Brasidas cavernosus (Stål, 1877), Hennemann, 2023

Brasidas cavernosus (Stål, 1877) View in CoL n. comb.

( Fig. 9-10, 70 C-D, 72A & 73E-F)

Obrimus cavernosus Stål, 1877: 68 . HT, ♀: Ins. Philip.; Typus; cavernosus [NHRS].

- Elera, 1895: 200.

- Kirby, 1904: 398.

- Redtenbacher, 1906: 39, pl. 1: 6. (in part - only ♀ from Luzon; ♂ from Mindanao is a distinct species)

- Bruner, 1915: 35.

- Sjöstedt, 1933: 2. (Type data)

- Günther, 1935: 124.

Euobrimus cavernosus, Zompro, 2004: 216 View in CoL .

- Otte & Brock, 2005: 137.

- Brock & Büscher, 2022: 521.

Obrimus lacerta Redtenbacher, 1906: 39 (in part – only PLT, ♂ (penultimate instar): Coll. Br. v.W., Philippinen, Schneider; det. Redtenb. Obrimus lacerta ; 14.470 [NHMW]).

Euobrimus lacerta, Krijns, 2012: 14 View in CoL , figs. (Rearing notes, description of egg)

- Harman, 2014: 20. (Culture stock origin)

- Harman, 2022: 22. (Culture stock origin)

[Not: Euobrimus cavernosus, Rehn & Rehn, 1939: 449 , pl. 31: 8 (♂), 36: 38 (♀), 38: 44 (♀ metasternum). Misidentification Brasidas rehni n. sp.]

Material examined

12 ♀, 9 ♂ 1 ♀ (penultimate instar), eggs: ex Zucht F. Hennemann 2011-2014, Philippinen, SO-Luzon, Prov. Bicol, Sorsogon, Pocdol Mts., Mt. Pulog NP, Mt. Pulog , X.2010 [ FH, No’s 0768-1 to 22 & E1] ;

6 ♀, 9 ♂, eggs: ex Zucht F. Hennemann 2012-2014, Philippinen, Prov. Albay, Rapu-Rapu Id., leg. T. Heitzmann 2011 X.2010 [ FH, No’s 0768-23 to 37 & E2] ;

2 ♀, 1 ♂: Philippinen, S Luzon Id., Bicol Region, Provinz Sorsogon, Pocdol Mountains , local collector, IX.2010 [ FH, No`s 0768-38-40] ;

1 ♀: Philippinen, S Luzon Id., Bicol Region, Provinz Sorsogon, Mount Bulusan , local collector, II.2003 [ FH, No. 0768-41] ;

1 ♂: Philippinen, S Luzon Id., Bicol Region, Provinz Sorsogon, Mount Bulusan , local collector, IX.2012 [ FH, No. 0768-42] ;

1 ♀ (n5): Philippinen, Ost Luzon Island, Provinz Aurora, Sierra Madre , Dingalan , 230 m, local collector, X.2010 [ FH, No. 0768-43] ;

1 ♀: Philippinen, Eastern Visayas, Prov. Leyte, Leyte Island , Mahaplag Munip., local collector, II.2012 [ FH, No. 0768-44] ;

1 ♀, 1 ♂: Philippines, Luzon , Bicol , Sorosogon, Oct. 2010, Leg Heitzmann [ RBINS] ;

1 ♂: Philippines, Luzon, Bicol, Mt. Osiao , Leg T. Heitzmann & A. Kang, X.2009 [ RBINS] ;

3 ♀, 2 ♂: Ex Breeding Illy Klimmert 2013; Origin: Philippines, S Luzon, Mt. Pulog , Sorsogon [ RBINS] ;

5 ♀, 5 ♂: Ex Culture Bresseel 2013; Philippines, Luzon, Bicol peninsula, Albay Province, Rapu Rapu Island , Leg Heitzmann 2011 [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – This large representative of the genus comes morphologically very close to B. samarensis from the island of Samar, with which it shares the interiorly open and rather slender, oval, pit-like metasternal pseudo-foramina of both sexes. Females are merely separable by the slightly slenderer general shape and the on average larger size, as well as the somewhat more spinose pair of posterior pronotals, less numerous and less acute mesosternals and more distinctly medially notched and bi-lobate posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII ( Fig. 9J).Moreover, these ♀ often have a light cream-coloured or whitish medio-longitudinal streak on the thoracic terga, which is rarely observed in samarensis . Males are well recognised by the reddish or rusty brown lateral surfaces of the mesonotum ( Fig. 10D) and dark blackish purple ventral surfaces of the femora ( Fig. 9E), which readily separate them form the ♂ of samarensis and other congenerics. In addition to the averagely larger size, ♂ of cavernosus may also be separatedfromthose of samarensis by the more narrowed posterior margin of the anal segment ( Fig. 9G), smaller and rounded epiproct, less arched terminal hook of the vomer ( Fig. 72A) and narrower posteromedian notch of the poculum. Also, the eggs are remarkably similar to those of cavernosus and may only be distinguished by the somewhat less narrow anterior end of the capsule and relatively larger posterolateral extensions of the micropylar plate ( Fig. 73 E-F).

