Diapherodes Gray 1835
Creators: name: Frank H. Hennemann
name: Oskar V. Conle
name: Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Phasmatidae
Diapherodes
Mantodea
Mantidae
Mantis
Mantis gigantea

description: 5.4 . Genus Diapherodes Gray, 1835
Type-species: Mantis gigantea Gmélin, 1789: 2055, by subsequent designation of Kirby, 1904a: 362.
Diapherodes Gray, 1835: 33 (in part). Burmeister, 1838: 560, 573 (in part). Westwood, 1859: 84 (in part). Saussure, 1872: 185 (in part). Stål, 1875: 31.
Bolivar, 1888: 140 (in part). Kirby, 1904a: 362 (in part). Redtenbacher, 1908: 434 (in part). Rehn, 1909: 200.
Wolcott, 1922: 23.
Wolcott, 1936: 35.
Rehn & Hebard, 1938: 53, pl. 4: 22 (♀). Wolcott, 1948: 50.
Wolcott, 1951: 50.
Moxey, 1972: 85 (in litt.; in part).
Langlois & Lelong, 1997: 43, fig. 20 (♂, ♀).
Brock, 1998c: 33.
Langlois, Lelong, Rastel, Polidori & Dorel, 2000: 46, fig. 19-g (♂, ♀) & photos 10–12 (egg).
Lelong, Langlois, Rastel & Dorel, 2003: 48, fig. 19a–g (♂, ♀) & photos 11–13 (egg).
Lelong & Langlois, 2005: 264.
Otte & Brock, 2005: 120 (in part).
Langlois, Lelong & Rastel, 2006: 42, figs. 19 a–g (♂, ♀, nymph), photos 5–6 (♀) & 27–29 (egg). Aplopus, Redtenbacher, 1908: 429 (in part).
Rehn, 1904: 68 (in part).
Rehn, 1909: 200.
Wetmore, 1916: 58.
Wolcott, 1923: 23.
Wolcott, 1936: 35.
Wolcott, 1948: 50.
Wolcott, 1951: 50.
Otte & Brock, 2003: 301 (in part).
Aplopus (?), Rehn & Hebard, 1938: 52.
Cyphocrana, St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1825: 445.
Audinet-Serville, 1831: 61.
Haplopus, Westwood, 1859: 85 (in part).
Kirby, 1904a: 363 (in part).
Mantis, Drury, 1773: 88, 89, pl. 44: 1 & 50 (in part).
Fabricius, 1775: 274.
Fabricius, 1787: 227.
Gmélin, 1789: 2054-2055.
Olivier, 1792: 634.
Fabricius, 1793: 13.
Phasma, Fabricius, 1798: 187, 188.
St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1825: 101.
Westwood, 1859: 34, pl. 22: 7, 7a, 7b (♀). Phasma (Diapherodes), de Haan, 1842: 109. [Not: Diapherodes, Saussure, 1872: 183. à Venupherodes n. gen.]
Description: ♀♀, ♂♂. Medium-sized to very large (body lengths: ♀♀ 92.0–197.0 mm, ♂♂ 60.0–126.0 mm) and moderately slender to very robust Haplopodini. ♀♀ in particular, often broad to very broad and massive insects with the body distinctly oval in cross-section and the thorax and abdomen conspicuously broadened; brachypterous. ♂♂ moderately slender, body cylindrical or sub-cylindrical in cross-section, with scale-like tegmina and well developed alae. Body surface of ♀♀ ± shiny, colouration usually plain bright green (rarely brown or with brown markings), ♂♂ brown or green. Head globose, indistinctly longer than wide. Vertex roundly convex, tuberculose and armed with a pair of ± prominent tubercles or blunt spines. Antennae with all antennomeres moderately thickened and longer than head and thorax combined. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, longer than pedicellus. Pronotum tuberculose, with or without a ± prominent pair of blunt spines or tubercles in anterior half. Mesothorax at best slightly more than 2x the length of head and pronotum combined, in ♂♂ slender and roughly parallel sided, in ♀♀ ± strongly widened towards the posterior and constricted anteriorly. Mesonotum anteriorly armed with 2–6 distinct spiniform tubercles or spines; surface otherwise smooth, sparsely granulose or tuberculose. Meso- and metapleurae of ♀♀ ± strongly expanded and laterally projecting over mesonotum; armed with a longitudinal marginal row of ± prominent tubercles, teeth or spines. Meso- and metasternum either smooth, both granulose, or only the mesosternum with a few scattered granules. ♀♀ with scale-like tegmina which at best slightly project over posterior margin of metanotum. Alae at best slightly longer than the tegmina, but usually much shorter and may be vestigial. Tegmina of ♂♂ oval, longer than metanotum and with a ± distinct conical central hump. Alae at least reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergum V. Anal region of alae transparent pink or violet (♀♀), plain transparent white, pink or orange (♂♂). Abdomen distinctly longer than head and complete thorax combined; unarmed in ♂♂, tergites sometimes finely multi-carinate in ♀♀. Abdomen of ♀♀ ± broadened and swollen basally or sub-basally, with segments II and/or III the broadest, then gradually narrowing towards the apex. Abdomen of ♂♂ slender and cylindrical with the terminal three segments slightly broader than previous. In ♀♀ segments II–IV transverse to quadrate, V to VII slightly longer than wide; in ♂♂ II–VII parallelsided and 1.5–2.5x longer than wide. Tergum VII of ♀♀ with lateral margins ± rounded and/or expanded, or with a triangular posterolateral lobe; in ♂♂ parallel-sided or with a small lobe posterolaterally. Praeopercular organ of ♀♀ indistinct; formed by a single posteromedian granule or wart-like tubercle on sternum VII. Cerci very small, oval in cross-section and tapered towards the apex; slightly in-curving in ♂♂, often hidden underneath anal segment in ♀♀. Epiproct very small and mostly hidden underneath anal segment. Vomer short and broad; roughly triangular. Subgenital plate of ♀♀ keeled, narrowed towards a ± pointed apex and extending considerably beyond apex of abdomen. Poculum of ♂♂ strongly convex and cup-like. Legs of moderate length and rather broad. Profemora at best about as long as mesothorax, hind legs not reaching to apex of abdomen. Medioventral carina of femora armed with a longitudinal row of spines (often indistinct on profemora). Both dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora occasionally with a sub-apical lobe, the ventral carinae each with 1–2 distinct and pointed sub-apical spines. Some carinae of mid and hind legs may be ± elevated and ledge-like in ♀♀ of certain species. Basitarsi short, at best slightly longer than following two tarsomeres combined.
Eggs: Medium-sized to large (capsule length 3.7–5.6 mm), ovoid and cylindrical in cross-section; capsule 1.5–2.0x longer than wide. Polar-area ± impressed in lateral aspect. Capsule surface strongly coriaceous and covered with irregular raised tubercles and ridges to a variable degree. Micropylar plate generally drop or heartshaped, narrowed towards anterior end and broadened basally, at least 1/3 the length of capsule; central portion sculptured like capsule. Posterior end of micropylar plate with a wide triangular gap. Median line distinct. Operculum flat to slightly convex, circular and in the centre structured like capsule; no conspicuous central capitulum. Colouration irregularly grey or brown.
Differentiation: Closely related to the Cuban Venupherodes n. gen. and Haplopus Burmeister, 1838. Slender representatives of the jamaicensis -group in particular resemble stockier representatives of Haplopus.
However, Diapherodes is absent in Cuba and easily distinguished from Venupherodes n. gen. by: the larger size (♀♀ in particular); unicolourous head of ♂♂; elevated and prominently armed mesopleurae which laterally project over the mesonotum; mesothorax which is gradually broadened towards the posterior; lack of a longitudinal median keel of the mesonotum; presence of tegmina and alae; basally or sub-basally broadened abdomen; simple praeopercular organ and longer subgenital plate of ♀♀. The eggs at once differ by the less strongly sculptures capsule surface and longer, elongate micropylar plate (→ Table 33).
From Haplopus it differs by: the broader and more robust body (♀♀ in particular); relatively shorter mesothorax (at best a little more than 2x the length of head and pronotum combined); shorter basitarsi and plain anal region of the alae of both sexes; oval body cross-section and more decidedly broadened meso- and metathorax of ♀♀, as well as the smaller and much more slender cerci ♂♂. Furthermore, ♀♀ are mostly plain bright green, whereas ♀♀ of Haplopus are brown or grey. The eggs clearly differ from those of Haplopus by having the capsule surface much more prominently sculptured and lacking a distinct hat- or knob-like central capitulum.
