Apteroplopus, Frank H. Hennemann, Oskar V. Conle & Daniel E. Perez-Gelabert, 2016

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 : 40

5.2. Genus Apteroplopus n. gen.

Type-species: Dyme grosse-tuberculata Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 323, by present designation.

Dyme, Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 318 (in part—not Dyme Stål, 1875 ). Bacteria, Otte & Brock, 2005: 64 (in part).

Description: ♂♂ ( Fig. 59 ). Large (body length 115.4 mm) and very slender, apterous Haplopodini. Body surface strongly shiny and smooth except for some paired tubercles on the mesonotum and minute granules on the meso- and metapleurae. Head indistinctly longer than wide and gently narrowing towards the posterior, vertex very gently convex and with two small tubercles. Eyes prominent, circular and projecting hemispherical. Antennae conspicuously thickened and longer than head and complete thorax combined;> 50 antennomeres. Scapus 1.5x longer than wide, oval in cross-section. Pronotum rectangular and unarmed, slightly longer and as broad as head. Mesothorax very elongate, more than 3.5x longer than head and pronotum combined. Mesonotum parallel-sided and slightly broadened at the posterior, dorsally armed with several irregularly paired, blunt tubercles. Metanotum half the length of mesonotum, slightly broadened at anterior margin. Meso- and metasternum and pleurae simple, the latter very minutely granulose. Abdomen about as long as head and complete thorax combined. Median segment about ¼ the length of the metanotum. Abdominal segments II–VII slightly decreasing in length, at least 2.5x longer than wide and parallel-sided. Tergum VIII 2 /3 the length of VII, swollen and roundly dilated subapically; distinctly broader than II–VII and broadest segment. Posterior margin of anal segment with a wide concave excavation, the posterolateral angles thickened ( Fig. 61 ). Cerci of moderate size, laterally compressed, slender, slightly incurving and tapered towards the apex; projecting over apex of anal segment ( Figs. 60–61 ). Vomer distinct, triangular with a single terminal hook. Poculum moderately convex, scoop-like and with a slight posteromedian indentation; just reaching to posterior margin of tergum IX ( Fig. 60 ). Legs long and slender, profemora and mesofemora shorter than mesothorax, hind legs almost reaching apex of abdomen. Profemora strongly compressed and curved basally, the meso- and metafemora very slightly constricted towards the base. Anterodorsal carina of meso- and metafemora slightly elevated sub-apically. Medioventral carina of profemora very indistinctly displaced towards anteroventral carina, with two minute teeth apically. Outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora with 2–4 sub-apical spines. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora with 3–4 spines sub-apically. Tibiae unarmed. Tarsi elongate, probasitarsus as long as following three tarsomeres combined with the dorsal carina slightly elevated towards the apex. Meso- and metabarsitarsi as long as following two tarsomeres combined. ♀♀ and eggs unknown.

Differentiation: ♂♂ are easily distinguished from all other genera of Haplopodini by lacking tegmina and alae, very elongate mesothorax which is more than 3.5x longer than the head and pronotum combined, and having the median segment considerably shortened, being less than 1/3 the length of the metanotum. Furthermore, this is the only representative of Haplopodini to be known from Central America. From the closely related Haplopus Burmeister, 1838 ♂♂ may additionally be distinguished by the smaller and more slender, laterally compressed and apically tapered cerci.

Comments: Dyme sensu Brunner v. Wattenwyl (not Stål, 1875) is a highly polyphyletic grouping and examination of his specimen of D. grossetuberculata has shown this clearly not to be a member of Dyme Stål, 1875 . The glabrous body surface, conspicuously thickened antennae, apically spinose ventral carinae of the femora, slightly displaced medioventral carina of the profemora, tuberculate mesonotum as well as features of the genitalia place this species in the tribe Haplopodini. Features such as the complete lack of tegmina or alae, short median segment and very elongate mesothorax clearly show it to form a distinct generic unit, here named Apteroplopus n. gen.. Within Haplopodini the new genus appears to be close to Haplopus Burmeister, 1838 , showing strong general resemblance to ♂♂ of this genus.

Distribution ( Fig. 377 ): Honduras.

Etymology: Masculine. A combination of “ Apterus ” (lat. = wingless) and the ending “- plopus ” to indicate the close relation to Haplopus Burmeister, 1838 .

Species included:

1. Apteroplopus grosse-tuberculatus (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 323) [ Dyme ].

Figures

FIGURES 59 – 61. Apteroplopus grossetuberculatus (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) n. gen., n. comb .. 59. ♂ HT: Honduras [NHMW, No. 647]; 60. ♂ HT, apex of abdomen (lateral view) [NHMW, No. 647]; 61. ♂ HT, apex of abdomen (dorsal view) [NHMW, No. 647].

FIGURES 377 – 378. Maps. 377. Known distribution of Cephaloplopus n. gen. [green] and Apteroplopus n. gen. [red]; 378. Known distribution of Parhaplopus n. gen. [green] and Paracranidium Brock, 1998 [red].