Diapherodes dominicae Rehn & Hebard 1938, n. comb.
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 dominicae

description: Diapherodes dominicae (Rehn & Hebard, 1938) n. comb.
(Figs. 109–119, 347, 366, 381)
Diapherodes gigantea dominicae Rehn & Hebard, 1938: 53, pl. 4: 22 (♀). HT, ♀: Dominica, B. W. I., II.1927 James Bond, Diapherodes gigantea dominicae, Type, R & H, ANSP 5539, WO188, = Diapherodes gigas (Drury), det. C.F. Moxey 1972 [ANSP, No. 5539].
Otte & Brock, 2003: 304.
Diapherodes gigas, Moxey, 1971: 98, 99 (in litt.; in part—only specimens from Dominica)
Diapherodes gigantea, Langlois & Lelong, 2010: 60, figs. 19 (in part—only records from Dominica).
Diapherodes sp. Lelong, Langlois, Rastel & Dorel, 2003: 48, figs. 19a–g (♀, ♂, nymph) & REM-photos 11–13 (egg).
Further material [6 ♀♀, 4 ♂♂, eggs]:
DOMINICA:
1 ♀: Dominica 1937, Walter H. Hodge; USNM; ANSP; w0187 [USNM]; 1 ♂: Dominica, Clarke Hall, 7.II.1965; J.F.G. Clarke Thelma M Clarke; Bredin-Archold-Smithsonian Bio. Surv. Dominica; USMNH; w0189 [USNM]; 1 ♀: Dominique, Croix, alt. 808 m, 15°20’49’’N 61°18’23’’E, 26X.2000 [coll. ASPER, No. DOM00-101]; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, eggs: Dominique, Bellevue Mountain, alt. 455–533 m, 15°37’22’’N 61°26’03’’E, 29.X.2000 [coll. ASPER, No’s DOM00-106 & 192 to 194]; 1 ♀: Dominique, Morne Macaque, alt. 762–855 m, 15°20’31’’N 61°18’38’’E, 20.X.2000 [coll. ASPER, No. DOM00-190]; 1 ♂: Dominique, Picard River track, alt. 26–146 m, 15°33’14’’N 61°27’06’’E, 30.X.2000 [coll. ASPER, No. DOM00-191].
Diagnosis: Differing from all other members of the gigantea species-group of Diapherodes by the fairly obsolete cephalad spines, which are merely represented as rounded tubercles (Fig. 114). Females are similar to D. angulata (Fabricius, 1793) from Guadeloupe but differ by: the smaller size; comparatively more slender legs; more numerous but smaller tubercles of the mesonotum; much smaller anterior pair of tubercles on the pronotum (Fig. 114); comparatively smaller spines of the longitudinal marginal row of the meso- and metapleurae and smaller not overlapping tegmina (Fig. 109–110). Males strongly resemble those of D. gigantea saintluciae n. ssp. but differ by: the broader, laterally rounded and apically less acuminate vomer (Fig. 359); bright green legs (at best with a slight greenish hue in gigantea); greenish brown antennae and distinctive colouration of the anterior margin of the tegmina and alae, which is bright yellow and then gradually becomes dull green towards the interior (Fig. 117). From D. angulata ♂♂ at once differ by the brown body, tegmina and alae as well as the strongly tuberculate mesonotum.
Description: ♀ (Figs. 109–110). Fairly small members of the gigantea species-group (body length including subgenital plate 116.0 to ca. 126.0 mm) and moderately robust for the genus (maximum body width at abdominal segment II 15.0– 16.8 mm), with fairly small and slender tegmina (9.0–10.0 mm). General colouration plain apple green, the tubercles and granules of the head and thorax ochre to orange, the larger ones tipped with dull red or mars brown. Antennae straw and becoming mid brown towards the apex; two basal segments with a greenish hue. Ventral body surface dull green with a whitish hue.
Head: Vertex rounded, globose and armed with two ± decided, blunt tubercles, the posterior portion set with about ten small granules (Fig. 114). Eyes fairly small, circular in outline and their length contained almost 3x in that of cheeks. Antennae with 51 antennomeres and roughly reaching to posterior margin of metanotum.
