Hemiplasta Redtenbacher 1908
Creators: name: Hennemann, Frank H.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Diapheromeridae
Hemiplasta

description: Genus Hemiplasta Redtenbacher, 1908
Type-species: Necroscia styligera Bates, 1865: 354, pl. 45: 1, by subsequent designation by Hennemann & Conle, 1999: 10.
Sipyloidea (Hemiplasta) Redtenbacher, 1908: 543. Günther, 1934: 86.
Hemiplasta, Bradley & Galil, 1977: 182. Günther, 1938: 88, figs. 19–22. Hennemann, 1998: 112, 121, figs. 18–20, pl. 3: 1, 6 & 7, pl. 4: 1–2. Hennemann & Conle, 1999: 10. [Designation of type-species] Otte & Brock, 2005: 152.
Comments: Originally described as a subgenus of Sipyloidea Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893, this very distinctive genus appears to be endemic to Sulawesi, the Talaud Islands, Banggai Islands and the Sula archipelago. While previously only known from the ♀♀, also the now available ♂♂ of certain species and egg of one species still do not allow a proper definition of Hemiplasta and separation from Cylindomena Günther, 1935 rev. stat. (→ see below). Hence, a sufficient re-description is still inappropriate and must await more comprehensive knowledge of both genera.
Apparently, Hemiplasta is closely related to Cylindomena Günther, 1935 rev. stat. (type-species: Parasipyloidea acuminata Redtenbacher, 1908) with which it shares the distinctive morphology of the genitalia of ♀♀ (Fig. 49). In both genera, the subgenital plate is strongly elongated, gradually narrowed towards an acutely pointed apex and has both lateral surfaces strongly up-curving and coalescent to form a more or less tube-like structure. The gonapophyses VIII and IX are enormously elongated but hidden within the subgenital plate in the resting position. While the lower pair of gonapophyses (VIII) are slender, rather filiform and tri-carinate in cross-section with a fine medio-longitudinal carina interiorly, the even longer upper pair (IX) are much broadened, laterally flattened and sword-blade like in shape (Fig. 49). The two apterous Javanese species that belong in Cylindomena according to Günther (1935b: 139), this is C. acuminata (Redtenbacher, 1908) and C. scalprifera Günther, 1935, merely differ from ♀♀ of Hemiplasta by the more stocky shape and averaging smaller size. Although not recorded as a synonym Brock (1998: 12) listed the type-species of Cylindomena, C. acuminata (Redtenbacher, 1908), in the original genus Parasipyloidea Redtenbacher, 1908, hence erroneously synonymised Cylindomena with Parasipyloidea. Since this was obviously unwanted and Cylindomena strikingly differs from the type-species of Parasipyloidea in various morphological aspects, Cylindomena is here re-established as a valid genus (rev. stat.) and comprises the two species originally attributed by Günther (1935b: 139, see above). A proper delimitation of the genus and separation from Hemiplasta must await knowledge of the still unknown ♂♂ of Cylindomena. However, taking into account the remarkable morphological resemblance to the only known apterous ♀ of Hemiplasta, H. aptera Günther, 1938 (Figs. 50E–G), suggests Cylindomena might turn out to be synonymous.
Another genus that certainly is closely related to Hemiplasta and Cylindomena, is the monotypical Sulawesian endemic Moritasgus Günther, 1935 (type-species: Moritasgus stresemanni Günther, 1935). Females of Moritasgus exhibit the same distinctive morphology of the genitalia described for the other two genera above, but has the lateral surfaces of the subgenital plate less strongly coalescent and subgenital plate as well as the gonapophyses less distinctly elongated. Both sexes may however be separated by the two rounded posterior swellings of the head and expanded posterolateral angles of the abdominal terga II–VII. Males furthermore differ by the shape of the cerci, which are obtusely thickened towards an angular and interiorly impressed apex. A ♀ of an as yet undescribed spe-cies of Moritasgus (Fig. ##) has the abdominal terga armed with posterior spines, the abdominal sterna set with small lobes, the thoracic segments unevenly tuberculose to spinulose and all three pairs of femora irregularly furnished with tooth-like lobes.
Distribution: Sulawesi, Talaud Islands, Banggai Islands and Sula archipelago.
