Phasmotaenia australe Gunther 1933
Creators: name: Hennemann, Frank H.
name: Conle, Oskar V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2009
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Phasmatidae
Phasmotaenia
Phasmotaenia australe

description: Phasmotaenia australe (Günther, 1933) rev. stat.
[Figs. 2–15, 48–52, 60]
Phasmotaenionema australe Günther, 1933: 155, figs. 1–4. HT, Ƥ: Salomonen, Buma (Malaita), leg. Paravicini 5. 1929; Phasmotaenionema australe K. Günther det.; Type (NHMB, No. VI.D.86). [Not: PT: 2 ƤƤ: Salomonen, Kira-Kira (Makira), I. 1929, leg. E. Paravicini; Phasmotaenionema australe K. Günther det. (NHMB); PT, Ƥ: Salomonen, Kira-Kira (Makira), I. 1929, leg. E. Paravicini; Phasmotaenionema australe K. Günther det. (MNHU), = Phasmotaenia guentheri n. sp.; Not: PT, Ƥ: Salomonen, Adla, Guadalcanar, leg. Paravicini 10.1928; Type; Phasmotaenionema australe K. Günther det. (NHMB), = Phasmotaenia sp. II (see below)]
Zompro, 1997: 1, figs. 1–2 (egg).
Hennemann & Conle, 1999: 9.
Zompro, 2003: 33.
Hermarchus godeffroyi, Günther, 1937: 8. [Erroneous synonym]
Otte & Brock, 2005: 155 [P. a u s t r a l e Günther, 1933 listed as a synonym]. Phasmotaenia godeffroyi, Bresseel & Hennemann, 2008: 18, figs 1–7 (Ƥ, 3, egg).
Further material examined [31 ƤƤ, 18 3, 2 nymphs, eggs]:
MALAITA ISLAND: 1 Ƥ: Solomon Is., Malaita, 8 IX.1954, 979, E.S. Brown, „ Hermarchus godeffroyi “ det. S. Nakata 1965 (BMNH); 2 ƤƤ, eggs: Ex Zucht K. Rabaey (Veurne, Belgien), Herkunft: Salomon Inseln, Central Malaita Id., Kwara’ae Prov., PSG No. 288 (coll. FH 0513-3, 7 & E2); 1 Ƥ, 3 3, 1 Ƥ (penultimate instar): ex Zucht: F. Hennemann 2008/09, Herkunft: Salomon Inseln, Central Malaita Id., Kwara’ae Prov., F3 (coll. FH, No’s 0513-4 to 6, 8 & 11); 1 Ƥ, 1 3: ex Zucht: K. Rabaey (Veurne), Herkunft: Salomon Inseln, Central Malaita Id., Kwara’ae Prov., PSG No. 288 (coll. FH, No’s 0513-9 & 10); 7 3: ex Zucht B. Kneubühler, Herkunft: Solomon Islands, Central Malaita Id., Kwara’ae Prov., F1 (coll. OC); 2 ƤƤ: Solomon Islands, 2004 (coll. OC).
MARAMASIKE ISLAND: 1 Ƥ, 1 egg (ex ovipositor): Solomon Islands, Maramasike Id. prope Malaita, 30.VI.2003 (coll. FH, No’s 0513-1 & E1); 1 Ƥ: Solomon Islands, Malaita Prov., Maramasike Id. prope Malaita “Orohuasa”, 20.V.2003 (coll. FH, No. 0513-2).
SAVO ISLAND: Ƥ: Solomon Is., Savo, 21.XI.63, R.W. Paine (BMNH); 1 3: Solomon Is., Savo, II.1963, R.W. Paine, on Areca sp. (BMNH).
GUADALCANAL ISLAND: 1 Ƥ: Solomon Is. Guadalcanal, Popomanasiu, Nuhu, 28.X.65, Roy. Soc. Exped., B. M. 1966-1 (BMNH); 1 Ƥ (nymph): Guadalcanal, Honiara, 8.II.1964, R.W. Paine, Site A in forest, Brit. Mus. 1966-55; 1 3: Guadalcanal, Honiara forest, 22.VI.1963, R.W. Paine, Brit. Mus. 1966-55 (BMNH); 1 3: Solomon Is., Guadalcanal, VII.1963, R.W. Paine, Brit. Mus. 1967-404 (BMNH); 1 3: Solomon Is., Guadalcanal, I.1964, R.W. Paine, in forest at Honiara (BMNH)
SANTA ISBEL ISLAND: 1 Ƥ: Solomon Is., Isabel, Tatamba, 25.V.1967, M. McQuillan (BMNH).
