Sadyattes feruloides ( Westwood, 1859 ), 2025

Hennemann, Frank H., 2025, A review of Sadyattes Stål, 1875, with the descriptions of six new species from the Philippines (Phasmatodea: Platycraninae: Stephanacridini), Zootaxa 5610 (1), pp. 1-72 : 31-33

Sadyattes feruloides ( Westwood, 1859) comb. nov.

( Figs. 7 , 21E–F )

Lonchodes feruloides Westwood, 1859: 45 , pl. 6: 5. LT, ♀: Lectotype; Phil. Isla.; Feruloides Westw. ; Lonchodes feruloides Westw. Philippine Islands; Lectotypus; BMNH(E) #845050 [NHMUK]. [Not: PLT from Java Ɨ This is Sadyattes borrii Stål, 1875 ]

Pharnacia feruloides, Kirby, 1904: 359 .

Eucarcharus feruloides, Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907: 186. Bruner, 1915: 231. Günther, 1935b: 138. [Designation as type species of Eucarcharus Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907] Otte & Brock, 2005: 136. Brock et al., 2016: 170 . [Type data] Brock & Büscher, 2022: 559. Seow-Choen, 2023: 516. [Lectotype designation]

Further material:

24 eggs: ex Zucht R. Krijns (Maastricht), 2012, Herkunft: Philippinern, O-Luzon, Infanta [coll. FH, No. 1524- E] .

Differentiation. The ♀ of this species is morphologically closes to the Luzonian S. fallax (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) but may be differentiated by the slenderer overall form (mesothorax 8x longer than prothorax vs. 6.8x in fallax ) and more delicate limbs, which have a distinctive dorso-apical tooth on the meso- and metatibiae, rounded and cristate dorso-apical lobe on the meso- and metatibiae ( Fig. 7D ) and more prominently lobed basitarsi. Moreover, the posteromedian notch of the anal segment is shallowly concave ( Fig. 7B ; rather triangular in fallax ), the relatively longer subgenital plate is spatulate with the lateral margins roughly parallel-sided and has the apex broad and roundly angular ( Figs. 7B–C ; notably tapering in fallax ) and the praeopercular organ has the median node less pronounced ( Fig. 7C ). Males are easily recognized and distinguished from all other known Philippine congenerics by the distinctly black abdominal terga II–VI, black longitudinal lateral stripe of the mesonotum and mesopleurae and distinctly longitudinally striped costal region of the alae which are blackish brown with all longitudinal veins ochre. The very distinctive eggs (Frigs. 21D–F) differ from all other known eggs of Sadyattes by their conspicuous five-pointed star-like shape if seen in lateral aspect, which is generated by an obtuse polar protrusion, a dorsal and ventral indention that each produce a dorsal and ventral protrusion as well as a median protrusion of the anterior margin.

Description. Only brief characterizations of both sexes are provided below.

♀ ( Fig. 7 ). The ♀ is so far only known from the unique holotype, for which a set of measurements is given below. Since the original description by Westwood (1859: 45) is fairly detailed only illustrations and a differential diagnosis are here provided. This very slender species is well recognized by the broad roundly angular and spatulate subgenital plate, that extends beyond the tip of the abdomen by almost the combined length of the two terminal abdominal terga, distinct rounded and cristate dorso-apical lobe of the meso- and metatibiae, enlarged triangular dorso-apical tooth of the meso- and metafemora and strongly dorsally cristate basitarsi. A specimen from Infanta photographed by Thierry Heitzmann ( Philippines) matches very well with the holotype in all aspects including the colouration .

Measurements of HT in NHMUK [mm]: Body (incl. subgenital plate) 165.5, body 160.0, pronotum 4.6, mesonotum 37.5, metanotum 15.7, median segment 12.0, profemora 44.0, mesofemora 36.0, metafemora 42.5, protibiae 51.5, mesotibiae 34.8, metatibiae 46.2, antennae -.

♂. The ♂ could only be examined from two colour photographs of a specimen from Infanta , taken by Thierry Heitzmann ( Philippines). Unfortunately, no preserved sample is at hand for detailed examination and the measurements are not known. Thus, only a brief diagnosis based on the two available photos can be presented here .

Form very slender for the genus with long and slender, minutely denticulated limbs and distinctive colouration. General colour buff with abdominal terga II–VI wholly black. Head pale cream with a faint washed greyish brown postocular and coronal streak; antennae blackish except for a brown scapus. Mesonotum and mesopleurae each with a black longitudinal line along the lateral margins. Tegmina and costal region of alae with anterior margin broadly white; tegmina with a broad washed blackish brown medio-longitudinal streak; alae distinctly striped longitudinally, being blackish brown with all longitudinal veins ochre. Abdominal terga VII–X irregularly flecked with dark brown. Profemora russet with base dark green; meso- and metafemora green with apical one-third gradually turning to drab. All tibiae drab with a weakly indicated sub-basal pale transverse band. Head elongate-ovoid with vertex moderately convex; notably wider than pronotum. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II. Mesothorax very elongate and slightly more than 6x the length of prothorax. Alae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment III. Abdominal tergum V with the typical posteromedian swelling seen in other species of the genus. Anal segment notably widening towards posterior and trapezoidal in dorsal aspect; the posterior margin weakly notched medially. Profemora longer than head, pro- and mesothorax taken together. Metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatibiae projecting strongly beyond tip of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae weakly rounded and cristate apically. Tarsi slender with all basitarsi longer than following tree tarsomeres combined.