Species included
1. Hemiplasta aptera Günther, 1938: 90, figs. 21–22.
Distribution: Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (“Talekadjo-Mountains” 1200-1600 m)
2. Hemiplasta flavifrons n. sp.
Distribution: Central Sulawesi (Luwuk).
3. Hemiplasta mustea (Bates, 1865: 355, pl. 45: 8). n. comb.
= Aruanoidea densegranulosa Redtenbacher, 1908: 521. n. syn.
= Hemiplasta falcata Redtenbacher, 1908: 550, pl. 27: 2. n. syn.
Distribution: Sula Islands (Pulau Mangole & Sanana “Sulabesi”); Banggai Islands (Pulau Peleng: Tinangkung Utara District: nr. Luksagu village; Buko District, btw. Tatendeng and Eben village, 400–550 m & Tinanasu).
4. Hemiplasta nigra (Hennemann, 1998: 108, fig. 12, pl. 3: 5). n. comb.
Distribution: Central Sulawesi; Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (Tana Toraja: Rantepao 700–800 m).
5. Hemiplasta parva n. sp.
Distribution: Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Tengah (Palu).
6. Hemiplasta rostrata Redtenbacher, 1908: 550. rev. stat.
Distribution: N-Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Utara (Minahasa).
7. Hemiplasta sarasinorum Günther, 1938: 88, figs. 19–20.
Distribution: Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (Luwu: Lempongpangi).
8. Hemiplasta styligera (Bates, 1865: 354, pl. 45: 1).
Distribution: Sula Islands (Pulau Mangole); Peleng Island (Buko District, btw. Tantendeng village & Eben village, 400–550 m); Central Sulawesi, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan (Tana Toraja: Rantepao 700–800 m); Talaud Islands (Karakelang Island: Lobo).
Keys to the species of Hemiplasta
♀♀ *
1. Winged............................................................................................. 2
- Apterous; Sulawesi (Fig. 50E)....................................................................... aptera
2. Alae long and at least reaching to abdominal segment V....................................................... 3
- Brachypterous, alae only reaching posterior margin of median segment; Sulawesi (Fig. 50A)................ sarasinorum
3. Cerci strongly elongated, much longer than anal segment...................................................... 4
- Cerci shorter than anal segment, not projecting beyond apex of abdomen; Sula Islands, Sulawesi and Talaud Islands (Figs. 58D–G)....................................................................................... styligera
4. Stocky species; alae at best reaching to abdominal segment VI................................................. 5
- Slender species; alae reaching to abdominal segment VIII; Sulawesi (Fig. 57)................................ rostrata
5. Brown; mesothorax 3.9x longer than prothorax; tegmina with three pale green spots; Sulawesi (Fig. 54)............. nigra
- Multicoloured; mesothorax 5x longer than prothorax; no pale spots on tegmina; Sula Islands & Peleng (Figs. 52A–B).................................................................................................... mustea
* ♀♀ of H. flavifrons n. sp. and H. parva n. sp. are not known
♂♂ *
1. Large, body length> 48 mm; alae at least reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment VI........................ 2
- Small species, body length <45 mm; alae only reaching half way along abdominal segment VI; Sulawesi (Fig. 57)................................................................................................... parva n. sp.
2. Rather robust insects: mesonotum heavily granulose; head without longitudinal lines................................ 3
- Very slender insects; mesonotum only with a few scattered granules; head with a distinct black postocular and coronal line; Sulawesi, Sula Islands and Talaud Islands (Fig. 59A)................................................... styligera
3. Abdominal segments VII–X club-shaped and notably broader than preceding segments.............................. 4
- Abdominal segments VIII–X indistinctly wider than preceding (Fig. 51E); head with a bold yellow marking on frons (Fig. 51C); Sulawesi ............................................................................ flavifrons n. sp.
4. Brown (Fig. 55A); costal region of alae plain brown; posterior margin of anal segment widely concave (Fig. 55C); Sulawesi ................................................................................................. nigra
- Multicolourous (Fig. 53L); costal region of alae green with anterior margin orange to brown; posterior margin of anal segment excavated triangularly (Fig. 53E); Sula Islands & Peleng................................................. mustea
* ♂♂ of H. aptera Günther, 1938, H. sarasinorum Günther, 1938 and H. rostrata Redtenbacher, 1908 are not known
description: Published as part of Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), pp. 1-189 in Zootaxa 5073 (1) on pages 127-129, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5073.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5760636