BOUGAINVILLE: 7 ƤƤ: Iles Salomon, Ile des Bougainville, Ligo Akaibu, 4. X. 1938, Don A. Janssens, „ Hermarchus godeffroyi australis, det. S. Nakata 1963“ (ISNB) 4 ƤƤ: Iles Salomon, Ile de Bougainville, Buin, ex Coll. J. Muller, „ Hermarchus australis Günther “ (ISNB); 1 Ƥ, 1 3: Iles Salomon, Ile de Bougainville, Buin, ex Coll. Pr. F. Carpentier; „ Hermarchus godeffroyi Redt., s.s. australis Günth. 1933 “ (ISNB); 3 3: Iles Salomon, Ile de Bougainville, Buin, R.M.H.N.B. 16.364, Coll. J. Muller (ISNB); 6 ƤƤ: Iles Salomon, Ile de Bougainville (ISNB); 1 Ƥ: Bougainville, Buin, 1939, Coll. H. Hediger, 27; 7 (MHNG).
Diagnosis: Similar to P. virgea n. sp. from New Georgia, P. bukaense n. sp. from Buka north of Bougainville and P. godeffroyi (Redtenbacher, 1908) from the Carolines (Micronesia). ƤƤ at once differ from the latter two species by the presence of well developed tegmina, which are roughly equal in length to the metanotum and developed alae (Figs. 8–9). From P. virgea n. sp. it differs by: the more robust body; relatively shorter mesonotum, more globose head and differently shaped anal segment of both sexes; more prominently swollen mesothorax; lack of tubercles on the mesonotum and mesopleurae (Figs. 5–6) and dark red anal fan of the alae of ƤƤ (Figs. 8–9), as well as the distinctively white anterior margin of the tegmina of 3. From P. bukaense n. sp. ƤƤ additionally differ by: the lack of posteromedian carinae on abdominal tergite VI; almost straight posterior margin of the anal segment (Fig. 11) and dorsally serrate profemora. The eggs differ from those of P. bukaense n. sp. by the speckled capsule and smaller micropylar plate (Figs. 48–52). From P. godeffroyi ƤƤ may furthermore be distinguished by: the more globose head and distinctly convex vertex; unarmed mesopleurae; longer gonapophyses, which ± reach the apex of the subgenital plate (Figs. 10–14); almost straight posterior margin of the anal segment (Fig. 11), and lacking the pale transverse, sub-apical band of the meso- and metafemora.
Description: Ƥ (Figs. 2, 3 & 61): Medium sized to large (body length 151.0– 176.5 mm, incl. subgenital plate 157.0–187.0 mm), moderately slender and elongate species (body width at abdominal tergite V 7.0–10.0 mm) with a distinctly swollen mesothorax, well developed, scale-like tegmina (7.2–11.0 mm), variable alae (4.8–11.5 mm) and a moderately long, lanceolate subgenital plate.
Colouration: General colouration of body and legs variable and ranging from pale green to dull green, or pale straw to dark brown. Occasionally specimens may have the entire body irregularly furnished with dark markings and speckles (see Bresseel & Hennemann, 2008: fig. 1), or they are brown with only the ventral surface of the abdomen and tergites V–X green. The HT is ochraceous mid brown and has a large irregularly shaped white marking in the anterior half of the mesonotum, a smaller white central marking on the median segment and white markings on abdominal tergites III–V. Very lower margin of mesonotum (often folded and not visible) bright red. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale to dark brown, sometimes with a greenish wash. Anal region of alae red to reddish brown. Gonapophyses straw to pale brown. Very apical part of all femora black, the ventral surfaces of the femora darker than rest of body. Basitarsi green or brown with the apical portion darker. Remaining tarsomeres black, but all mid brown towards the base. Eyes ochraceous or reddish brown. Antennae pale brown with the bases mid brown, antennomeres II–V black ventrally.
Head: Prominent, globose, oval in dorsal aspect, broadest just behind the eyes and about 1.2x longer than wide.; vertex convex and smooth. Eyes of moderate size, circular and projecting hemispherically; their length contained almost 3.5x in that of cheeks. Antennae slightly projecting over posterior margin of mesonotum and consisting of 21 segments. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and 1.6x longer than wide. Pedicellus less than half the length of scapus, almost round in cross-section and indistinctly longer than wide. III 1.5x longer but more slender than pedicellus, IV very short. V–XIV increasing in length, remaining tarsomeres of roughly equal length.
Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and considerably narrower than head, roughly1.6x longer than wide and gently narrowed medially. Surface with an impressed longitudinal median ridge, which spans the entire segment. Transverse median depression distinct, very gently curved and almost reaching to lateral margins of segment; these slightly raised and with an impressed parallel ridge in median portion. Mesothorax 4.5–5.0x longer than pronotum, the anterior 1/3 constricted, the posterior 1/3 roughly parallel-sided and broader than anterior 1/3, the median portion ± distinctly swollen. Mesonotum with a very fine longitudinal median carina and very indistinctly to minutely granulose or rugose; the granules becoming more numerous and distinctive towards the lateral margins. Metanotum roughly quadrate and smooth. Meso-and metapleurae with a longitudinal ridge or carina, the mesopleurae sparsely granulose or rugose. Meso- and metasternum smooth. Tegmina well developed and ± reaching to posterior margin of metanotum, scale-shaped and constricted at the base (length 7.2–11.0 mm). Alae variable in length (4.8–11.5 mm) but shorter than tegmina; anal region developed.
Abdomen: Median segment slightly longer than metanotum, rectangular, about 1.7x longer than wide and smooth. All tergites and sterna smooth, tergites II–VII rectangular. Segments II–VI roughly of equal width, IV–VI with the lateral margins very gently rounded; in average about 1.5x longer than wide. II and III about equal in length, longer than median segment but slightly shorter than IV–VI; the latter as well roughly of equal length. Praeopercular organ formed by a small, wart-like median structure near posterior margin of sternum VII. Tergite VIII about half as long as VII, 1.3x longer than wide and gently widened towards the posterior. IX 2 /3 the length of VIII and slightly wider than long. Anal segment longer than IX, slightly tectiform with the posterior margin almost straight; posterolateral angles rounded (Fig. 11). Supraanal plate scale-like and projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci small, sub-cylindrical and tapered towards a narrow apex, finely bristled. Lower gonapophyses very elongate, filiform and ± reaching the apex of the subgenital plate, with the apex slightly widened and up-curving. Upper gonapophyses projecting by ± the length of anal segment with the apex pointed. Subgenital plate strongly keeled in basal portion and of variable length, but at least projecting over apex of abdomen by the combined length of tergites IX–X. Apex narrow and ± acute (Figs. 11–13).
Legs: All moderately long and slender. Profemora considerably longer than mesonotum, mesofemora shorter than mesonotum, metafemora ± reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment VI and metatarsi not reaching tip of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina rather irregularly armed with moderately sized but acute teeth in the basal half, the posteroventral sharply and distinctly serrate. Anteroventral and posterodorsal carinae smooth. Medioventral carina distinct and set with about 20 rather distinct spines, which strongly decrease in size in basal portion femur. Ventral carinae of protibiae minutely serrate, dorsal carinae smooth. Dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora smooth except for a few minute teeth sometimes present in basal portion. Two outer ventral carinae distinctly serrate; the two terminal teeth sometimes ± enlarged. Medioventral carina distinct and set with 9–13 rather prominent spines, these largest in the median section of femur. Meso- and metatibiae smooth dorsally and serrate ventrally. Probasitarsus elongate, slender and longer than following three tarsomeres combined, ventral carinae minutely denticulate. Meso- and metabasitarsus about as long as the following three tarsomeres combined with all carinae minutely denticulate, the dorsal carina sparsely although.
33 (Figs. 4 & 61): Of moderate size (body length 86.5–108.0 mm) and rather slender for the genus (body width at abdominal tergite V 1.8–2.1 mm), with a finely granulose mesonotum and well developed alae (38.0– 45.5 mm).
Colouration: Mostly pale to dull green, more rarely brown. Lateral surfaces of the head and ventral body surface pale to mid brown. Tegmina dull green or brown with a broadly white anterior margin and a washed longitudinal dark brown stripe interiorly. Costal region of alae pale to dull green with the anterior portion broadly brown. Anal region of alae transparent with a very slight orange wash, the outer margin irregularly grey. Legs either pale green or brown with the bases of the profemora, and apices of all femora darker. As in ƤƤ the apical portions of the tarsomeres are darker than the basal portions. Eyes reddish mid brown. Antennae pale to mid brown with the ventral surfaces of antennomeres III–V black.
