Notes on the Phasmatodea of the West Indies: Two New Genera

Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XXII: Two new species of Taraxippus (Phasmatodea: Cladomorphinae: Hesperophasmatini) and the first record of the genus from Central America

“…Comments.-The male of this new species was mistaken for T. paliurus Moxey, 1971by Pérez-Gelabert (1999, who provided a description and illustrations of the terminalia.…”

“…Numerous genera are only known from a few specimens and sometimes only from one sex. One of these seldom encountered genera is Taraxippus Moxey, 1971, a member of the predominantly Caribbean tribe Hesperophasmatini (subfamily Cladomorphinae). The intergeneric relationships and the definitions of some of the genera of this particular tribe are still insufficient, and further work is needed to clarify relationships within Hesperophasmatini.…”

“…The intergeneric relationships and the definitions of some of the genera of this particular tribe are still insufficient, and further work is needed to clarify relationships within Hesperophasmatini. This is the 22 nd part of an on-going study of New World Phasmatodea and describes two new species of the very distinctive and stunning genus Taraxippus Moxey, 1971. Until now, this genus was known only from the type species, Taraxippus paliurus Moxey, 1971, which was only known from a unique female specimen from Haiti.…”

“…This is the 22 nd part of an on-going study of New World Phasmatodea and describes two new species of the very distinctive and stunning genus Taraxippus Moxey, 1971. Until now, this genus was known only from the type species, Taraxippus paliurus Moxey, 1971, which was only known from a unique female specimen from Haiti. A male described by Pérez-Gelabert (1999) from the Dominican Republic was proven to represent an unknown species that is here described as a new species.…”

High disparity in repellent gland anatomy across major lineages of stick and leaf insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea)

“…The presence of these glands is considered a derived autapomorphic trait of the Phasmatodea and, in consequence, these glands were assumed to be widely present among the approximately 3500 known species of stick and leaf insects [ 17 – 19 ]. However, only few studies were conducted on this defensive system, with few detailed descriptions available [ 13 , 14 , 17 , 20 – 22 ] and only brief depiction or mention of this character system in species descriptions [ 23 – 27 ]. According to the sparse information available, the repellent glands vary significantly in size and exhibit a high degree of species-specific morphological disparity.…”