Trachyaretaon echinatus (Stål, 1877), Live

Trachyaretaon echinatus (Stål, 1877) View in CoL

( Fig. 59-60. 71A, 72J & 74 C-D)

Obrimus echinatus Stål, 1877: 68 View in CoL .

HT, ♀: Ins. Philip.; Typus; Obrimus echinatus Stål View in CoL , Type [ NHRS] .

- Kirby, 1904: 398.

- Redtenbacher, 1906: 41.

- Bruner, 1915: 229.

- Sjöstedt, 1933: 2. (Type data)

Aretaon (Trachyaretaon) echinatus, Rehn & Rehn, 1939: 423 View in CoL .

Trachyaretaonechinatus, Zompro, 2004: 212, fig. (in part – illustrated ♂ is T.mangyan View in CoL n. sp.).

- Hennemann & Conle, 2006: 219, figs. 1-2, 5-6, 10 (in part – figures show T.mangyan n. sp.).

- Otte & Brock, 2005: 336.

- Lit & Eusebio, 2008a: 121. (Note on host plants)

- Baker, 2015: 3. (Pest status)

- Brock & Büscher, 2022: 522.

[Not: Aretaon echinatus, Zompro, 1996b: 453 , fig 4. This is T. mangyan n. sp.]

[Not: Trachyaretaon echinatus, Bollens & Krijns, 2010: 18 , figs. This is T. mangyan n. sp.]

[Not: Trachyaretaon echinatus, Harman, 2013: 26 . (Note on culture stock). This relates to T. mangyan n. sp.]

Material examined

4 ♀, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (penultimate instar): Philippinen, Northern Luzon Id. , Mountain Province, Nueva Viscaya, Balite, leg. I.O. Lumawig VII.1996 [ FH, No’s 0497- 1 to 6] ;

2 ♀: Philippinen, Luzon Id., Prov. Aurora, Dingalan, local collector IX.2012 [ FH, No’s 0497-7 & 8] ;

1 ♀: Philippinen, N-Luzon Island, Sierra Madre , local collector III.2010 [ FH, No. 0497-9] ;

5 ♀, 25 eggs: ex Zucht F. Hennemann III.2012, Herkunft: Philippinen, N-Luzon, Nueva Vizcaya Prov., Imugan Falls , leg. D. Navarro 2008 [ FH, No’s 0497-10 to 14 & E] ;

1 ♀: Philippines, Luzon, Quezon Prov., Mt. Palakong de Simbahan , 2010, leg. Bollens, Krijns [ RBINS] ;

3 ♀, 2 ♂: Philippines, Luzon, Quezon Prov., Mt. Palakong de Simbahan , 2010, leg. Bollens, Krijns; ex culture Bresseel 2010 [ RBINS] ;

2 ♀: Philippines, North Luzon , ex. Culture Bresseel 2010 [ RBINS] ;

3 ♀, 3 eggs: Philippines, N. Luzon, ex breeding Holger Dräger [ RBINS] ;

2 ♀, 2 ♂: Ex culture Holger Dräger, 2014; Origin: Philippines, Quezon province, Mt. Palakong , leg. R. Krijns & T. Bollens, iv.2010 [ RBINS] ;

1 ♀, 1 ♂: Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Philippines, Luzon, Sorsogon, East Pocdol Mts. (400 m), x.2010, Leg. T. Heitzmann [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – Females of T. echinatus species apparently come closest to T. gatla from Palawan, but a reliable differentiation is not possible since the original description of gatla is much insufficient and the type-specimen is not accessible for examination (see comments on gatla below). Trachyaretaon echinatus is well recognized by the strongly developed head and body armature and the prominently raised, multi-spinose posterior meso- and metanotals of ♀, which also have numerous definite spines on the abdominal terga II-VII ( Fig.59 B-C, H, 60B). Morphologicallythese ♀ come closestto T.mangyan n. sp. from Mindoro but in addition to the characteristics mentioned above may be separated by the on average smaller size, more strongly narrowed anterior portion of the mesothorax ( Fig. 59A), somewhat smaller median indention and less bi-lobed posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII ( Fig.59N) and more deeply indented posterior margin of the analsegment( Fig.59M). Malesmostcloselyresemble T.maliit n. sp. but readily differ by the noticeably larger size and slenderer form with the mesothorax 2.3x longer than the prothorax and much more elongate – A. ♀ dorsal view [ FH 0498-42 ]. – B. ♀ dorsolateral view [ FH 0498-42 ]. – C. ♂ paratype, dorsal view [ FH 0498-13 ]. – D. ♂ paratype, dorsolateral view [ FH 0498-13 ]. – E. Live ♂. – F. Live couple .

