Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908

Ho, Wai-Chun George, 2018, New taxa of Necrosciinae from Vietnam (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae), Zoological Systematics 43 (2), pp. 178-189 : 179

3.1 Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908

Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908: 493 . Type species: Necroscia malaccae Saussure, 1868: 69 (= Asceles malaccae ), by subsequent designation of Brock, 1995: 87.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized Necrosciinae. Body granulated, cylindrical, slender and elongate. Head oval. Ocelli absent. Vertex and occiput gently or weakly convex. Antennae filiform and long. Pronotum rectangular. Mesonotum elongate, longer than combined length of metanotum and median segment. Abdomen cylindrical. Female subgenital plate scoop-shaped, distinctly emarginated posteriorly, apex not surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Male poculum cup-shaped, tapering posteriorly. Cerci long and cylindrical. Legs unarmed, usually with setae. Profemora distinctly incurved basally. Tegmina short. Alae well-developed or rudiment-like. Egg capsule oval with acute posterior pole.

Distribution. China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.

Remarks. In Vietnam, four species of Asceles including A. brevipennis Redtenbacher, 1908 , A. diadema Redtenbacher, 1908 , A. hirsutus sp. nov. and A. maculatus sp. nov. are currently recognised. A key to the species of the genus is provided.

Key to males of Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908 .

1. Ninth abdominal tergum with elongate posterolateral angles.............................................................................. A. maculatus sp. nov.

Ninth abdominal tergum lacking posterolateral angles ........................................................................................................................2 2. Legs with long hairs............................................................................................................................................... A. hirsutus sp. nov.

Legs lacking long hairs ........................................................................................................................................................................3 3. Alae brown with prominent pale white markings ............................................................................. A. diadema Redtenbacher, 1908

Alae brown lacking pale white markings ..................................................................................... A. brevipennis Redtenbacher, 1908

Key to females of Asceles Redtenbacher, 1908 .

1. Pronotum and mesonotum with spines................................................................................................................ A. maculatus sp. nov.

Pronotum and mesonotum lacking spines ............................................................................................................................................ 2 2. Legs lacking long hairs ..................................................................................................................... A. diadema Redtenbacher, 1908

Legs with long hairs............................................................................................................................................... A. hirsutus sp. nov.