Variability. – Despite moderate variability of the body armature and cephalic supination, considerable variability is seen in the colouration. This concerns to ♀ in particular which are mostly various tones of drab and brown, but can more rarely be dark green or mixtures of brown and green tones. There often is a light cream to beige medio-longitudinal streak along the pro, meso- and metanotum and basal abdominal terga (e. g. Fig. 10E). The ♀ from the Mahaplag municipality, Leyte Island in the authors collection even has the pale streak running along the whole dorsal body surface with exception of the head. In all other morphological aspects and armature this specimen fully agrees with the numerous examples from Luzon and Rapu Rapu.No such strong chromatic variability is seen in ♂, which are mostly olive to mid brown and almost exceptionally have a more or less pronounced pale yellow to cream-coloured medio-longitudinal stripe along the dorsal body surface. The cephalic supination and body – A. ♀ dorsal view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol , Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH 0768-1 ]. – B. ♀ dorsolateral view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol , Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH 0768-1 ]. – C. ♂ dorsal view (S-Luzon, Prov. Sorsogon) [ FH 0768-42 ]. – D. ♂ dorsolateral view (S-Luzon, Prov. Sorsogon, Pocdol Mts. ) [ FH 0768-40 ]. – E. Mesosternum of ♂ (S-Luzon, Prov. Sorsogon, Pocdol Mts. ) [ FH 0768-40 ]. – F. Terminalia of ♂ in lateral view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol , Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH]. – G. Terminalia of ♂ in dorsal view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol, Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH]. – H. Terminalia of ♂ in ventral view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol, Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH]. – J. Terminalia of ♀ in dorsal view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol, Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH]. – K. Terminalia of ♀ in ventral view (reared from SE-Luzon, Bicol , Sorsogon, Mount Pulog ) [ FH] .

– A. Head and thorax of ♀. – B. ♀ with a distinct light cream medio-longitudinal dorsal streak on thorax. – C. ♂. – D. Head and thorax of ♂. – E. Head and thorax of ♀ seen in Figure A. armature variesfrommid todark greenin both sexes.The metasternal foramina fairly distinct and basically semi-circular. Body lengths: ♀ 96.5-114.0 mm, ♂ 66.0- 72.5 mm.

Remarks. – The specimens from Surigao, North Mindanao recorded by Rehn & Rehn (1939:449) and Redtenbacher (1906:39) are misidentified and likely to be B. viscayanus . Unfortunately, neither specimen could be closely examined for this study. The ♂ and two ♀ recorded and illustrated by Rehn & Rehn (1939: 449,pl. 31: 8, 36: 38,38: 44) from the island of Siargao off the north-eastern coast of Minadanao are also misidentified and here described as Brasidas rehni n. sp. Thus, both these geographic recordsdo not relate to cavernosus and hence are not listed in the distribution of cavernosus below.

This is the second largest species in the genus and among the largest representatives of the whole of Obriminae . Two culture stocks of this species have been introduced to Europe, both collected by Thierry Heitzmann ( Philippines) in 2011. One stock originated from Mount Pulog, Sorsogon Province, SE-Luzon and was included on the Phasmid Study group culture-list as culture No. 377. The other stock originated from four couples collected on the island of Rapu Rapu and was given the culture No. 361. Both stocks haven proven easy to maintain in culture and accept a variety of alternative food plants, including bramble and raspberry ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ), roses ( Rosa spp. , Rosaceae ), hazel ( Corylus avellana , Betulaceae ), salal ( Gaultheria shallon , Ericaceae ) and different Araceae . Thus, it is believed that B. cavernosus is also polyphagous in its natural habitats.

Distribution. – “ Philippines ” [NHRS, NHMW]. Luzon [NHMW]. Central Luzon, Province Manila [MNHN]. Southeast Luzon, Bicol Region, Province Sorsogon (Pocdol Mountains, Mount Pulog National Park, Mount Pulog [FH, RBINS]; Mount Bulusan [FH]); Province Aurora (Sierra Madre, Dingalan 230 m [FH]); Province Albay (Rapu-Rapu Island [FH, RBINS]). Eastern Visayas, Province Leyte, Leyte Island (Mahaplag [FH]).