Diapherodes martinicensis Lelong & Langlois 2005
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
Diapherodes martinicensis

description: Diapherodes martinicensis Lelong & Langlois, 2005
(Figs. 144–156, 349, 369, 381, 394–395)
Diapherodes sp. Langlois, Lelong, Polidori & Dorel, 2000: 46, figs. 19a–g (♀, ♂, nymph) & photos 10–12 (egg).
Diapherodes martinicensis Lelong & Langlois, 2005: 264, figs. 19–23 (♀, ♂, nymph), 40–42 (egg). HT, ♀: Martinique, trace Duclos, 10/XI/98, ref. No. MAR98 -036 [MNHN]; AT, ♂: Martinique, Morne-Rouge, 15.X.1960, Diapherodes dominicae —Rehn et Hebard [coll. Pére Pinchon, Hôtel de Région Martinique]; PT, ♀: Martinique, Balata, 18.III.1963 [coll. Pére Pinchon, Hôtel de Région Martinique]; PT, ♀: Martinique [coll. H. Griffon, Martinique].
Further material [16 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀, 2 nymphs, eggs]:
MARTINIQUE:
7 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 1 ♀ (n5), 1 ♀ (n4), eggs: ex Zucht F. Hennemann 2014–2015, Herkunft: Martinique, leg. C.B. Dupré 2011 [coll. FH, No’s 0750-1 to 15 & E]; 9 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀, eggs: ex Zucht. O. Conle, Herkunft: Martinique [coll. OC].
Diagnosis: This is the smallest species of the gigantea species-group and apart from the small size (body length of ♀♀ <10 cm) well distinguished from all other representatives by: the short mesothorax, which is strongly gradually broadened towards the posterior, trapezoidal in dorsal aspect and swollen dorsally with a prominent central pair of spines in ♀♀ (Fig. 144); completely unarmed tibiae of both sexes; having only 37 antennomeres in ♀♀ (at least 50 in all other species); relatively shorter legs with the hind legs of ♀♀ not projecting over abdominal tergum VI, as well as the long alae of ♂♂ which at least reach to the posterior margin of abdominal tergum VII (Figs. 146–147). Females are also characterised by the bright red and black intersegmental membrane between abdominal sternites I and II (Fig. 154). Eggs are distinctive by their very strongly sculptured capsule surface and comparatively smaller micropylar plate, which covers less than half of the capsule length (Figs. 155–156).
Description: ♀ (Figs. 144–145, 394): Very small for the genus (body length including subgenital plate 92.0– 105.5 mm), with a conspicuously shortened and strongly broadened mesothorax and comparatively short, dorsally unarmed legs. General colouration plain bright apple-green, the ventral body surface and basal half of subgenital plate dull green, sometimes with a slight whitish hue. Lateral margins of meso- and metasternum white and a longitudinal white stripe along the ventral surface of the lateral margins of the abdominal tergites. Points of the two large spines on the vertex, as well as all larger tubercles of the pro- and mesonotum and the row of spines on the meso- and metapleurae dark pink; anterior half of mesopleurae dark pink as well. Bases of dorsal thoracal tubercles and spines yellow. Antennae dark pink except for the two basal segments which are blackish with pale outer margins, and a few pale annulations in the apical 1/3. Tegmina and alae of same colouration as body. Tarsi and subgenital plate becoming pale brown towards the apex. Eyes creamish mid brown.
Head: Vertex strongly convex and armed with two very prominent, blunt spines; the dextral one larger (Fig. 148). A few minute granules are present posterior of these and a small pair of rounded granules on the frons. Eyes slightly elongate-oval, convex and of moderate size; their length contained about 2.6x in that of cheeks. Between the bases of the antennae with a fairly decided, slightly curved and transverse depression. Antennae reaching about half way along median segment; with 37 segments. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, almost 3x longer than wide and gently narrowed towards the base. Pedicellus cylindrical and about 2/5 the length of scapus.