Comments: The classification of Diapherodes has varied through the years, but in the way treated by Redtenbacher (1908: 434) the genus was paraphyletic and as interpreted by Moxey (1972: 85 ff., in litt.) included five generic units. Several features of the insects and eggs indicate two species-groups within the genus, here recognized as the gigantea -group and jamaicensis -group. These two groups are geographically rather well separated, members of the gigantea -group being restricted to the Lesser Antilles, and the three known species of the jamaicensis -group occuring only on the Greater Antillean islands of Jamaica and Puerto Rico (→ 6.).
The systematic level of sub-genera was considered for these two groups of species in Diapherodes, but due to the lack of satisfying distinctive features in the eggs in particular, interpreting these solely as species-groups appears more appreciable. For a better understanding of the present arrangement a detailed comparison of these two species-groups here proposed appears warranted and is presented below (→ Table 10).
Distribution (Fig. 375): Lesser Antilles (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Grenada, & Saint Vincent → gigantea -group, Fig. 381) and Greater Antilles (Puerto Rico & Jamaica → jamaicensis -group).
Species & subspecies included:
I. Gigantea -group
1. Diapherodes angulata (Fabricius, 1793: 13) [Mantis]. rev. stat.
= Haplopus grayi Kaup, 1871: 36. n. syn. [Distribution: Guadeloupe]
2. Diapherodes dominicae (Rehn & Hebard, 1938: 53). n. comb. [Distribution: Dominica]
3. Diapherodes gigantea gigantea (Gmélin, 1789: 2055) [Mantis]. = Mantis gigas Drury, 1773: 89, pl. 50 (♀). = Cyphocrana cornuta St. Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1825: 445. [Distribution: Saint Vincent & Grenada]
4. Diapherodes gigantea saintluciae n. ssp.
[Distribution: Saint Lucia]
5. Diapherodes martinicensis Lelong & Langlois, 2005: 264. [Distribution: Martinique]
II. Jamaicensis -group
6. Diapherodes achalus (Rehn, 1904: 68) [Aplopus]. n. comb. = Diapherodes longiscapha Redtenbacher, 1908: 435. n. syn. [Distribution: Puerto Rico]
7. Diapherodes jamaicensis (Drury, 1773: 88, pl. 44: 1 (♂)) [Mantis]. = Mantis bispinosa Fabricius, 1775: 274.
= Haplopus christopheri Westwood, 1859: 84, pl. 33: 4, 4a (♀). n. syn. = Diapherodes glabricollis Gray, 1835: 33. n. syn. = Haplopus murinus Redtenbacher, 1908: 429. n. syn. = Dipaherodes pulverulentus Gray, 1835: 34. n. syn. [Distribution: Jamaica]
8. Diapherodes laevicollis Redtenbacher, 1908: 434. [Distribution: Jamaica]
Keys to the species and subspecies of Diapherodes
♀♀*
1. Meso- and metapleurae strongly expanded and with a prominent marginal row of teeth or spines; pronotum with a distinct pair of anterior spines; alae vestigial, <½ the length of tegmina; Lesser Antilles........................ 2. (gigantea -group)
- Meso- and metapleurae tuberculose; no anterior spines on pronotum; alae ± as long as tegmina; Greater Antilles (Jamaica & Puerto Rico)......................................................................... 6. (jamaicensis -group)
2. Body length> 11 cm; mesonotum> 1.5x longer than head and pronotum combined;> 50 antennomeres................. 3
- Body length <10 cm; mesonotum only 1.3x longer than head and pronotum combined (Fig. 144); 37 antennomeres; Martinique (Fig. 381).............................................................................. martinicensis
3. Body length <15 cm; mesonotum with numerous spiniform tubercles or spines; carinae of mid and hind legs not conspicuously expanded and dorsal carinae not dentate............................................................... 4
- Very large, body length> 15 cm (Figs. 120–122); mesonotum unarmed or at best with six enlarged spines in anterior portion; mid and hind legs with carinae ± strongly expanded and acutely dentate (Fig. 132); Saint Vincent & Grenada (Fig. 381)........................................................................................... gigantea gigantea
4. Small, body length <14 cm; head bi-tuberculate............................................................. 5
- Large, body length> 14 cm, head prominently bi-cornute (Fig. 107); Guadeloupe (Fig. 381).................... angulata
5. Spines of meso- and metapleurae considerably longer than width of base, acute; tegmina large and overlapping (Figs. 136–137); Saint Lucia (Fig. 381).................................................... gigantea saintluciae n. ssp.
