Nesiophasma Günther, 1934

Hennemann, Frank H., Damastra, Garda Bagus, Damaledo, Davis Marthin, Cumming, Royce T. & Tirant, Stéphane Le, 2023, Nesiophasma sobesonbaii n sp a new giant stick insect from the island of Timor Indonesia Insecta Phasmatodea, Faunitaxys 11 (20), pp. 1-13 : 1-13

Nesiophasma Günther, 1934

Type species. – Nesiophasma eremothocus Günther, 1934a: 5 [= Myronides spinulosus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 254], by original designation of Günther, 1934a: 5.

Nesiophasma Günther, 1934a: 5 ; Günther, 1935b: 139; Günther, 1935b: 29; Günther, 1953: 555; Bradley & Galil, 1977: 193; Hennemann, 1998: 124; Hennemann, 1999: 213, Fig. 1-2 ; Zompro, 2005: 314; Otte & Brock, 2005: 227; Hennemann & Conle, 2008: 57, Fig. 61a-b; Hennemann, 2020: 174; Hennemann, 2021: 103 , Fig. 40-47; Brock & Büscher, 2002: 559.

= Mylothrus Günther, 1935a: 18 [Synonymised by Günther, 1935a: 29 (Nachtrag 3)].

Phryganistria, Günther 1934b: 78 , Fig. 1-2 .

Remarks. – Hennemann (2021: 103) provided a review and detailed diagnosis of the genus along with the descriptions of two new gigantic species from the islands of Peleng (Banggai Islands) and Sanana (Sula Islands). Nesiophasma Günther, 1934 are medium to large exclusively apterous stick insects that comprise the longest of all known insects of the Wallacea region. The genus is distributed throughout Wallacea west of Weber’s line of faunal balance. Only one species has been recorded from New Guinea but this distribution was regarded as doubtful ( Hennemann, 2021: 123). Most of the species are rather uncommon and rarely encountered despite their impressive size. As stated by Hennemann (2021) the morphologically most similar and presumably most closely related genera are Sadyattes Stål, 1875 and Eucarcharus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907.

Distribution. – Wallacea west of Weber’s Line: Sulawesi, Peleng Island, Selayar Island, Kalaotoa Island, Sanana Island, Romang Island, Timor Island, Sangihe Island and Talaud Islands. New Guinea with doubt.

Figures

Fig. 1. Female of Nesiophasma sobesonbaii n. sp. A. HT, dorsal view [IMQC, ex coll. FH]. B. HT, lateral view [IMQC, ex coll. FH]. C. Head and prothorax in dorsolateral view [FH]. D. Head and prothorax in dorsal view [FH]. E. Head and prothorax in ventral view [FH]. F. Right profemur in ventral view [FH]. G. Left mesofemur in posterolateral view [FH]. H. Left mesofemur in ventral view [FH].

Fig. 2. Male of Nesiophasma sobesonbaii n. sp. A. PT, dorsolateral view [FH, No. 1311-8]. B. PT, head and prothorax in dorsolateral view [FH]. C. Head and prothorax in dorsal view [FH].D. Head and prothorax in ventral view [FH]. E. Apical portion of right mesofemur in posterolateral view [FH].