Egg ( Figs. 21E–F ). Large and of a very distinctive shape. Overall shape in lateral aspect resembling a five-pointed star. Chorion strongly compressed laterally and slightly higher than long; dorsal and ventral surfaces indented medially with the anterior and posterior portions bulging; the anterior margin raised medially and distinctly lowered dorsally and ventrally and the polar-area with a prominent obtusely rounded central protrusion. Surface minutely and very densely granular and wholly covered by an irregular and rather incontinuous network of shallow bulges that leave impressed areas inbetween them. Micropylar plate small, elongate and roundly rhomboidal with the anterior end obtuse and the posterior portion gradually narrowing towards a narrow tip.; outher margin somewhat inflated and the internal area strongly concave in anterior half; micropylar cup very small, bowl-like and roughly in centre of plate at lower end of indented area. Operculum notably indented into chorion, roughly elliptical in shape with the lateral margins almost parallel-sided; strongly arched with the dorsal and ventral portions noticeably lowered. Surface with many radially directed ridges and dorsal portion with a large elongate impression. Capitulum an irregular and complex protrusion that essentially consists of four ridges that are aaligned at right angles to each other and merge in centre. Colour greyish ochre with the raised bulges slightly darker in colour. Operculum blackish brown; the capitulum black dorsally and reddish brown at the base. Micropylar cup black.

Measurements [mm]: Length incl. operculum 4.7, length 4.1, width 2.4, height 3.5, length of micropylar plate 1.8.

Remarks. Westwood (1859: 45) described this species upon two specimens, an adult ♀ from the Philippines and a penultimate instar ♀ from Java, both of which are in the collection of NHMUK. The description and illustrations were based on the Philippine specimen, why Seow-Choen (2023: 516) designated this as the lectotype to ensure stability of Westwood’s taxon. Furthermore, Seow-Choen stated that already from geographic aspects alone it was most unlikely that the paralectotype from Java is the same species and presented detailed illustration of both type specimens ( Seow-Choen, 2023: 516, Figs. 468–469). Indeed, the immature paralectotype shows several morphological characters that differ from the Philippine lectotype, which include the slightly stockier overall shape, more bi-lobed posterior margin of the anal segment and notably stronger limbs, which have all the dentations more pronounced with the mesofemora and four posterior tibiae lacking the dorsal apical lobe seen in the lectotype of feruloides . Comparison with other Javanese specimens that have been examined in course of this study shows the specimen to be the type species of the present genus, S. borrii Stål, 1875 .

This species is similar to S. fallax (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907), which is widely distributed throughout the southern half of Luzon, and thus almost all specimens of fallax that were recorded from Luzon by former authors have been misidentified as feruloides (see comments on fallax above). Another reason for these frequent misidentifications has certainly been, that the very distinctive ♂ of feruloides was not known previously. In fact, the much slenderer feruloides is much less common than fallax and hitherto only known from the unique ♀ holotype. The ♂ is here briefly described the and egg is described and illustrated for the first time to render possible a proper distinction of feruloides from related species.

Stock from Infanta, Quezon Province was introduced to Europe by Rob Krijns (Maastricht, Netherlands) in

2012 based on eggs laid by the abovementioned specimens collected and photographed by Thierry Heitzmann

( Philippines). Breeding has however proven very difficult and did not succeed. Distribution. Philippines (type locality [ NHMUK]). Luzon: Province Quezon (Infanta Municipality [ FH]) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Sadyattes feruloides (Westwood, 1859) comb. nov. ♀ holotype [NHMUK, © Francis Seow-Choen]: A. Habitus in dorsolateral view; B. Terminalia in dorsal view; C. Terminalia in ventral view; D. Left midleg in posterolateral view.

FIGURE 21. Eggs of Sadyattes spp., dorsal view (left) and lateral view with micropylar plate at left hand side (right): A–B. S. mindanaense sp. nov. (paratype); C–D. S. fallax (Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov.; E–F. S. feruloides (Westwood, 1859) comb. nov.; G–H. S. leytensis (Zompro, 1997) comb. nov.; I–J. Sadyattes matipuno sp. nov. (paratype); K–L. S. decoris (Seow-Choen, 2016) comb. nov. [© Francis Seow-Choen]; M–N. S. incertus (Redtenbacher, 1906) comb. nov. from ovipositor of holotype of synonym Nearchus grubaueri Redtenbacher, 1908 [© NHMW, Harald Bruckner]; O–P. S. enganensis (Redtenbacher, 1908) [© Francis Seow-Choen].