The Phasmid Study Group CHAIRMAN: Judith Marshall. Dept. of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD. (Tel: 0171 938 9344 ; FAX 0171 938 8937) TREASURER/MEMBERSHIP: Paul Brock. "PapUlon", 40 Thorndike Road, Slough, Berks. SL2 1SR. (Tel: 017S3 579447) SECRETARY: Phil Bragg. 51 LongfleMzyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA \ jatt, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 4DX. (Tel: 0115 9305010) DECEMBER 1995 NEWSLETTER No 65 ISSN 0268-3806 MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MEMBERS Artwork by Liz Newman (No 923) 65:2 DIARY DATES 1996 JANUARY 20th. THE PHASMID STUDY GROUP A.G.M. The Natural History Museum, South Kensington, London. (Details below and on a separate sheet). MARCH 31st MIDLANDS SPRING ENTOMOLOGICAL FAIR Granby Halls Leisure Centre, Aylestone Road, Leicester. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 20th JANUARY 1996 THE CONVERSAZIONE ROOM, THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON. Please see separate sheet for Agenda The Museum is easily reached by Tube train, the nearest station being South Kensington which is on the Piccadilly, Circle & District Lines. A walkway connects the tube station directly to the Museum. Members should make sure that they bring along the enclosed Agenda form in order that they can gain access to the Museum. You will be asked to sign in, and then instructed on how to reach "The Conversazione Room". Upon reaching the room, members will be welcomed by Nichola Waddicor, Elizabeth and Dorothy Newman. Members will be issued with a name badge (Sorry, you'll have to write your own names on, but there will be a pen handy). New members who have never attended a meeting before will also have a coloured sticker put on their name badge. As well as the Livestock Exchange, which is run by Ian Abercrombie, and is always very popular, "T - Shirts" will be on sale and Phil Bragg will be giving two illustrated talks. The first entitled "How to Draw Stick Insects" will be showing some easy hints on drawing Stick Insects and their eggs, with guidelines on producing drawings in ink. The talk will concentrate on how to produce accurate black and white illustrations for the Newsletter and Phasmid Studies (or other publications). The second talk of the afternoon will be about "Stick Insects of Borneo", Phil has made many trips to Borneo and Sarawak and has a wealth of information and slides on the area. The afternoon will conclude with a further informal gathering. If any member wishes to be nominated or to stand on the committee, please write to the Chairman, Judith Marshall to reach her by Monday 8th of January. We look forward to seeing all Members at the AGM 65:3 Subscriptions are due for renewal on Jannirv 1st 1996. To ensure that members continuf;||| receive Newsletters, please send your renewal form (enclosed with this NewsletterX to the Membership Secretary, Paul Brock, as soon as possible EXHIBITIONS & MEETINGS REPORT A.E.S EXHIBITION, 7th OCTOBER by Paul Jennings (No 80) Once again the P.S.G. exhibited at the A.E.S. This event must be the UK's largest and most popular Entomological Show of the year. My day had begun at 05.30 hrs. After packing the car and picking up Ted Blackwell (No 926), we drove for approximately 3 hours before reaching Kempton Park. Although we were the first of the P.S.G bunch to arrive, the venue was already busy with other exhibitors' setting up. Our display included the now famous "Stick Hotel", catering for up to 9 species, and on this occasion featured a pair of beautiful Phyllium bioculatum. Michael and Frances (No 3) also displayed (hand held) some of their larger species, including a huge Eurycantha sp. (PSG 44) male. Ian Abercrombie (No 628) distributed what seemed to be an endless supply of surplus livestock which attracted the public. What more can I say, except yet another hectic, interesting and very enjoyable day. ACTIVITIES FOR FUTURE P.S.G MEETINGS Exhibition and Meetings Officer (Paul Jennings No 80) I urgently require offers from members wishing to give a talk on a Phasmid related topic at the 1996 AGM, and future meetings. Examples of previous talks include: Painting Wildlife in Water-colours, Phasmid Taxonomy, Slide Shows and Photography of Phasmids. Ideally we like to have two talks per meeting, each one lasting for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Anyone wishing to give a talk should contact me A.S.A.P. on 01733 343477 or by post: 89 Brackensdale Ave., Kingsway, Derby, DE22 4AF. I await your offers! Members who have a computer and have access to either the Internet or Compuserve can now contact the Editor, or even leave articles and messages for The Newsletter. If you are on Compuserve, my user ID number is: 100701.766 If you are on the Internet, my contact number is: 100701 [email protected] Note: The user ID must be addressed using a period NOT a comma, and using the domain address ofcompuserve.com" which is essential. 