Brasidas samarensis Rehn & Rehn, 1939

Brasidas samarensis Rehn & Rehn, 1939 View in CoL

( Fig. 19, 23 A-B, D, F, 70G-H, 72C & 73G-H)

Brasidas samarensis Rehn & Rehn, 1939: 432 View in CoL , pl. 35: 33, 36: 37.

HT, ♂: Island, Samar , Baker; USNM; Type No. 53228, U.S. N.M.; Brasidas samarensis View in CoL R + R Type [ USNM] ;

PT, ♀: Island, Samar, Baker; USNM; Type No. 53228, U.S. N.M.; Allotype Brasidas samarensis R + R Paratype [ USNM] ;

PT, ♀: Island, Samar , Baker; Brasidas samarensis R + R Paratype [ ANSP] ;

PT, ♂: Island, Samar , Baker; Brasidas samarensis R + R Paratype [ ANSP] ;

PT, ♀ (juvenile): Island, Samar , Baker; Brasidas samarensis R + R Paratype [ ANSP] .

- Brock, 2003: 69, pl. 7a-b. (Notes on rearing)

- Zompro, 2004: 216, figs.

- Fritzsche & Schuette, 2004: 23.

- Otte & Brock, 2005: 74.

- Harman, 2013: 14. (Origin of culture stock)

- Hennemann et al., 2016: figs. 23-24, 41, 50-a-b.

- Brock & Büscher, 2022: 521.

Material examined

1 ♀, 1 ♂: Philippinen, Eastern Visayas, N-Samar Id., Prov. Northern Samar, Lope de Vega , local collector, III.2010 [ FH, No’s 0496-33 & 34] ;

1 ♂: Philippinen, Eastern Visayas, N-Samar Id., Prov. Northern Samar, Lope de Vega , local collector, IX.2011 [ FH, No 0496-35] ;

10 ♀, 10 ♂: ex Zucht F. Hennemann, urspr.: Philippinen, Samar Id., Bobon, II.-XII.2003 [ FH No’s 0496-1 to 20] ;

6 ♀, 6 ♂, eggs: ex Zucht F. Hennemann 2004-06, Herkunft: Philippinen, Samar Id., Bobon, PSG No. 235 [ FH No’s 0496-21 to 32, E] ;

2 ♀, 1 ♂: Philippinen, Eastern Visayas, N-Samar Id., Prov. Northern Samar, Lope de Vega , local collector, VI.2013 [ FH, No 0496-36 to 38] ;

1 ♀: Philippines, Samar, Lope de Vega , I.2012 [ RBINS] ;

1 ♀: Philippines, Samar, Lope de Vega , III.2012 [ RBINS] ;

1 ♀, 1 ♂: Philippines, Samar, Lope de Vega , IV.2013 [ RBINS] ;

3 ♀, 1 ♂: Ex culture Bresseel 2007; Origin: Philippines, Samar, Bobon, Sea level, Leg.A. Maluche [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – In general appearance and morphologically this species comes closest to B. cavernosus from Luzon and Rapu Rapu, with which it shares the interiorly open and rather slender, oval metasternal pseudo-foramina of both sexes ( Fig. 70 G-H). Females may merely be distinguished by the slightly stockier general shape and the on average smaller size, as well as the somewhat smaller and rather tuberculiform pair of posterior pronotals, more numerous and pointed mesosternals ( Fig. 19E) and just shallow median notch of the posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII ( Fig. 19J). Moreover, ♀ of samarensis rarely have a cream-coloured or whitish medio-longitudinal streak on the thoracic terga, that is very frequently seen in cavernosus . Males lack the typical reddish or rusty brown lateral surfaces of the

– A. ♀ dorsal view [FH 0496-6]. – B. ♀ dorsolateral view [FH 0496-6]. – C. ♂ dorsal view [FH 0496-29]. – D. ♂ dorsolateral view [FH 0496-29]. – E. Mesosternum of ♀. – F. Mesosternum of ♂. – G. Terminalia of ♀ in lateral view (Samar, Lope de Vega) [RBINS]. – H. Terminalia of ♀ in dorsal view (Samar, Lope de Vega) [RBINS]. – J. Terminalia of ♀ in ventral view (Samar, Lope de Vega) [RBINS]. – K. Terminalia of ♂ in dorsal view. – L. Terminalia of ♂ in ventral view. mesonotum and dark blackish purple ventral surfaces of the femora seen in cavernosus , and instead often have a ± defined green medio-longitudinal streak along the thoracic terga. In addition to the averagely smaller size, ♂ of samarensis may also be separated from those of cavernosus by the broader posterior margin of the anal segment ( Fig. 19K), larger and medially protruded epiproct, more distinctly arched terminal hook of the vomer ( Fig. 72C) and broader posteromedian indention of the poculum. The eggs are also very similar to those of samarensis and may only be distinguished by the somewhat narrower anterior end of the capsule and relatively smaller posterolateral extensions of the micropylar plate ( Fig. 73 G-H).

Variability. – Despite chromatic variability, the ♀ at hand show only some variability in the size of the abdominal spines. In all other aspects there is no notable variation. The colour is basically dark green with or olive and to a variable degree flecked with ochre and brown. Rarely specimens are rather brown than green in overall colour and one of the ♀ from Lope de Vega has an ochre medio-longitudinal streak on the thoracic segments (less distinct on basal abdominal terga).All spines of the head and body are mid to dark green. Males show even less variability in the spination and colour. They range from ochre to dark green in colour and there often is a washed dark green medio-longitudinal stripe along the meso- and metanotum, which is more commonly seen in green specimens. Brown examples usually have the meso- and metathorax with a slight orangey hue. Body lengths: ♀ 86.0-102.0 mm, ♂ 55.5-67.0 mm.

Remarks. – Culture stock originating from Bobon, N-Samar and collected by Andy Maluche ( Philippines) has been reared in Europe for severalyears but the stock seems tohave vanished.Itwasincluded on the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as culture No. 235. Breeding was pretty easy in humid conditions and accepted alternative food-plants included bramble and raspberry ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ), roses ( Rosa spp. , Rosaceae ), hazel ( Corylus avellana , Betulaceae ), oaks ( Quercus spp. , Fagaceae ),salal ( Gaultheria shallon , Ericaceae ) and hawthorn (Crategus spp., Rosaceae ).The egg is illustrated in figures 73G-H.

Distribution. – Samar, endemic. “ Samar ” [ANSP, USNM]; Province Northern Samar (Lope de Vega [FH, RBINS]; Bobon [FH, RBINS]).