Thorax: Pronotum shorter and about as broad as the head; roughly 1.3x wider than long. In front of the very prominent transverse median depression armed with a pair of very large, blunt spines; posterior half set with a few minute granules (Fig. 148). Mesothorax short, only about 1.3x longer than head and pronotum combined, decidedly constricted anteriorly and strongly broadened towards the posterior; posterior margin almost 4x broader than anterior margin (Fig. 144). Mesonotum sparsely set with minute granules which slightly increase in size towards the anterior, otherwise dorsally armed with two pairs of prominent, blunt spines close to anterior margin and a further pair of similarly sized spines just before the middle (Fig. 148). Metanotum unarmed, about half the length of mesonotum and slightly wider than long. Spines of the meso- and metapleurae more acute than dorsal thoracal armature; mesopleurae with 12–13, metapleurae with 10–11 spines. Tegmina rather small and reaching about ¾ the way along metanotum (length 5.5–7.0 mm), posterior margin slightly angulate; not overlapping. Alae very small and projecting underneath tegmina by about 2.2–3.0 mm.
Abdomen: Median segment slightly longer than metanotum and roughly trapezoidal with the anterior margin narrowed. Segments II–VI slightly increasing in length and gradually narrowing, II about 2x wider than long, VI 1.25x longer than wide. VII narrowest and about as long as VI, almost parallel-sided or with the posterolateral portions somewhat deflexed and forming a small, rounded lobe (Fig. 151). Tergites II–VII all with a faint, slightly curved longitudinal carina laterally. Intersegmental membrane between abdominal sternites I and II bright red and black (Fig. 154). Sternites II–VII with a blunt lateral longitudinal carina. Praeopercular organ formed by an elongate, keel-shaped swelling near posterior margin of sternum VII (Fig. 349). Tergum VIII slightly shorter and narrower than VII and widened towards the posterior; decidedly more convex than previous. IX less than half the length of VIII, slightly narrowed towards the posterior and very faintly keeled. Anal segment gently narrowed, posterior margin roundly angular and dorsally with a faint, longitudinal median keel. Epiproct small, broad and very slightly projecting underneath anal segment (Fig. 151). Subgenital plate long and considerably narrowed towards a slender and pointed tip; projecting over apex of abdomen by almost the combined length of tergites VIII–X (Figs. 150–151).
Legs: All short, moderately broad and entirely unarmed, except for 4–5 minute spines on the two outer ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora; these decrease in size towards the base. Profemora slightly longer than mesothorax and metatibiae slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal tergum V. Tarsi about half the length of corresponding tibia. Basitarsi indistinctly longer than second tarsomere.
♂ (Figs. 146–147, 395). Small (body length 64.0– 81.5 mm) and moderately slender for the genus, with very long alae (43.5 mm) and a comparatively short, dorsally sparsely spinose mesothorax. General colouration of head and body pale yellowish brown; ventral body segments whitish. Posterior half of poculum pale cream. Tegmina and costal region of alae creamish mid brown, the tegmina with a broad, longitudinal white stripe along the anterior margin and the central hump marked with dull pink. Anal region of alae pale translucent orange. Femora pale green basally and gradually becoming mid brown towards the apex (with a slight dull pink hue ventrally); tibiae entirely pale green with only the apex slightly brownish. Tarsi pale brown but becoming decidedly darker towards the apex. Cephalad pair of spines and all larger spines and tubercles of the thorax tipped with black. Antennae pale brown with the basal portion slightly reddish and the two basal segments very dark brown; a few dark brown annulations close to the apex. Eyes dark reddish brown.
Head: Generally as in ♀♀. Vertex strongly convex and smooth except for two prominent, blunt but slender cephalad spines (Fig. 149). Eyes large, very slightly oval and projecting hemispherically; their length contained less than 2x in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching about half way along abdominal tergum III, otherwise as in ♀♀.
Thorax: Pronotum roughly quadrate and about as long and broad as head. Transverse median depression very prominent, almost straight and reaching lateral margins of segment. Anterior half with a pair of prominent blunt spines and posterior half with a pair of low tubercles (Fig. 149). Mesothorax short, just 1.5x longer than head and pronotum combined; mesonotum about 4x longer than wide. Dorsal surface with a few minute granules and six distinct, blunt paired spines; two pairs close to anterior margin (Fig. 149) and a further pair slightly before the mid of segment. Lateral margins with a longitudinal row a small greenish tubercles. Meso- and metapleurae each with a longitudinal row of minute granules. Meso- and metasternum sparingly granulose. Tegmina reaching to posterior margin of metanotum. Alae at least reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergum VII (Figs. 152–153).
