Studies on the Australian stick insects (Phasmida), including a checklist of species and bibliography
Author
Brock, Paul D.
Author
Hasenpusch, Jack
text
Zootaxa
2007
2007-08-31
1570
1
1
81
https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.1570.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.1570.1.1
11755334
5096400
5A58505D-6A85-45E8-8783-5666A3944701
Paratropidoderus
Brock & Hasenpusch
,
gen. nov.
Type
species.
Paratropidoderus spinosus
Brock & Hasenpusch
sp. nov.
, here designated.
Characteristics of the genus
Elongate
Tropidoderinae
, body length
87–101 mm
in male (female not yet known).
Head much longer than wide. Eyes large. Antennae longer than fore femora, with c. 24 segments; basal segment broader and twice length of second segment. Pronotum much shorter than head. Mesonotum almost four times length of pronotum, with series of conspicuous conical, paired spine-like tubercles. Smaller tubercles present laterally and ventrally. Metanotum conspicuously shorter than mesonotum. Fore wings long, leaflike, hind wings also fairly long, reaching end of 6
th
abdominal segment. Abdomen slender. End of anal segment margins rounded, slightly incised in centre. Subgenital plate swollen, subtruncate at tip, reaching end of 9
th
abdominal segment. Cerci broad, leaf-like, but short for
Tropidoderinae
. Legs long, hind legs about reaching end of abdomen. Mid and hind legs spiny.
Notes: From the general appearance,
Paratropidoderus
looks closest to
Tropidoderus
, but it is easily distinguished by the spine-like tubercles on the mesonotum (lacking in
Tropidoderus
).
Paratropidoderus
also has short cerci (long in
Tropidoderus
)
Distribution
Only known from just a few specimens from
Queensland
and
New South Wales
.
Species included
Paratropidoderus spinosus
Brock & Hasenpusch
sp. nov.
Derivation of name
Near
Tropidoderus
.