Abstract
A new stick insect of the genus Orthomeria Kirby, 1904 (Phasmatodea, Aschiphasmatidae) is described from the Philippines. Orthomeria (Orthomeria) kangi sp. n. is readily distinguished from all other congeners by the distinctive blood red colouration of the costal region of the hind wings. Major features of the external morphology of adults, eggs, and first-instar nymphs are illustrated. Locomotory attachment pads are of the smooth type with irregular microgrooves on the contact surface. An unusual condition of male terminalia is the absence of tergal thorn pads on segment 10. The male clasping organs are represented by an elongated vomer terminating in a prominent spine, and by incurved cerci featuring a bilobed apex equipped with a sharp blade-like ridge. Intraspecific variation in body colouration and hind wing length occurs in females. The new species lives at 400-650 m elevation in the surroundings of the Sablang and Tuba regions, in the Benguet Province of Luzon island. Host plants include Ficus spp. (Moraceae), and Pipturus spp. and Leucosyke spp. (Urticaceae). Observations on the mating and defensive behaviour are presented. Orthomeria (Orthomeria) catadromus (Westwood, 1859) is recognised as a junior synonym of Orthomeria (Orthomeria) pandora (Westwood, 1859), syn. n. A lectotype is designated for both species. Finally, an updated identification key to the species of the subgenus Orthomeria is provided.
Highlights
The stick insect genus Orthomeria Kirby, 1904 belongs to the South-east Asian family Aschiphasmatidae (Bragg 2001), and includes ten species divided into two subgenera (Bragg 2006)
After a careful examination of the general anatomy, the specimens were assumed to represent a new species of the subgenus Orthomeria showing an original set of morphological traits, including a distinctive red colouration on the wings which was not previously reported within the genus
Some features of the external anatomy such as attachment devices and male terminalia are characterised in detail for the first time in Orthomeria
Summary
The stick insect genus Orthomeria Kirby, 1904 belongs to the South-east Asian family Aschiphasmatidae (Bragg 2001), and includes ten species divided into two subgenera (Bragg 2006). The nominal subgenus Orthomeria, characterised by a relatively thickened body with dark brown or black basic colouration, comprises seven species found in Borneo, Seram, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and the Philippines (Bragg 2001). After a careful examination of the general anatomy, the specimens were assumed to represent a new species of the subgenus Orthomeria showing an original set of morphological traits, including a distinctive red colouration on the wings which was not previously reported within the genus (see Bragg 2001). We provide an updated identification key to the species of the subgenus Orthomeria adapted from Bragg (2001)
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