Complete Field Guide to Stick and Leaf Insects of Australia

Author(s):  
Paul D Brock ◽  
Jack W Hasenpusch

Australia has a rich diversity of phasmids – otherwise known as stick and leaf insects. Most of them are endemic, few have been studied and new species continue to be found. Stick insects are, by far, Australia’s longest insects – some of them reach up to 300 mm in body length, or more than half a metre if you include their outstretched legs. Many stick insects are very colourful, and some have quite elaborate, defensive behaviour. Increasingly they are being kept as pets. This is the first book on Australian phasmids for nearly 200 years and covers all known stick and leaf insects. It includes photographs of all species, notes on their ecology and biology as well as identification keys suitable for novices or professionals.

Author(s):  
Gunther Theischinger ◽  
John Hawking

Dragonflies and damselflies are conspicuous insects – many are large and brightly coloured. Here for the first time is a comprehensive guide to the Australian dragonfly fauna. The book includes identification keys not only for adults but also for their larvae, commonly known as ‘mud eyes’ and often used as bait for freshwater fish. With stunning full-colour images and distribution maps, the book covers all 30 families, 110 genera and 324 species found in Australia. Dragonflies are valuable indicators of environmental well-being. A detailed knowledge of the dragonfly fauna and its changes is therefore an important basis for decisions about environmental protection and management. Their extraordinary diversity will interest entomologists and amateur naturalists alike.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1570 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAUL D. BROCK ◽  
JACK HASENPUSCH

