Description Of A Supposed New Species Of Phasmidæ.

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, Vol. IX, 1886, pp. 112-113 [Published March, 1887.]

By J. G. O. Tepper, F.L.S., &c.

[Read August 8, 1886.]

Plate VI.

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Several very remarkable examples of Phasmidæ with rudimentary wings were presented in the course of the last twelve months to the Adelaide Museum. The perfect insect was captured at Mount Lofty by Mrs. Stirling, and another specimen was obtained by Mr. Guest, of Balhannah, while I collected two specimens in the nymphal condition.

In consulting the available literature I could find no mention of this large insect. I therefore venture to lay a description before the Society, and attach a provisional name, deferring the species to Westwood's genus Lopaphus, although one of the generic distinctions does not fit, viz., "tegmina much smaller than the wings." The one before us has the first as long or longer than the latter.

Lopaphus macrotegmus. Spec. nov.
Plate VI. (nat. size of a rather small specimen).

Body long, slender, dull brown, similarly winged in both sexes; head elongated, broader in front, forehead slightly wrinkled; eyes prominent; antennæ filiform, first two joints dilated, many-jointed, about four or five times the length of the head; mesothorax five times longer than the prothorax, with a few small tubercles; metathorax about half as long; abdomen cylindrical, tapering after fourth segment, last two very short; terminal foliolets longer than any segment, rather broad, rounded at the tip; operculum conspicuous, rising from seventh segment, not extending beyond the body; legs straight, slender, mottled grey, first pair longest; femora dentated conspicuously above, less so beneath, inner angle smooth; tibia straight, smooth; second pair shortest; femora with one (or two) teeth above near the middle, four or five beneath; tibia twin tooth above, nearer the elbow joint, and two small teeth near the wrist beneath; third pair intermediate; femora one small tooth in the middle and another near elbow above and several beneath, tibia with a double tooth above; tarsi long, first joint longer than half the
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whole, fourth very small; tegmina as long or longer than the wings; the latter rudimentary, anterior part pale brown with a few irregular narrow black bars; posterior part black, translucent. Length of body, about 5½ in.; head, about ¼ in.; forelegs, about 3¾ in.; middle pair, about 2¾ in.; tegmina, about 5/8 in.; wings, about 4/7 in.; foliolets, about 5/8 in. The above refers to the female, the male being slightly smaller. In the nymphal form the colour is greenish, but the dentation of the legs, notably the teeth on the upper edge, quite identical with those of the perfect form in all my specimens. The size is also less - from 3¾ to 4¾ in., and the body more slender.

The eggs are elliptic, cylindrical, about one-eighth inch long and half as thick, wrinkled, greyish black when mature, and open with a lid at one end, which bears a conspicuous round knob.

They live upon stringybark shrubs in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

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