widening towards the posterior, about 2.5x longer than wide. IX a little shorter but considerably narrower than VIII, widened anteriorly, distinctly constricted medially and about 3x longer than wide. Anal segment shorter than IX, strongly laterally compressed and tectiform. Semi-tergites slightly tapered in apical portion and apex broadly triangular (Fig. 226). Interior surfaces apically swollen and armed with numerous minute spines ( Figs. 23 & 28). Cerci almost reaching apex of anal segment, cylindrical basally and compressed apically, gently in-curving ( Fig. 28). Poculum bulgy, strongly convex and cup-like and with a a blunt but distinct central spine; reaching about 1/3 the way along tergite IX.

Legs: All very long and moderately slender. Profemora longer, the mesofemora about as long as head, pro- and mesonotum combined, metafemora projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatibiae roughly reaching apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora armed with 15–20 prominent and acute, triangular serrations. Posterodorsal carina set with 2–8 very minute teeth. Posteroventral carina with 14–20 small, pointed teeth. Anterodorsal and posteroventral carinae of protibiae densely but minutely serrate. Armature of mid and hind legs generally as in ♀♀ but less distinct. The enlarged, pre-medial tooth or lobe of the posterodorsal carina may be lacking on the metatibiae. Probasitarsus longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, dorsal carina distinctly raised and ledge-like. Meso- and metabasitarsus with dorsal carina distinctly raised and rounded, all carinae minutely dentate; as long as remaining tarsomeres combined.

Eggs (Figs. 159–160 & 356): Large, capsule oval and 1.5x longer than high. General colouration of capsule and micropylar plate creamish beige, operculum greyish mid brown. Lateroventrally with a very faint, slightly darker marking or several smaller markings. Capsule surface glossy and very unevenly granulose (70x). Micropylar plate more than ¾ the length of capsule, shaped like a bold inverted “Y”. Apices of all extensions rounded, outer margin mid brown. Micropylar cup placed in posteromedial gap of plate and posteriorly bordered by a slightly curved ridge. Median line indistinct and gently raised, reaching to polar-area. Polar-area with an oval blackish marking and a small, blunt tubercle in the centre. Operculum oval and slightly convex. Capitulum large and bowl-shaped with the outer margin folded up-wards, orange brown. Stalk distinct, pale brown.

Measurements [mm]: Length including capitulum 6.0–6.2, length 5.3–5.4, width 3.6–3.7, height 4.0–4.1, length of micropylar plate 3.9.

Comments: Bi (1994: 10) described Pharnacia jianfenglingensis from a single ♀ collected at the Jianfengling Natural Protective Region in the Hainan Province of South China. The ♂ was described and illustrated by Qi & Liu (1992: 250) based on specimens erroneously identified as Tirachoidea westwoodii (Wood- Mason, 1875) and originating in the Jinping County, Yunnan Province (900–1000 m) in Southern China. The specimens described and illustrated clearly relate to T. jianfenglingensis ( Bi, 1994) , which can apart from the distribution and shape of the semi-tergites of the anal segment be seen in the conspicuously large size. Qi & Liu (1992: 250) cited body lengths of 154.0–180.0 mm for ♂♂ and lengths of up to 280.0 mm for ♀♀ (→ Table 39). The ♂ from Northern Vietnam (Than Moi) in NHMW, erroneously identified and described as “ Pharnacia maxima Bates ” by Redtenbacher (1908: 450), is a typical specimen of T. jianfenglingensis .

Bi (1994: 11) stated T. jianfenglingensis to feed on Terminalia catappa (Combretaceae) and Anthocephalus chinensis (Rubiaceae) in the Hainan Province and Qi & Liu (1992: 252) reported it to feed on Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) in Yunnan. According to Chen et al. (1994) T. jianfenglingensis has two generations per year in the latter locality.

Since the late 1990’s T. jianfenglingensis is being cultured in Europe and was included on the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as culture No. 208 “ Pharnacia sp. Vietnam ”. The original eggs were purchased from a Nature Reserve Project in Cuc Phuong, Nho Quam District, Ninh Binh Province (some 100 km south of

Hanoi) by P. Heusi (Uster, Switzerland) in 1996. In captivity in Europe it readily accepts oaks ( Quercus robur , Q. petraea and Q. rubra , Fagaceae ) and bramble ( Rubus fruticosus , Rosaceae ) as alternative food plants.

Distribution (Fig. 405): Southern China (Hainan Province: Ledong County, Jianfengling & Yunnan Province: Jinping County 900–1000 m), Northern Vietnam (Ninh Binh Province: Nho Quam District, Cuc Phuong; Cho-Moi & Hoabinh) and Northeast Thailand (Doi Chieng Dao 4000 ft.).

Number of specimens examined: 57

* metanotum including median segment

** according to Qui & Liu (1992: 250)