Thorax: Pronotum a little shorter but about as wide as head, the transverse median sulcus very pronunced and almost reaching to lateral margin of segment. A pair of low blunt spines in anterior portion and a pair of lower rounded tubercles at posterior margin; otherwise with a few granules in posterior half (Fig. 114). Mesothorax fairly short and roughly 1.5x longer than head and pronotum combined; posterior margin more than 2x the width of anterior margin, the anterior portion gradually widened and the posterior half almost parallel-sided. Most parts of mesonotum irregularly set with fairly small spines and tubercles, which decrease in size towards the posterior; usually two pairs of somewhat enlarged but blunt spines close to anterior margin (Fig. 114) and 2–4 somewhat enlarged spines pre-medially. The lateral portions unarmed. Metanotum with a few very low granules in anterior portion. Spines of the marginal row of the meso- and metapleurae rather small and blunt, the largest spine not twice as long as its basal width; mesopleurae with 17–20 and metapleurae with about 10–12 spines (Figs. 109–110). Meso- and metasternum sparsely granulose. Tegmina fairly small and comparatively slender, hardly reaching posterior margin of metanotum, not overlapping and leaving a great space inbetween each other (Figs. 109–110). Alae much smaller and at best projecting underneath tegmina by 2 mm.
Abdomen: Segment II about equal in length to median segment, widest part of body and very slightly widened towards the posterior; about 1.6x wider than long. III–VII gradually narrowing and roughly equal in length; VII with the lateral margins sometimes gently rounded. Sternites smooth and with two fine longitudinal carinae laterally. Praeopercular organ on sternum VII formed by a fairly decided tubercle and a C-shaped carina (Fig. 347). Tergum VIII narrowed medially and about 1.2x longer than wide. Anal segment narrowed towards the apex, hardly longer than wide and with posterior margin broadly rounded (Fig. 112). Epiproct very small and fully concealed by anal segment. Subgenital plate long and gradually narrowed towards a pointed tip; projecting over apex of abdomen by roughly the combined length of tergites IX and X (Figs. 111–112).
Legs: All of moderate length and fairly slender for the gigantea species-group. Meso- and metafemora with the outer carinae minutely granulose; medioventral carina with 6–8 fairly short but acute spines, two outer ventral carinae each with a single sub-apical spine. Posteroventral carina of meso- and metatibiae minutely denticulate. Anterodorsal carina with a low triangular lobe sub-basally and slightly triangularly expanded sub-apically. Basitarsi almost as long as following two tarsomeres combined.
♂. Of moderate size (body length 82.0–98.0 mm) and fairly robust for the genus, with long alae (47.0–52.0 mm). Colouration of the body pale to mid brown, the ventral body surface dull ochre with a whitish wash; abdominal sternites slightly greenish and II–VII each with two black spots post-medially. Head dull ochre (Fig. 113), antennae greenish ochre. Legs mid green with the apex of all femora and tibiae dull green to mid brown. Thoracic armature dull green, the largest tubercles and spines tipped with very dark reddish brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale to mid brown with all veins dull green. Anterior margin of tegmina bright yellow, then gradually becoming green and the green section interiorly bordered by a dull bluish green longitudinal stripe (Fig. 117). Central hump dull brown. Basal portion of anterior margin of alae coloured like tegmina. Anal fan of alae transparent orange.
Head: About 1.2x longer than wide, the cheeks almost parallel-sided. Vertex gently rounded and with a pair of very low blunt tubercles, otherwise irregularly scattered with small, rounded granules (Fig. 113). Eyes circular in outline, projecting hemispherically and their length contained about 1.5x in that of cheeks. Antennae robust and consisting of 68 antennomeres. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, 1.3x longer than wide with lateral margins decidedly deflexed and rounded.
Thorax: Pronotum about equal in length to head, the anterior margin decidedly wider than posterior margin and the transverse median sulcus very pronounced. Anterior portion with a pair of fairly distinct, blunt spines, the posterior portion with a pair of low tubercles behind transverse sulcus and a pair of slightly more distinct tubercles at posterior margin (Fig. 113). Mesothorax about 1.6x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum all over with irregularly scattered blunt tubercles, which decrease in size towards the posterior; two pairs of blunt spines near anterior margin (Fig. 113) and a longitudinal row of rounded tubercles along lateral margins. Meso- and metapleurae with a marginal row of differently sized blunt tubercles. Meso- and metasternum irregularly scattered with small granules and various low, rounded tubercles. Tegmina with central hump fairly pronounced and convex (Fig. 117). Alae reaching about half way along abdominal tergum VI.