65:4 NEW ADDITIONS TO THE SPECIES LIST by Phil Bragg (No 445) PSG 170 Bacteria sp. from French Guiana, a large sexual species (females 200mm, males 135mm) which feeds on bramble and rose. A report on this species appeared in Le Monde des Phasmes, 29. 15-18. The eggs are very distinctive, with a large hollow structure on the operculum (see illustration - by Philippe Lelong). However the eggs are very similar to PSG 152 and could easily be confused. Eggs of PSG 152 have a narrower micropylar plate, only about half the width. PSG 171 Hesperophasma lobaia (Redtenbacher, 1908) the original stock were collected in Costa Rica, from Limon which is close to the border with Panama The stock were collected by a Mr Wanders, in 1993. This culture was identified by Frank Hennemann by comparison with a specimen in the Natural History Museum, London. According to the original description females are 59mm, I have not seen any cultured material. Foodplants include Bramble, Oak, Pyracantha and Raspberry PSG 172 Bacillus grandii Nascetti & Bullini. A European species, I do not know anything about the origins of this culture. Females 70-95mm, males 50-60mm. It feeds on bramble. PSG 173 Menexenus maerens Brunner. Brought into culture by Peter Heusi who used the code PHCP 7/95 before it was added to the PSG list. Peter identified this species, saying "it is very likely that it is M maerens", and provided the following information about the culture. From Vietnam. Females 75mm, males 52mm. It is very spiny, long lived and easy to rear on Bramble, females are light brown with darker legs Males are very dark dorsally and have yellowish-brown sides to the body and dark brown legs This species produces an agreeable spicy odour. PSG 174 Lopaphus caesius (Redtenbacher)? Brought into culture by Peter Heusi who used the code name PHCP 8/94 before it was added to the PSG list and provided the following information From Vietnam. Females 127mm, males 90mm. Both have short wings, reaching about halfway down the abdomen. Females are light green with brown wings with small spines on the thorax. Males have a metallic blue thorax, and yellow brown legs, wings and abdomen, the knees are black. It feeds on Bfamble and is quite easy to rear. When disturbed they produce an odour like bad smelling soap. Peter sent me photographs of the male and female which I used to identify it, so the identification is not certain. PSG 175 Diesbachia tamyris (Westwood). The stock came from Sumatra although the species is better known from West Malaysia. It feeds on Bramble, Oak, Pyracantha and Rose. Lengths: female 115mm, male 90mm, wingspan: female 130mm, male 100mm (measurements taken from my West Malaysian specimens). This is one of the few species of Phasmids offered for sale by dealers in preserved insects, so members may be familiar with the bright pink and brown wings of 65:5 this species. Several members in mainland Europe have this species in culture. I do not know who identified this culture. PSG 176 Staelonchodes geniculates (Gray) I am told that the stock came from Singapore. This species also occurs in West Malaysia. Lengths: female 125mm, male 90mm. It feeds on Bramble, Oak and Privet. NOTES ON SOME SPECIES ON THE PSG CULTURE LIST by Phil Bragg 1. IDENTITY OF PSG 164 I was recently given some of this species and realised that it is not Parapachymorpha nigra Brunner I have recently learned that it has been just described as Parapachymorpha quadrispinosa by Hennemann, Gehler & Conle. 2. ORIGIN OF PSG 152 Although there have been various short notes on this species (PSG Newsletter, 56:5, 62:8, 63: 3), there has been no detailed information about the origin of the culture. The original specimens were collected by Allan Harman in 1992 from two localities in Venezuela. Allan collected two females, one from Rio Parucito in the Amazonas Territory of Venezuela on 21st August and one from Yuataje on the River Manapiare in the Atures department of Venezuela on 22nd August. 3 ORIGIN OF PSG 168 I have just been informed that Tony James collected this species from Grenada. 4 SIZES OF SPECIES Michael Lazenby kindly pointed out that in the last Newsletter I omitted to mention the size of the new additions to the species list. To rectify that, here are the approximate lengths for those species: PSG 164 female 75mm. PSG 165 female 55mm, male 40mm. PSG 166 female 65mm, male 50mm. PSG 167 male 100mm (female larger). PSG 168 female 90mm, male 70mm. PSG 169 female 115 mm, male 90mm. 5. Identity of PSG 116 I cannot remember who originally had PSG 116 in culture and I know nothing about it for certain.