- Spines of meso- and metapleurae small and blunt (Figs. 109–110); tegmina small and leaving a distinct gap between each other (Figs. 109–110); Dominica (Fig. 381)............................................................... dominicae
6. Slender insects; mesothorax slightly widened towards the posterior,> 2.5x longer than head and pronotum combined; abdominal tergum VII gently broadened and indistinctly broader than VI............................................... 7
- Very massive insects (Figs. 183–184); mesothorax strongly broadened towards the posterior, only about 2.1x longer than head and pronotum combined; abdominal tergum VII prominently laterally expanded; almost 2x broader than VI (Fig. 186); Jamaica ...................................................................................... laevicollis
7. Slender insects (Figs. 167–170); head globose and distinctly bi-cornute (Fig. 173–174); mesonotum granulose and with 2–4 anterior spines, not keeled; abdomen slender; Jamaica ................................................. jamaicensis
- Broader insects (Fig. 157); head longer than wide and faintly bi-tuberculate (Fig. 159); mesonotum smooth and with a longitudinal median carina; abdomen distinctly broadened sub-basally; Puerto Rico ................................. achalus
* body lengths given are including the subgenital plate ♂♂
1. Mesonotum irregularly granulose, tuberculose or spinose; metasternum and pleurae granulose; Lesser Antilles (Fig. 381).......................................................................................... 2 (gigantea -group) - Mesonotum unarmed (may have 2–8 anterior spines), metasternum and pleurae unarmed; Greater Antilles (Jamaica & Puerto Rico).............................................................................. 6 (jamaicensis -group) 2. Mesonotum tuberculose or spinose; colouration of body, tegmina and costal region of alae brown...................... 3 Mesonotum sparsely granulose; body, tegmina and costal region of alae green (Figs. 101–102); Guadeloupe (Fig. 381).................................................................................................... angulata 3. Head distinctly bi-cornute; anterior margin of tegmina white or pale yellowish..................................... 4 - Cephalad pair of tubercles obsolete (Fig. 113); anterior margin of tegmina bright yellow and green with a dark green stripe interiorly (Fig. 117); Dominica (Fig. 381)........................................................... dominicae 4. Mesothorax elongate> 1.7x longer than head and pronotum combined; alae at best reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergum VI; ventral portion of tegmina without distinct colouration............................................... 5 - Mesothorax short, only 1.5x longer than head and pronotum combined; alae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergum VII (Figs. 146–147); central portion of tegmina bright purple; Martinique (Fig. 381)...................... martinicensis 5. Body length> 9 cm; tubercles of pro- and mesonotum dull green (Fig. 125); alae at best reaching half way along abdominal tergum VI; Saint Vincent & Grenada (Fig. 381)................................................ gigantea gigantea - Body length <9 cm; tubercles of pro- and mesonotum black; alae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergum VI; Saint Lucia (Fig. 381).................................................................. gigantea saintluciae n. ssp. 6. Mesonotum with 2–8 distinct paired anterior spines; alae at best reaching to abdominal tergum VI; tegmina plain green; Jamaica ............................................................................................. 7 - Mesonotum unarmed, at most with some minute granules; alae projecting over tergum VII; tegmina with a brown longitudinal median stripe (Fig. 158); Puerto Rico ................................................................ achalus 7. Slender; mesonotum 2x longer than head and pronotum combined; alae reaching to posterior of abdominal tergum VI (Figs. 171–172); scapus and pedicellus greenish or brown (Fig. 175).......................................... jamaicensis - More robust; mesonotum 1.8x longer than head and pronotum combined; alae reaching to posterior of abdominal tergum VII (Fig. 185); scapus and pedicellus black............................................................. laevicollis
description: Published as part of Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XVI: Revision of Haplopodini Günther, 1953 (rev. stat.), with notes on the subfamily Cladomorphinae Bradley & Galil, 1977 and the descriptions of a new tribe, four new genera and nine new species (Phasmatodea: " Anareolatae ": Phasmatidae: Cladomorphinae), pp. 1-211 in Zootaxa 4128 (1) on pages 59-63, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271800