Head: Generally as in ƤƤ but less prominent and vertex less convex. Eyes more prominent, projecting hemispherically and their length contained only about 2.5x in that of cheeks. Antennae consisting of 26 segments and reaching to posterior median segment. Otherwise as in ƤƤ.
Thorax: Pronotum generally as in ƤƤ and little shorter and narrower than head, surface very sparsely and minutely granulose. Mesothorax almost 6x longer than pronotum and slightly widened at the posterior, complete surface of mesonotum, pleurae and sternum irregularly but densely granulose. Mesonotum in anterior portion armed with 6–12 spines of different sizes and 4–6 spinoform tubercles along lateral margins. Mesopleurae with a slight longitudinal carina. Metapleurae and metasternum very sparsely and minutely set with granules. Metanotum a little longer than wide. Tegmina scale-shaped, constricted basally and just not reaching posterior margin of metanotum; central hump moderate and roundly conical. Alae reaching about 2/ 3 the way along abdominal tergite V.
Abdomen: Median segment much longer than wide, smooth. Segments II–VII equal in width and parallelsided but slightly decreasing in length; in average 5x longer than wide. VII about ¾ the length of II. All tergites smooth, sternites II–VII very slightly tectiform and sparsely set with very minute granules. Tergite VIII about half the length of VII and trapezoidal in dorsal aspect, being gradually widened towards the posterior. IX about as long as VIII, 1.3x longer than wide and slightly narrowed towards the posterior. Anal segment slightly shorter than IX with the lateral margins almost parallel-sided, dorsally with a very faint longitudinal median bulge. Posterior margin with a wide and shallow triangular indention (Fig. 15). Posterolateral angles acute, slightly swollen and with two very minute teeth ventrally. Cerci of moderate size, round in cross-section and slightly up-curving and tapered towards the apex. Vomer triangular with an acute and almost straight apex. Poculum rather small and with an acute longitudinal median keel, posterior margin with a slight median indention; roughly reaching posterior margin of tergite IX (Fig. 14).
Legs: All slender and of moderate length. Profemora longer than head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora a little longer than mesothorax, metafemora almost reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatarsi projecting over apex of abdomen. Armature generally as in ƤƤ but less distinct and tarsi unarmed. All dorsal carinae of mid and hind legs smooth. Probasitarsus very elongate, slender and longer than remaining tarsomeres combined; all carinae unarmed. Meso- and metabasitarsi longer than following three tarsomeres combined, slender and with all carinae unarmed.
Variation: This species shows considerable variation concerning to the colouration of both sexes as well as the length of the tegmina and subgenital plate of ƤƤ. The pre-medial swelling of the mesothorax of ƤƤ can vary remarkably in this species but merely depends on whether the insects have or have not been feeding recently. It swells remarkably during the feeding process and shrinks again while the food is digested (see comments on variation of the genus Phasmotaenia above). ƤƤ from Guadalcanal often have the two apical teeth on the two outer ventral carinae of the mesofemora ± enlarged. A large Ƥ from Santa Isbel Island in BMNH has the anal region of the alae black with the basal section and longitudinal veins yellowish.
Two large ƤƤ from Maramasike Island (prope Malaita) in the first author’s collection (FH, No. 0513-1 & 29 differ from typical australe by the considerably longer alae (10.2–11.5 mm), which are roughly equal in length to the tegmina and have the anal fan plain dark red. They furthermore have the mesenotum and mesopleure more decidedly granulose and the longitudinal median carina more distinct than specimens e.g. from Malaita. Both specimens are plain ochraceous brown, one (FH 0513-1) having the tegmina and costal region of the alae greenish grey. The eggs differ from those of typical australe by the rather plain creamish grey capsule which has the lateral surfaces each furnished with two distinct, gently curved, transverse black stripes.
A Ƥ from Savo Island in BMNH has a considerably shorter subgenital plate than all other specimens examined (Fig. 13), which extends over the apex of the abdomen by no more than 6.0 mm. It is also smaller measuring a body length of only 151.0 mm, including the subgenital plate 157.0 mm. A greenish brown 3 from Savo also in BMNH matches well with 3 from other localities but almost lacks the distinctive white posterior margin of the tegmina, which only have the very extreme apex whitish. The specimen well matches with 3 from the neighbouring islands Malaita and Guadalcanal and is of average size for P. a u s t r a l e.