– A. ♀ dorsal view (N-Luzon, Mountain Province, Nueva Viscaya, Balite ) [ FH 0497-2 ]. – B . ♀ dorsolateral view (N-Luzon, Mountain Province, Nueva Viscaya, Balite ) [ FH 0497-2 ]. – C . ♀ dorsolateral view (reared from N-Luzon, Mountain Province) [ FH 0497-12 ]. – D . ♀ ventral view (N-Luzon, Mountain Province, Nueva Viscaya, Balite ) [ FH 0497-2 ]. – E . ♂ dorsal view (S-Luzon, Mindoro Oriental Province, Baco ) [ FH 0497-10 ]. – F . ♂ dorsolateral view (S-Luzon, Mindoro Oriental Province, Baco ) [ FH 0497-10 ]. – G . ♂ ventral view (S-Luzon, Mindoro Oriental Province, Baco ) [ FH 0497-10 ]. – H. Head, pro- and mesothorax of ♀ in dorsolateral view (N-Luzon, Mountain Province, Nueva Viscaya, Balite ) [ FH 0497-5 ]. – J. Terminalia of ♂ in dorsal view [ FH 0497-10 ]. – K. Terminalia of ♂ in ventral view [ FH 0497-10 ]. – L. Terminalia of ♀ in lateral view [ FH 0497-2 ]. – M. Terminalia of ♀ in dorsal view [ FH 0497-5 ]. – N. Terminalia of ♀ in ventral view [ FH 0497-5 ] .

– A. Habitus. – B. Closeup of head and thorax of same specimen.

(less than 2x the length of prothorax in maliit ), lack of a posterolateral tooth of abdominal terga IV-VI ( Fig.59E), much smaller posteromedian excrescence of terga II-IX ( Fig. 59F), considerably smaller epiproct which is almost wholly concealed under the anal segment ( Fig. 59 J-K), as well as the less developed armature of the extremities (metatibiae in particular).

Remarks. – Rehn & Rehn (1939: 423) recorded this species from Mount Banahao and Manila, Luzon as well as the islands of Sibuyan and Masbate.Since all their specimens are nymphs, it is not possible to assign them to echinatus or any other species with confirmation. Thus, these records are excluded from the list of localities below. The egg is formally described for the first time below.Body lengths: ♀ 71.0-86.0 mm, ♂ 47.0-48.0 mm.

Two culture stocks have been introduced to Europe. The first stock was collected by Dave Navarro in 2008 at Imugan Falls, Nueva Vizcaya Province in northern Luzon but only ♀ were found. This parthenogenetic stock was first successfully reared by Bruno Kneubühler ( Switzerland) in 2009 and later on distributed as Trachyaretoan sp. ‘North Luzon’( Fig. 60 A-B). However, this stock appears to have vanished from the European phasmid breeding community. A second stock was collected along Marinfanta road, Quezon Province in 2010 and was first successfully reared by Tim Bollens (Herselt, Belgium) and Rob Krijns (Maastricht, Netherlands). This sexual stock was added to the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as culture No. 326 and is still being maintained in culture by various breeders. This species is easy to rear in humid conditions and will frequently accept bramble ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ), beech ( Fagus sylvatica , Fagaceae ), oak ( Quercus robur , Fagaceae ), hazel ( Corylus avellana , Betulaceae ) and ivy ( Hedera helix , Araliaceae ) as alternative food plants.

Egg ( Fig. 74 C-D). – Rather small and elongate for the genus; capsule slightly bullet-shaped with the posterior half somewhat narrowing, slightly oval incross-section;2x longer thanwide. Surface generally smooth but densely pitted; the anterior one-sixth and operculum covered with short setae. Micropylar plate fairly small and about 0.7x the length capsule; basically Y-shaped with the median portion slightly narrowing towards the anterior end and the two posterolateral extensions rather small, oval and extending on lateral surfaces of capsule almost at an angle of 90°; surface pitted like capsule and the outer margin notably inflated. Posterior portion widely V-shaped with a small bowl-shaped micropylar cup in centre. Median line distinct and formed by a narrow bulge that almost reaches to polar area.Operculum almost roundand weakly convex; opercular angle ca 5°. General colour plain greyish mid brown, the setose anterior portion of capsule and operculum sepia brown; outer margin of micropylar plate blackish.Measurements [mm]: Length 4.1-4.2, width 2.0, height 2.3, length of micropylar plate 2.7.

Distribution. – Luzon, endemic. “ Philippine Islands ” [NHRS – type locality]. N-Luzon: Mountain Province (Balite [FH]); Province Nueva Vizcaya (Imugan Falls [RBINS, FH]); Province Aurora (Dingalan [FH]). S-Luzon: Province Quezon (Sierra Madre [FH]; Mount Palakong [RBINS]); Province Sorsogon (East Pocdol Mountains 400 m [RBINS].