By George Robert Gray, Esq., M.E.S. France and London.
[Read February 3, 1834.]
Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London, i, 1(1), pp. 45-46.
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| Page 45 |
The species to which I first wish to call your attention belong to the second section formed by me under the denomination of Diura.
5*.¹ PHASMA (DIURA) GOLIATH.
| 1. | These numbers refer to the corresponding ones in my Monograph of the Australian species of this genus. |
In size it approaches Ph. Titan, but differs in having much longer and broader wings than are usual in this section, which, when closely applied, cover two thirds of the abdomen. The leaflets are rather short, keeled down their length so as to form a V reversed. The colour of the head and prothorax is pinkish white; that of the mesothorax is yellow, with a bluish green line along the centre. The abdomen is green, with the joints yellow, and margined on each side with black. The fore legs are rather short; the two posterior pairs are of moderate length, and strongly spined on their inner margin, the spines being somewhat depressed.
The specimen from which the above description is taken is in the collection of New Holland insects belonging to Mrs. Dunn, who is uncertain from what part of the country it was obtained. Mr. John Curtis also possesses a specimen; but both individuals have lost their antennæ.
Brunneum, mesothorace vix scabro; foliolis brevissimis, latis; pedibus
brevioribus, posticis quatuor spinosis.
Long. corp. 5 unc. 9 lin. Exp. alar. 2 unc. 5 lin.
This insect is allied in several respects to Ph. Chronus. The description is taken from a female, the other sex at present being
| Page 46 |
The specimen is described from Mrs. Dunn's collection, who received it with Ph. Goliath.
From the knowledge I have obtained of the differences which the insects of this extensive family undergo in their progress to maturity, I am induced to describe the two following insects as distinct, although neither of them has advanced to its perfect state.
Pallide brunneum, mesothorace scaberrimo; foliolis brevissimis, trigonis;
pedibus (anticis mutilatis) intermediis et posticis brevibus, lineis
elevatis striatis, tibiarum apice et basi parum dilatatis.
Long. corp. 4 unc. 6 lin.
The peculiar form of the leaflets, which are trigonal, at once distinguishes this species from those previously described. The specimen belongs to the Rev. F. W. Hope, who states that it was brought from Melville Island.
7**. PHASMA (DIURA) ACHERON.
Albidum brunneo admixtum, thorace subglabro; foliolis longis, sublatis;
pedibus brevioribus, anticis foliato- compressis, intermediis et posticis
paulum incrassatis, his spinosis, tibiis interne spinis latis duabus in
medio armatis; tarsorum articulo primo erecto dilatato.
Long. corp. 4 unc. 8 lin.
The anterior fegs having a compressed foliation along their outer margin, and the tarsi being compressed above, sufficiently characterize this species. It is contained in Mrs. Dunn's collection, who received it with the Ph. Goliath.
The fifth species which I shall here describe belongs to the Apterous division, and is supposed to form part of the Latreillian subgenus Bacteria, its position being at present doubtful on account of the antennæ of both specimens being imperfect.
12*. PHASMA (BACTERIA?) SPINOSUM.
Thorace, abdominis articulo primo pedibusque fortiter spinosis;
Male filiforme, flavescenti-brunneum, lineâ in medio nigrâ.
Long. antennarum corporisque ob fracturas partium ignota.
Female cylindricum albidum, lineâ in medio æneâ.
Long. corp. 4 unc. 3 lin.
This species was received from Swan River by the Rev. Frederick William
Hope, who kindly lent me the specimens now exhibited.