Diapherodes jamaicensis

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), Zootaxa 4128 (1), pp. 1-211 : 89

5.4.2. The jamaicensis species-group

Characteristics: The three known members of the jamaicensis species-group are restricted to the two Greater Antillean islands of Jamaica and Puerto Rico ( Fig. 375 ). They are of moderate size for the genus (body lengths: ♂♂ 60.0–94.0 mm, ♀♀ including subgenital plate 84.0– 164.5 mm) with ♀♀ ranging from rather slender to moderately robust. Body surface of ♂♂ sub-glabrous to glabrous. Colouration of both sexes usually bright green (♀♀ more rarely brown or with brown markings). Pronotum without anterior spines; at best sparsely tuberculate. Mesonotum of ♂♂ entirely unarmed or with 2–6 paired anterior spines. Meso- and metasternum smooth (♂♂), mesosternum may have a few minute granules in ♀♀. Meso- and metapleurae of ♂♂ unarmed, of ♀♀ with a marginal row of granules or spiniform tubercles. Alae of ♀♀ ± as long as tegmina; anal region of both sexes plain pink to purple. Abdomen of ♀♀ broadened sub-basally with segment III broadest. Tergites IV–VII of ♀♀ ± decidedly multicarinate; VII ± strongly laterally expanded or with a triangular posterolateral lobe. Epiproct of ♀♀ large, triangular to shield-shaped and distinctly projecting over anal segment. All carinae of legs unarmed, except for spines on medioventral carina and sub-apical spines on the two outer ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora. Dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora may bear a ± tooth or lobe sub-apically. Eggs small to moderately sized (capsule length <5.0 mm), micropylar plate small and usually <1/3 the length of capsule. For a detailed comparison with the gigantea species-group see Table 10 .

Figures

FIGURES 375 – 376. Maps. 375. Known distribution of Diapherodes Gray, 1835 and the two species-groups here defined: Gigantea - group [green] and Jamaicensis - group [red]; 376. Distribution of Haplopus Gray, 1835. Although there have not yet been definite records from the southern islands of the Bahamas Caicos and Turks Islands, Haplopus is most certainly also present on these islands. Hence, they are here included in the distribution range.