The Australian phasmid fauna has been revised prior to publication of a field guide by the same authors. Six new genera are described: Austrosipyloidea Brock & Hasenpusch, Cornicandovia Hasenpusch & Brock, Davidrentzia Brock & Hasenpusch, Micropodacanthus Brock & Hasenpusch, Paratropidoderus Brock & Hasenpusch and Spinosipyloidea Hasenpusch & Brock. Sixteen new species from various parts of Australia are described and figured: Candovia robinsoni Brock & Hasenpusch, Rhamphosipyloidea palumensis Hasenpusch & Brock, Scionecra milledgei Hasenpusch & Brock, Sipyloidea brevicerci Hasenpusch & Brock, Sipyloidea garradungensis Hasenpusch & Brock, Sipyloidea larryi Hasenpusch & Brock, Sipyloidea lewisensis Hasenpusch & Brock, Sipyloidea rentzi Brock & Hasenpusch, Sipyloidea whitei Brock & Hasenpusch, Spinosipyloidea doddi Hasenpusch & Brock [all Necrosciinae], Pachymorpha spinosa Brock & Hasenpusch [Pachymorphinae], Davidrentzia valida Brock & Hasenpusch [Platycraninae], Micropodacanthus mouldsi Brock & Hasenpusch, Micropodacanthus sztrakai Brock & Hasenpusch, Paratropidoderus spinosus Brock & Hasenpusch and Podacanthus keyi Brock & Hasenpusch [Tropidoderinae].        A number of new combinations are proposed, new synonyms and incorrect synonymy corrected following detailed examination of type and other material: 1. (Lonchodinae): Austrocarausius Brock, 2000: Carausius macerrimus Brunner, 1907 is a new synonym of Austrocarausius nigropunctatus (Kirby, 1896). Denhama Werner, 1912: D. austrocarinata (Otte & Brock, 2005), D. longiceps (Brunner, 1907), D. striata (Sjöstedt, 1918) and D. eutrachelia (Westwood, 1859) are transferred from Hyrtacus Stål, 1875, the latter species also removed from synonymy with Hyrtacus coenosa (Gray, 1833). D. gracilis (Sjöstedt, 1918), a former Marcenia species, is also transferred. Hyrtacus Stål, 1875 (= Marcenia Sjöstedt, 1918 syn. n.): H. caurus (Tepper, 1905) comb. n. transferred from Lonchodes Gray, 1835 (three new synonyms also reported for this species: Bacillus peristhenellus Tepper, 1905, Hyrtacus cunctatrix (Sjöstedt, 1918) and Hyrtacus nigrogranulosus Sjöstedt, 1918). Marcenia frenchi (Wood-Mason, 1877) is a new synonym of Hyrtacus tuberculatus Stål, 1875. 2. (Necrosciinae): Austrosipyloidea Brock & Hasenpusch, gen. n.: A. carterus (Westwood, 1859) comb. n., transferred from Sipyloidea Brunner, 1893 (= Sipyloidea filiformis Redtenbacher, 1908 syn. n.). Candovia Stål, 1875 is removed from synonymy with Hyrtacus, along with the type species, C. coenosa. This has resulted in all former Australian species placed in Parasipyloidea Redtenbacher, 1908 being transferred to Candovia i.e. C. aberrata (Brunner, 1907) comb. n., C. annulata (Brunner, 1907) comb. n., C. granulosa (Brunner, 1907) comb. n., C. pallida (Sjöstedt, 1918), comb. n., C. spurcata (Brunner, 1907) comb. n. and C. strumosa (Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n. In addition, C. evoneobertii (Zompro & Adis, 2001) comb. n. and C. peridromes (Westwood, 1859) comb. n. (including its new synonyms Clitarchus longipes Brunner, 1907, Bacunculus tener Brunner, 1907 and E. cercatus (Redtenbacher, 1908)) are transferred from Echetlus Stål, 1875. Cornicandovia Hasenpusch & Brock gen n.: C. australica (Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n. Sipyloidea Brunner, 1893: S. bella (Tepper, 1905) comb. n. (new synonym S. ovabdita Rentz & John, 1987) is transferred from Necroscia Serville, 1838, S. caeca Sjöstedt, 1918 rev. stat., is removed from synonymy with Sipyloidea carterus (Westwood, 1859).  Rhamphosipyloidea Redtenbacher, 1908: R. queenslandica (Sjöstedt, 1918) comb. n. is transferred from Sipyloidea, also removed from synonymy with carterus. 3. (Pachymorphinae): Pachymorpha Gray, 1835: P. pasithoe (Westwood, 1859) is a new synonym of P. simplicipes Serville, 1838. 4. (Eurycanthinae). Eurycantha Boisduval, 1835: E. sifia (Westwood, 1859) is a new synonym of E. calcarata Lucas, 1870. 5. (Phasmatinae): Vetilia Stål, 1875 is a new synonym of Acrophylla Gray, 1835, resulting in the transfer of these species to Acrophylla: A. enceladus (Gray, 1835) comb. n. and A. thoon (Stål, 1875) comb. n. Vetilia ligia Redtenbacher, 1908 is a new synonym of Acrophylla wuelfingi Redtenbacher, 1908. A. paula (Tepper, 1905) and A. aliena Redtenbacher, 1908 are new synonyms of A. nubilosa Tepper, 1905. A. caprella (Westwood, 1859) comb. n. is transferred from Ctenomorpha Gray, 1833. Anchiale Stål, 1875 (= Ctenomorphodes Karny, 1923 syn. n.), resulting in the transfer of  A. briareus (Gray, 1834) comb. n. and A. tessulata (Gray, 1835) which is renamed Anchiale austrotessulata name nov., as tessulata Gray is preoccupied by Anchiale tessulata (Goeze, 1778). Austroclonistria Redtenbacher, 1908 is a new synonym of Arphax Stål, 1875, as A. serrulataa Redtenbacher, 1908) is a new synonym of Arphax dolomedes (Westwood, 1859). Ctenomorpha Gray, 1833: Paractenomorpha macrotegmus (Tepper, 1887) is confirmed as a synonym of Ctenomorpha marginipennis Gray, 1833. Hermarchus Stål, 1875: H. polynesicus Redtenbacher, 1908 is a new synonym of H. insignis (Kaup, 1871). Paronchestus Redtenbacher, 1908: P. cornutus (Tepper, 1905) comb. n. is transferred from Acrophylla Gray, 1835 and P. pasimachus (Westwood, 1859) from Onchestus Stål, 1875. 6. (Platycraninae): Megacrania batesii (Kirby, 1896) is removed from synonymy with Megacrania alpheus (Westwood, 1859). 7. (Tropidoderinae): Didymuria Kirby 1904: D. virginea Stål, 1875 is removed from synonymy with D. violescens (Leach, 1814). Lysicles Stål, 1877: L. periphanes (Westwood, 1859) comb. n. is transferred from Echetlus Stål, 1875. Tropidoderus Gray 1835: T. michaelseni Werner, 1912 is removed from synonymy with T. childrenii (Gray, 1833). 8. (Xeroderinae): Cooktownia Sjöstedt, 1918 becomes a new synonym of Xeroderus Gray, 1835, as Cooktownia plana Sjöstedt, 1918 is a new synonym of Xeroderus kirbii Gray, 1835.Lectotypes are designated for Clitarchus longipes Brunner, 1907, Sipyloidea filiformis Redtenbacher, 1908 and Vetilia ligula Redtenbacher, 1908.As a result of this work, there are now 104 Australian species (+ 1 subspecies) and in order to facilitate further research on these insects, an updated checklist is provided, also a detailed bibliography.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Günther Theischinger ◽  
John Hawking ◽  
Albert Orr

Dragonflies and damselflies are conspicuous insects: many are large and brightly coloured. They are also valuable indicators of environmental wellbeing. A detailed knowledge of the dragonfly fauna is therefore an important basis for decisions about environmental protection and management. This comprehensive guide to the Australian dragonfly fauna covers eight families of dragonflies and 10 families of damselflies, comprising the 113 genera and 333 species found in Australia. It has been updated with newly identified species and revised family names to reflect new world consensus systematics. Stunning full-colour images and distribution maps are accompanied by identification keys for adults as well as larvae, which are often used as bait for freshwater fish. This second edition of The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia also includes illustrations by Albert Orr, one of the most renowned dragonfly illustrators. The extraordinary diversity of dragonflies will interest entomologists and amateur naturalists alike.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 766-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nessrine Ghanmi ◽  
David González-Solís ◽  
Lamia Gargouri