Abdomen: Segments II–VII very slightly gradually narrowing and decreasing in length; tergum VII with the posterolateral angles gently deflexed. Tergum VIII strongly widened towards the posterior and trapezoidal in dorsal view; VIII–X with a longitudinal median carina, which is blunt on VIII and IX but fairly fine on X. Anal segment with lateral margins almost parallel-sided, the posterior margin with a broad and shallow median indentation (Fig. 116). Cerci with apical half round in cross section and the apex blunt. Vomer broad, rounded and with the apical portion gradually narrowing towards a fairly short apical hook (Fig. 366). Poculum with basal portion roundly convex (Fig. 115), otherwise fairly flat and with the posterior margin broadly rounded.
Legs: All of moderate length and fairly robust; metafemora reaching about half way along abdominal segment IV and metatibiae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment VI. All outer carinae of mid and hind legs very minutely denticulate. Medioventral carina of mesofemora only with two fairly prominent and acute spines in apical portion in metafemora with five prominent spines, that decrease in size towards the base. Two outer ventral carinae each with a single sub-apical spine. Basitarsus about 1.3x longer than second tarsomere.
Egg (Figs. 118–119): Of moderate size (capsule length 4.78 mm), capsule about 1.7x longer than wide. Polar area slightly impressed if seen in lateral aspect. Capsule surface to various degrees covered with irregular, distinctly raised areas covered with clusters of sponge-like structured tubercles and granules. These form a conspicuous longitudinal ridge from the posterior end of the micropylar plate to the polar-area. Opercular collar decidedly marginated. Micropylar plate rather large and about half as long as capsule. Entire surface, except for a stripe along the outer margin, covered with irregular granules and raised ridges. Centre with an elongate, impressed region. Micropylar cup distinct and placed in a very deep central gap of posterior margin of plate. Operculum in the centre with a prominently raised circular rim and a conical tubercle in the centre. General colouration pale brown. Outer margin of micropylar plate and micropylar cup darker brown.
Measurements according to Lelong, Langlois, Rastel & Dorel (2003: 51) [mm]: Length 4.78, width 2.72, height 3.05, diameter of operculum 1.70.
Comments: Rehn & Hebard (1938: 53) described Diapherodes gigantea dominicae based on a single ♀ in ANSP, which was collected by the leading American ornithologist James Bond. They distinguished it from D. gigantea (Gmélin, 1789) by the smaller size, smaller spines of the mesothorax (a very variable feature in gigantea), smaller spines of the meso- and metapleurae and unarmed carinae of the legs. But in fact, all these characters of the ♀♀ place it much closer to D. angulata (Fabricius, 1793) from neighbouring Guadeloupe rather than D. gigantea from Grenada and St. Vincent. Males however differ from D. angulata by a good number of obvious features and rather resemble those of D. gigantea or D. martinicensis Lelong & Langlois, 2005. Consequently, detailed examination of Dominican specimens has shown these to represent a separate and valid species (n. comb.). Moxey (1971: 99) erroneously synonymised D. gigantea dominicae Rehn & Hebard with Diapherodes gigantea.
Lelong, Langlois, Rastel & Dorel (2003) provided detailed descriptions and illustrations of the adult ♀ and ♂, nymphs and eggs as well as information on the habitats and biology of Diapherodes dominicae in Dominica, their specimens being provisionally identified as “ Diapherodes sp.”. They stated this species to be not particularly abundant with only single specimens found in each prospected locality. In their natural habitats, which include montane and lowland hygrophilic forests as well as cultivated zones in xero-mesophilic environments, these insects are usually found at heights of 1.5–3 metres off the ground and feed on guava (Psidium guajava, Myrtaceae) and mapou-baril (Sterculia caribea, Sterculiaceae). In captivitiy in Europe Lelong, Langlois, Rastel & Dorel (2003: 48) reported it to accept bramble (Rubus fruticosus, Rosaceae) as an alternative food-plant.
Distribution (Fig. 381): Dominica (Croix, 808 m; Bellevue Mountain 455–533 m & Picard River track, 26–146 m) [USNM; coll. ASPER]. Endemic.
Number of specimens examined: 11
* according to Langlois & Lelong, 2010: 60 ** including the 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 69-73, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4128.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/271800