Macrophasma oreitrephes ( Günther, 1929 ) Gunther, 1929

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006, Stephanacridini Günther, 1953, with the descriptions of a new genus and three new species of Stephanacris Redtenbacher, 1908 (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”), Zootaxa 1283, pp. 1-24 : 11

Macrophasma oreitrephes ( Günther, 1929) n. comb.

Fig. 14

Hermarchus oreïtrephes Günther, 1929: 626 , 687, pl. 6. HT, Ψ: D. N. Guinea, Schraderbg. 5.–13.VI.1913 (2100 m), Kais. Augustafl. Exp., Bürgers S. G., Typus (ZMHB). Herwaarden, 1998: 88.

Zompro, 1997: 2, fig. 1. [description and illustration of egg] Otte & Brock, 2005: 155.

Zompro, 2006: 274.

Further material [5 ΨΨ]

1 Ψ: Papua Neuguinea, Morobe Provinz, Aseki, VII.1991 (coll. FH, No. 0107­1); 2 ΨΨ: Papua Neuguinea, Morobe Provinz, Aseki, VI.2001 (coll. FH 0107­2 & 3); 1 Ψ: Papua Neuguinea, Eastern Highland Province, V.2001 (coll. OC, No. 00968); 1 Ψ: Papua Neuguinea, Morobe Provinz, Aseki, VI.2001 (coll. OC, No. 00967).

Comments

ΨΨ are characterized by the strikingly broad and massive body (average body width 20.0–23.0 mm), which makes them some of the world’s largest and heaviest insects, less prominent and unarmed mesopleurae which are gradually widened towards the posterior, just very gently rounded lateral margins of the abdominal tergites and dorsally unarmed meso­ and metafemora. Body lengths of ΨΨ including the subgenital plate 203.0–239.0 mm. ɗɗ unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 16. 12. Macrophasma n. gen. biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908), Ψ (coll. FH). 13. Macrophasma n. gen. biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908), PLT ♂ (ZMUH). 14. Macrophasma n. gen. oreithrephes (Günther, 1929), Ψ (coll. FH). 15. Macrophasma n. gen. lyrata (Redtenbacher, 1908), Ψ (RMNH). 16. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp., HT Ψ (RMNH).