Eggs (Figs. 48–52): Just as the insects, also the eggs of P. australe show considerable variation concerning to the size, colouration and shape of the micropylar plate and pseudo-capitulum. Three different varieties are recognized below. Culturing of stock originating in Malaita has shown the colouration of the capsule and micropylar plate to be highly variable within this species, and even the shape of the microyplar plate to show some deal of variation. All three examples shown in figures 48–50 were laid by the same captive reared Ƥ (coll. FH, No. 0513-7).
Var. I (Malaita, Figs. 48–50): These correspond rather well with the egg taken from the ovipositor of the HT in NHMB and described by Zompro (1997: 1, figs. 1–2). Medium-sized, ovoid, capsule about 1.7x longer than wide and very slightly oval in cross-section. Capsule very minutely rugulose and strongly shiny. Micropylar plate gently raised above capsule surface, of moderate length and just a little more than half as long as capsule. Shape spear-like with the posterior third considerably narrowed and ± acute apically and the anterior 2/3 gradually narrowing towards a rather broadly rounded apex. Below microyplar cup with a shallow longitudinal bulge. Micropylar cup small, knob-like and placed slightly below centre of plate. Operculum roughly circular in cross-section, slightly raised and disc-like. In the centre with a rather prominent, knob-like pseudo-capitulum which has the dorsal surface distinctly pitted and the centre with a deep impression. General colouration of capsule very variable, usually cream to pale brown and all over but to a variable degree furnished with irregular washed brown markings. Occasionally, the dark brown mottling is reduced to form a bold C-shaped lateral marking (Fig. 50). Micropylar plate usually plain cream to pale brown but sometimes may be also mottled with brown. Operculum dark reddish brown, the pseudo-capitulum reddish brown basally and orange dorsally. Measurements [mm]: length (incl. operculum) 3.7–3.8, length 3.0–3.1, width 1.8–2.1, height 2.0–2.2, length of micropylar plate 2.0–2.1.
Var. II (Guadalcanal, Fig. 51): The overall measurements of this example extracted from the ovipositor of a Ƥ in BMNH widely correspond with the eggs from Malaita described above. It however differs from these by the relatively longer micropylar plate and larger pseudo-capitulum, which has the dorsal surface more distinctly conically raised.
Var. III (Maramasike, Fig. 52): The unique egg extracted from the ovipositor of a Ƥ in coll. FH (No. 0513- 1) differs from all other known eggs by the larger size. From the first variety it differs furthermore by the slightly longer micropylar plate. The colouration is plain ochraceous with only a slender and wide C-shaped marking on each lateral surface of the capsule, However, as the colour is shown to be extremely variable in Malaita-stock, the colour pattern of this specimen may merely be an individual trait. Measurements [mm]: length (incl. operculum) 4.1, length 3.8, width 2.3, height 2.6, length of micropylar plate 2.8.
Comments: Culture-stock of P. australe originating in the Kwara’ae Province, Malaita Island was imported to Europe by B. Kneubühler (Luzern, Switzerland) in 2006 and eggs of the F1-generation were distributed to several other breeders in 2007 (Bresseel & Hennemann, 2008: 18). It has proven fairly easy to culture in moderately humid but well ventilated conditions and accepts bramble (Rubus spp., Rosaceae), rose (Rosa spp., Rosaceae), oak (Quercus robur & Q. ilex, Fagaceae), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus gunnii, Myrtaceae) and St. John’s Wort (Hypericum patulum “Hidcote”, Hypericaceae) as alternative food-plants. Brief descriptions of the insects, nymphs and eggs and notes on captive breeding were provided by Bresseel & Hennemann (2008). Recently the culture was included on the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as PSG No. 288 “ Phasmotaenia godeffroyi ”.
Distribution (Fig. 60): Solomon Islands. So far recorded from Malaita Island (Kwara’ae Province), Maramasike Island prope Malaita (Orohuasa), Savo Island, Guadalcanal Island (Mount Popomanasiu, Nuhu & Honiara forest), Santa Isbel Island (Tatamba) and Bougainville Island (Buin & Ligo Akaibu).
description: Published as part of Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2009, Studies on the genus Phasmotaenia Navás, 1907, with the descriptions of five new species from the Solomon Islands, a revised key to the species and notes on its geographic distribution (Phasmatodea: " Anareolatae ": Phasmatidae s. l.: Stephanacridini), pp. 1-46 in Zootaxa 2011 on pages 8-15, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.185796