Macrophasma biroi Redtenbacher 1908, n. comb.
Creators: name: Hennemann, Frank H.
name: Conle, Oskar V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2006
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Phasmatidae
Macrophasma
Macrophasma biroi

description: Macrophasma biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908) n. comb.
Figs. 12, 13, 22
Hermarchus biroi Redtenbacher, 1908: 445. LT [by present designation], Ψ: Coll. Br. v. W., N. Guinea Sattelberg, Huon­Golf, Biró 1899, det. Br. v. W. Hermarchus biroi (NHMW, No. 850); PLT, ɗ: Coll. Br. v. W., N. Guinea, Biró 1899, det. Br. v.W. Hermarchus biroi, 23.298 (NHMW, No. 850); PLT, Ψ: Coll. Br. v. W., Dt. N. Guinea, Rosenberg, 26.458 (NHMW, No. 850); PLT, Ψ (nymph): Coll. Br. v. W., N. Guinea, Biró 1899, 23.295 (NHMW, No. 850); PLT, Ψ (nymph): N. Guinea, Biró 1899 (NHMW, No. 850); PLT, ɗ: N. Guinea Biró 1899, Simbang Huon Golf, Neu Guinea E. Heyne vend. 28.V.1900, Hermarchus biroi Redt. n. sp. ɗ 7.50 Larve 2.50 ex typ. (ZMUH); PLT’s, ɗ / Ψ? (HNHM — destroyed in fire). Günther, 1929: 626, 686.
Weidner, 1966: 230.
Brock, 1998: 18.
Herwaarden, 1998: 88.
Zompro, 2001: 182.
Otte & Brock, 2005: 154.
Hermarchus annulatus Günther, 1929: 626, 689. HT, Ψ (subadult nymph): Dt. N. Guinea, Kais. Augustafl. Exp., Bürgers S. G., an der Frieda, 30.V.–5.VI.1912, Typus (ZMHB). n. syn. Otte & Brock, 2005: 154.
Zompro, 2006: 254.
Hermarchus mülleri Redtenbacher, 1908: 446. HT, Ψ: N. Guinea, A. Müller [+ one egg taken from ovipositor of the HT in a gelatine­capsule] (ZMHB) n. syn. Günther, 1929: 626.
Zompro, 1997: 1, fig. 1. [description of the egg]
Herwaarden, 1998: 88.
Otte & Brock, 2005: 155.
Zompro, 2006: 272.
Further material: [24 ΨΨ, 7 ɗɗ, 4 eggs]
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: 1 Ψ: Papua Neuguinea, Morobe Provinz, Aseki, leg. Clark XI.1982 (coll. FH 0078­1); 4 ΨΨ, 2 eggs: Papua Neuguinea, Morobe Provinz, Bulolo, II. 2001 (coll. FH 0078­2 to 5 & E); 6 ΨΨ: Papua Neuguinea, Morobe Provinz, Bulolo, II.–V.2001 (coll. OC, No’s 0 1705 to 01710); 1 ɗ: Dt. Neuguinea, "Deutsche Kaiserin Augustafluß­Expedition"; 1 ɗ: Dt. Neuguinea, Strandlager am Aprilfluß (75 m), leg. Bürgers 24.–28. XII. 1912; 1 ɗ: Dt. Neuguinea, Lager am Rosensee (25 m), leg. Bürgers 17. II. 1913 (ZMHB); 1 ɗ, Papua Neuguinea (det. Günther) (ZMUH); 1 Ψ: P.N.G., Finshafen (HLDH); 1 Ψ: Brit. New Guinea, betw. Holnicote B. & German limits, below M. Albert E., Tamata & Gira, Coll. 8.1900–3.1901 H.S.Rohn, Pres. 1907 by H. Balfour, M.A., No. 1907­360 (OXUM); 1 Ψ: Neu­Guinea, Bismarckhöhe (MHNG); 2 ΨΨ: Finschhafen, D.N.G. (MHNG); 1 Ψ: Nouvelle Guinée Papouaise, Bulolo, 1982, Bále 1982; (MHNG); 1 Ψ: S.W. New Guinea, Diogel R. Area, Mindiptana, 26.XI.1958, Br. Monulphus, det. S. Nakata 1965 (RMNH); 1 Ψ: D. N. G., Finschafen (HLDH); 1 ɗ: K. Wilhelmsland (SMTD); 1 Ψ: Neu Guinea, ex. coll. Kluckauf (SMTD); 1 Ψ: Sattelberg, Deutsch­Neu Guinea, H. Rolle, Berlin W., Hermarchus mülleri REDTENBACHER Det. Rehn & Rehn 1934, Hebard Collection (ANSP); 1 ɗ: Hihali Plantation, Milne Bay, New Guinea, III.28.1944 Helwig, U. of arrangement, Not to be exchanged (ANSP). NEW GUINEA: 1 Ψ: Nouvelle Guinée, env. de Bolan, coll. Charpentier (ISNB); 1 Ψ: Neu Guinea, coll. Mus. Leipzig, Übernahme 1971 (SMTD). MOLUCCAS [in error?]: 1 Ψ: Moluccen, Amboina, X. / XI. 1992, H. Schulz (Coll. O. Zompro, 46­1). NO DATA: 1 Ψ (MHNG); 1 ɗ (SMTD); 1 Ψ (SMFM).