Abdomen: Tergum VII with a distinct, rounded posterolateral lobe, which projects by about ¼ of the body width (Fig. 153). Tergites VIII–X very indistinctly broader than previous segments, VIII about ¾ the length of VII and IX 2 /3 the length of VIII. Anal segment gently narrowed towards the apex with the posterior margin broadly rounded (Fig. 153). Cerci slender and narrowing towards a blunt apex. Vomer with a fairly small base and a very long, gradually narrowing and acutely pointed apical hook (Fig. 369). Poculum strongly convex and conical basally, just slightly projecting over posterior margin of tergum IX (Fig. Fig. 152); the posterior margin very broadly rounded.
Legs: All of moderate length, profemora almost as long as pro- and mesonotum combined, metatibiae reaching about halfway along abdominal tergum VI. Posterodorsal carina of meso- and metafemora very slightly elevated and rounded sub-basally. Both outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora with 2–3 sub-apical spines; a few more minute spines are present in the median section of the posteroventral carina of the mesofemora. Remaining carinae unarmed. Tarsi elongate, about half the length of corresponding tibia. Basitarsi about 1.5x longer than second tarsomere.
Egg (Figs. 155–156): Rather small (capsule length 4.3–4.8 mm), capsule 1.7x longer than wide. Polar area decidedly impressed if seen in lateral aspect. Capsule surface irregularly covered with prominently raised structures, these crater-like and with several distinct circular pits dorsally. Micropylar plate small, its length contained about 2.5x in that of capsule. Central portion of micropylar plate with two irregularly raised ridges, which begin at the micropylar cup and converge towards the anterior, where they terminate about 0.4 mm off the anterior end of plate. Micropylar cup distinct. Operculum in the central portion with numerous irregular granules and tubercles; centre slightly lowered. General colour pale to dark brown. Outer margin of micropylar plate and micropylar cup mid brown.
Measurements [mm]: Length 4.3–4.8, length (including operculum) 4.5–5.0 width 2.5–2.7, height 2.7–2.9, length of micropylar plate 1.7–1.8.
Comments: Lelong & Langlois (2005) described Diapherodes martinicensis from three ♀♀ and one ♂ and provided REM-photographs of the eggs. According to the small number of known specimens, D. martinicensis appears to be rare. Lelong & Langlois (2005: 264) reported this species to be apparently uncommon and to feed on guava (Psidium guajava, Myrtaceae) and Coccoloba sp. (Polygonaceae) in the wild. Only one ♀ was found during extensive collections conducted by these authors in several localities throughout Martinique.
Only two ♀♀ were collected by Christian Bouladou Dupré (Martinique) on several occasions during 2011. The specimens were kept alive in captivity in Martinique and accepted Acacia muricata (Fabaceae), Tapura latifolia (Dichapetalaceae), Pimenta racemosa (Myrtaceae), Ocotea coriacea (Lauraceae) and Avocado (Persea americana, Lauraceae), hence at least some of these are likely to represent native host plants. Eggs were sent to Bruno Kneubühler (Switzerland), who first successfully reared D. martinicensis in Europe. In captivity hawthorn (Pyracantha coccinea, Rosaceae), salal (Gaultheria shallon, Ericaceae), oak (Quercus robur, Fagaceae) and dog rose (Rosa canina, Rosaceae) are accepted as alternative food plants. Females produce an average of three eggs per day, which are simply flicked away by an abrupt movement of the abdomen. Eggs take some 4–5 months to hatch at temperatures of 20–25°C and nymphs reach maturity in 3–4 months. If disturbed, adult ♂♂ will readily flash their wings and are capable of short active flights. Females will either drop to the ground or pinch with their hind legs, to expose the bright red and black coloured intersegmental membrane between the abdominal sternites I and II (Fig. 154).
Distribution (Fig. 381): Martinique (Trace Duclos [MNHN]; Balata [coll. H. Griffon] & Morne-Rouge [MNHN]). Endemic.
Number of specimens examined: 40
......continued on the next page * according to Lelong & Langlois (2005: 266)
** including median segment
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 84-89, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271800