Nesiophasma, Gunther, 1934 a: 5 Gunther, 1935

Hennemann, Frank H., Damastra, Garda Bagus, Tirant, Stéphane Le & Suputa, 2025, Nesiophasma davisdamaledoi sp. nov. - a new stick insect from the island of Sumba, Indonesia (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5660 (2), pp. 194-210 : 197-198

Keys to the species of Nesiophasma

♀♀ *

1. Abdominal terga II–VI with lateral margins at best gently rounded.............................................. 2

- Abdominal terga II–VI strongly laterally deflexed and convex; Pulau Romang................................. kuehni

2. Gonapophysis VIII short and not or at best scarcely projecting over posterior margin of anal segment................... 3

- Gonapophysis VIII long and projecting over posterior margin of anal segment by at least the length of that segments length.. ................................................................................................... 6

3. Small (body length incl. subgenital plate <230.0 mm); median segment at least half as long as metanotum.............. 4

- Very large species (body length incl. subgenital plate> 250.0 mm); median segment only one-quarter the length of metanotum; Sangihe & Talaud Islands........................................................................... plateni

4. Median segment about half as long as metanotum; abdominal terga VIII–X not lobed laterally; subgenital plate elongate and projecting beyond tip of abdomen by about the length of abdominal terga VIII–X combined.......................... 5

- Median segment> two-thirds the length of metanotum; abdominal terga VII–IX each with a slender posterior directed posterolateral lobe; subgenital plate short and projecting beyond apex of abdomen by no more than length of anal segment; New Guinea (?).................................................................................... zanus

5. Large (body length incl. subgenital plate> 180.0 mm); medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora unarmed; lower portion of genae coloured like rest of head; Timor.......................................................... sobesonbaii

- Smaller (body length incl. subgenital plate <170.0 mm); medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora spinose; lower portion of genae black; Sumba............................................................... davisdamaledoi sp. nov.

6. Slender and very elongate insects; mesonotum at least 4.5x longer than wide; basitarsi slender........................ 7

- Stockier; mesonotum 4x longer than wide and expanded pre-medially; basitarsi with dorsal carinae raised and rounded; Pulau Selayar & Pulau Kalaotoa...................................................................... spinulosum

7. Mesonotum 6x longer than wide and slender; antennae reaching to median segment; Pulau Sanana (Sula Islands)..................................................................................................... sananaense

- Mesonotum 4.5x longer than wide and gently swollen pre-medially; antennae reaching to abdominal segment II; Peleng (Banggai Islands).............................................................................. giganteum

* ♀♀ of N. oligarches (Günther) and N. turbans (Brunner v.Wattenwyl, 1907) are not known

♂♂ *

1. Body length> 90.0 mm; abdominal terga II–VI> 3x longer than wide........................................... 2

- Smaller; abdominal terga II–VI 2.5x longer than wide; Sulawesi ......................................... oligarches

2. Head of same colour as remainder parts of body; body ± uniform in colour........................................ 5

- Head chromatically contrasting.......................................................................... 3

3. Head and pronotum lighter than body; no distinct dark streak along lateral body surfaces; cerci tapered apically.......... 4

- Head and pronotum blackish with lower portion of genae whitish; a broad dark streak along entire lateral surfaces of body; cerci dilated apically; Pulau Selayar & Pulau Kalaotoa.................................................... spinulosum

4. Body ochre with meso- and metapleurae green; head entirely pale cream-coloured or whitish; apical spine on two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora notably enlarged; medioventral carina and dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora unnamed; Timor...................................................................................... sobesonbaii

- Body green and yellow, the meso- and metapleurae with a fine longitudinal black line; lower portion of genae black; apical spine on two outer ventral carinae of meso-and metafemora not enlarged; medioventral carina and dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora spinulose; Sumba......................................................... davisdamaledoi sp. nov.

5. Body length <160.0 mm; colouration more or less uniform.................................................... 6

- Body length> 160.0 mm; bases of all femora and knees contrasting black; Sangihe Islands & Talaud Isalnds......... plateni

6. Very slender species; median segment very short and only one-sixth the length of metanotum; Sulawesi ............ turbans

- Stockier; median segment <one-third the length of metanotum; Peleng................................... giganteum

* ♂♂ of N. kuehni (Brunner v.Wattenwyl, 1907), N. zanum Hennemann, 1999 and N. sananaense Hennemann, 2021 are not known