Differentiation
Closely related to Macrophasma lyrata (Redtenbacher, 1908) but distinguished by: the dentate mesopleurae, more prominent lateral expansions of abdominal tergites II–VII, slightly shorter subgenital plate, relatively longer and more slender legs and longer basitarsi. As the ɗ of M. lyrata is not known, the mentioned distinguishing features relate to ΨΨ only.
Eggs (Fig. 22)
Two fully developed eggs were removed from the ovipositors of two ΨΨ in the first author’s collection (coll. FH No. 0078­E). These are slightly smaller than the egg taken from the ovipositor of the HT of H. muelleri Redtenbacher in ZMHB. All three specimens served for the following description and measurements.
Capsule strongly globose, indistinctly longer than high, slightly oval in cross­section. Capsule surface very finely velvet­like. Micropylar plate slightly more than half the length of capsule and placed medially on the dorsal surface of egg. Plate generally lozengeshaped with the anterior and posterior ends constricted. Micropylar cup, small, circular and placed roughly in centre of plate. Operculum slightly oval with outer margin prominently swollen. In its centre a hollow and conical capitulum, which has a deep central impression. The two eggs in coll. FH have the capitulum with distinct lateral impressions, which may have been caused by dehydration.
General colouration of capsule mid brown, with two lateral dark­purple transverse markings and a dark brown spot at the polar area. Micropylar plate dark reddish­brown. Operculum dark violet, capitulum glabrous, dark brown.
Measurements (mm): Length (including capitulum) 4.0–4.8, length 3.7–4.0, width 3.0–3.3, height 3.1–3.6, length of the micropylar plate 2.1–2.7.
Comments
Redtenbacher (1908: 445) described Hermarchus biroi from a syntype series of at least 7 specimens, in NHMW, ZMUH and HNHM. The HNHM material has been destroyed in a fire in 1956, so the exact number of specimens is not known. The Ψ from “Sattelberg, Huon Golf” in NHMW is here selected as the lectotype. Redtenbacher (1908: 446) described H. mülleri as being very similar to H. biroi but distinguished it by having the mesothorax and abdominal tergites III–VII more prominently dilated. E xamination of the Ψ HT of H. mülleri Redtenbacher in ZMHB has shown this to be obviously the same species (n. syn.). The more broadened body sections are caused by a tight stuffing of the specimen with cotton, which is not the case for the NHMW ΨΨ. Hermarchus annulatus Günther, 1929 is merely a subadult Ψ nymph of M. biroi (Redtenbacher) and hence a junior synonym as well (n. syn.).
Zompro (1997: 1) provided a brief description and illustration of the egg, based on a specimen extracted from the ovipositor of the HT of H. mülleri Redtenbacher in ZMHB.
* including the median segment
description: Published as part of 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 "), pp. 1-24 in Zootaxa 1283 on pages 8-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.173442