Phryganistria heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997)

Fig. 10C–D

Phobaeticus heusii Hennemann & Conle, 1997: 505, figs 1–5.

Phryganistria heusii – Hennemann & Conle 2008: 209.

Type material examined (on photographs)

Holotype ♂: N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, ex. Zucht (= rearing) P. Heusi 1996 (ZSMC, ex coll. FH, No. 0240-1)

Allotype ♀, 1 egg: N-Vietnam, Cuc Phuong, ex. Zucht (= rearing) P. Heusi 1996 (ZSMC, ex coll. FH, No. 0240-2).

Additional material examined (22 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀, 7 ♀♀ nymphs, 20 eggs)

VIETNAM: 8 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, 4 ♀♀ nymphs, Cuc Phuong N. P., 20°19’00” N, 105°36’30” E, 19–23 Jul. 2011, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel (RBINS); 14 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 3 ♀♀ nymphs, Tam Dao N.P., 21°31’ N, 105°33’ E, 25–30 Jul. 2011, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel (RBINS).

Remarks

Material from the type locality was collected and compared with specimens from other localities, which lead to the conclusion, that the species has a broader distribution than known to date. Hennemann & Conle (2008: 205) examined one specimen from Tam Dao National Park, which was identified as Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 . The specimen bears the following data: 1♀: Vietnam: 55 km NNW Tam Dao, 26.VII.–10.VIII.1998, A. Napolov, BMNH(E) 2005-98, Phobaeticus grandis det. P. Brock 2005 (BMNH). Although identified as P. grandis, the specimen represents a female of P. heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) . Hennemann & Conle (2008) did not have any males from Tam Dao NP to compare with material from the type locality and there is no doubt that specimens from Tam Dao NP are conspecific with P. heusii heusii .

Culture stock of this species was first collected by Peter Heusi (Switzerland) in 1996 from Cuc Phuong N.P. and is on the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as culture no. 277. Eggs collected by the authors in 2011 produced only males in the next generation. In captivity in Europe, Ph. heusii heusii can be successfully reared on a mixture of oak ( Quercus spp., Fagaceae) and bramble ( Rubus spp., Rosaceae) as alternative foodplants. Notes on breeding were provided by Bresseel (2007).

Distribution

This species was described from Cuc Phuong National Park and is here also recorded from Tam Dao National Park (Fig. 12A).