Abstract Helminthological examinations of the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Linnaeus) (Mullidae) from the Gulf of Hammamet, off Tunisia, revealed the presence of one undescribed gonad-infecting nematode species, Philometra barbata n. sp. (Philometridae). The new species as other congeneric species is mainly characterized by the shape of the caudal mound, the distribution of the caudal papillae and the shape of the gubernaculum with the presence of a dorsal protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field in the male. The new species differs from its gonadinfecting congeners in the body length of male, the length of spicules and gubernaculum. This is the second nominal species of Philometra reported from fishes of the family Mullidae and the 14th from the Mediterranean Sea.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4521 (2) ◽  
pp. 265 ◽  
Author(s):  
RANJANA JAISWARA ◽  
JIAJIA DONG ◽  
TONY ROBILLARD

Pseudolebinthus is an intriguing genus of the tribe Xenogryllini with a distribtuion restricted to southeast Africa and characterized by unique morphological features such as asymmetrical male forewings and harp veins shaped as elongated balloons. It is sister group to the widely distributed genus Xenogryllus and has been known by two species, P. africanus Robillard, 2006 and P. whellani Robillard, 2006. The genus was initially diagnosed based exclusively on male morphological features. In this study, we add a new species to the genus, P. gorochovi Robillard sp. nov. and revise the diagnostic features using both male and female characters. We also update identification keys for the species of the genus. 


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4344 (1) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
WOLFGANG SCHAWALLER ◽  
PAUL ASTON

Two new species of the genus Laena Dejean, 1821 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Lagriinae) are described from Hong Kong: Laena hongkongica sp. n. and Laena walkeri sp. n. These constitute the first record of the genus from Hong Kong, as a species previously described from nearby area Laena ovipennis Schuster, 1926, in fact originated from Zhejiang province nearby Shanghai. Both species from Hong Kong possess a wide variation in body length, which is quite unusual for this genus. 


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Somnath Bhakat

AbstractA new species of Bipaliid land planarian, Bipalium bengalensis is described from Suri, West Bengal, India. The species is jet black in colour without any band or line but with a thin indistinct mid-dorsal groove. Semilunar head margin is pinkish in live condition with numerous eyes on its margin. Body length (BL) ranged from 19.00 to 45.00mm and width varied from 9.59 to 13.16% BL. Position of mouth and gonopore from anterior end ranged from 51.47 to 60.00% BL and 67.40 to 75.00 % BL respectively. Comparisons were made with its Indian as well as Bengal congeners.Salient features, distribution and biometric data of all the 29 species of Indian Bipaliid land planarians are revised thoroughly. Genus controversy in Bipaliid taxonomy is critically discussed and a proposal of only two genera Bipalium and Humbertium is suggested.


ZooKeys ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 944 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Seong Yong Moon ◽  
Ho Young Soh ◽  
Dae Hyun Cho

During general field surveys carried out recently to collect benthopelagic copepods from near the substrate of the shallow waters off Jeju Island, Korea, a few specimens of three new species of Stephos Scott, 1892, were collected. The new species are placed in the genus Stephos because of the following combination of features: absence of seta on the basal exite of maxillule, and male right leg 5 ending in an unarmed claw-like and/or mitten-like segment. Stephos jejuensissp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by body length 0.92 mm, left side of the female genital double-somite with protruding lobes, antennule that extends beyond the distal area of the genital double-somite, and the male leg 5 terminal complex. Stephos concavussp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the genital double-somite with protruding lobes on both sides, and the presence of larger spinules on the distomedial margin of leg 5. Stephos fortipessp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by its longer body length, 1.12 mm long in the female, antennules that extend to the end of the genital double-somite, and the presence of a covered row of minute spinules on the ventral surface of the genital operculum in the female. Until now, 35 species of stephids were known worldwide.


Zootaxa ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3630 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAULO FONTOURA ◽  
OSCAR LISI ◽  
GIOVANNI PILATO

A new tardigrade, Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov., is described from a moss sample collected in Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. The new species is characterized by having a reticulate dorsal cuticle with small tubercles; nine transverse rows of dorsal gibbosities (configuration IX:4-6-4-6-4-6-4-4-2); pharyngeal bulb with two macroplacoids and no microplacoid; claws with short and thin accessory points; small, smooth lunules under the claws. The new species is most similar to Doryphoribius zyxiglobus (Horning, Schuster & Grigarick, 1978). Both exhibit two macroplacoids, similar cuticular pattern and the same configuration of gibbosities. However, in Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov. the cu-ticular tubercles are less close, buccal tube slightly longer with respect to the body length, more gradual curvature of the buccal tube, different claws shape and thinner accessory points.


1997 ◽  
Vol 129 (6) ◽  
pp. 1141-1149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vernon R. Vickery

AbstractTwo new species of Diapheromera, D. kevani and D. petita, are described from Mexico, the first record of these species and of the genus from Baja California. They were found while studying the stick insects (Phasmatoptera) of the Baja California Peninsula.


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