Giant Sticks from Vietnam and China, with three new taxa including the second longest insect known to date (Phasmatodea, Phasmatidae, Clitumninae, Pharnaciini)

Two new species and one subspecies of Pharnaciini, belonging to two different genera, are described from Vietnam: one species and subspecies of Phryganistria Stål, 1875 and one species of Phobaeticus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907. Two species currently attributed to the genus Ramulus Saussure, 1862, Ramulus magnus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) and R. chinensis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907), are transferred to Baculonistria Hennemann & Conle, 2008 comb. nov. Phobaeticus longicornis Bi & Wang, 1998 and Phobaeticus yuexiensis Chen & He, 1993 represent the male and female of Baculonistria magnus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) syn. nov. A lectotype is designated for Baculonistria chinensis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907). The genus Baculonistria now contains three species. Nearchus bachmaensis Ta & Hoang, 2004 is transferred to Phryganistria and the new combination Phryganistria bachmaensis (Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov. is proposed. The species is redescribed and the authors’ attribution corrected, the egg is described and figured for the first time. Phryganistria tamdaoensis sp. nov. is described and figured from both sexes and the egg. Females of P. tamdaoensis sp. nov. are easily recognised by the conspicuously enlarged lanceolate cerci, a character previously unknown in this tribe. The distribution range of Phryganistria heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) is extended to Tam Dao National Park. A new subspecies Phryganistria heusii yentuensis subsp. nov. is described from Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve from adult males and females and the eggs. Males can easily be distinguished from the nominal subspecies by their colouration. This huge subspecies represents the second longest insect recorded to date. A key to the species of the genus Phryganistria is provided. Phobaeticus trui sp. nov. is described from central Vietnam. It is the first species of Phobaeticus recorded from Vietnam. Adults of both sexes are illustrated.


Introduction
The tribe Pharnaciini Günther, 1953 is well known for its so called giant stick insects and includes the longest insects in the world. Although forty-four species have previously been described, many were described relatively recently Zompro 2005;Hennemann & Conle 1997Bragg 1995Bragg , 2008Chen & He 2008), which indicates that even more of these giant species await description.

Note
One male labelled "China Southeast, Chang Hai" in MNHN bears a type label. This specimen is here not recognized as a type because Brunner von Wattenwyl (1907) only mentions Kiangsi for the material in MNHN. Furthermore, examination has shown the specimen to be a male of B. magna (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907).

Remarks
When Brunner von Wattenwyl (1907) described Cuniculina chinensis, he stated that there was a large series of specimens "characterised by their variation". At the moment only five specimens are traced: 2 males in NHMW, 2 females in ZIN and one female in MNHN.
Unfortunately the material in ZIN and NHMW is strongly damaged. A male syntype in NHMW is designated as lectotype. The other male lacks part of the abdomen. The female deposited in MNHN is from a different locality than the other types. The locality on the label mentions Kiangsi which is an old name for current Jiangxi Province, located in southeast China. This locality is relatively remote from Sichuan where the other material originates from.
Since the shape and size of the cephalic spines and armature of the legs is fairly different from the other specimens it remains questionable if the male and female are conspecific. The male specimen, although bearing the same data as the female, was not recognised as the same species by Brunner von Wattenwyl. Instead, the male specimen is in the type series of Baculonistria chinensis comb. nov. and can easily be distinguished from the male specimens of that species deposited in NHMW.
The labels on the male and female clearly state Chang Hai (now Shanghai) in eastern China. They were misread by Brock & Delfosse (2005) as Chiang Mai (Thailand). The labels also mention Joannis, the collector of the specimens, who published several entomological papers on species from China.
Following the translations of the original descriptions provided by , it appears that Phobaeticus longicornis Bi & Wang, 1998 represents the male of Baculonistria magna and that Phobaeticus yuexiensis Chen & He, 1993 is the female of the same species. The type localities of P. longicornis Bi & Wang, 1998 and P. yuexiensis Chen & He, 1993 are also in eastern China (Henan Province and Anhui Province, respectively) and relatively close to Shanghai (Fig. 12D). Consequently, both species are here synonymised with Clitarchus magnus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907 (syn. nov.). Phryganistria Stål, 1875 Phryganistria Stål, 1875:14.

Keys to the species and subspecies of Phryganistria Stål, 1875
Note The two Chinese species described by Chen & He (2008), P. guanxiensis and P. longzhouensis, are not included here because the specimens were not available for investigation.

Differentiation
This distinctive species is easily recognised. Males are the only representatives of the genus with strongly elongated and incurving semi-tergites. Females share the elongated subgenital plate with Phryganistria virgea (Westwood, 1848) but lack the lobed abdominal terga III-VI.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens. Measurements: see Table 1. Colouration. Distinctive and very characteristic. Head pale, cream-brown with dark brown postocular line. Genae also with dark brown longitudinal stripe. Central portions of pro,-meso-and metanotum reddish brown with anterior and posterior portions paler. Abdominal terga orange-brown with black longitudinal markings laterally. Profemora black with basal portion cream-brown. Apices of profemora and protibiae orange-brown. Meso-and metafemora and -tibiae green with reddish brown armature. Tarsi coloured darker than corresponding tibiae.
Head. Smooth, about 1.5x longer than wide. Eyes relatively large and strongly projecting. Transverse oval impression between antennae and very shallow irregularly shaped depression between eyes. Antennae surpassing abdominal segment II. Scapus and pedicellus coloured as head, antennomeres dark brown to black.
tHorax. Pronotum shorter and narrower than head. Anterior margin raised and incurved, followed by transverse depression. Pronotum with longitudinal depression not reaching posterior margin and another central transverse depression. Narrowest part anteriorly, widest part posteriorly. Mesonotum elongated and smooth, posterior portion widened. Metanotum as mesonotum, about 3.2x length of median segment.
aBdomen. Median segment trapezoidal and smooth. Terga II-VI only slightly differing in length and cylindrical in cross section. Anterior margins indistinctly incurving. Tergum VII about 4/5 of segment VI and widening posteriorly. Tergum VIII about half of abdominal segment VII. Tergum IX tectiform and about 2/3 of tergum VIII. Anal segment about as long as VIII and IX combined. Basal portion laterally compressed with distinct carina dorsally, splitting into two semi-tergites. Semi-tergites laterally flattened, strongly elongated and incurved with apices rounded. Interior surface with small black teeth. Teeth denser near edges and apex of semi-tergites. Cerci elongated, cylindrical in cross section and  (Ta & Hoang, 2004) conspicuously incurved, apices rounded. Poculum knob-like with distinct longitudinal carina, projecting just beyond apex of tergum IX.
legs. Profemora slightly shorter than metatibiae, incurving basally and anterodorsal carinae with 14-20 saw-like teeth. Other carinae unarmed. Protibiae carinate, posteroventral carinae with small saw-like serrations, roughly 1.3x the length of profemora. Mesofemora almost as long as mesonotum and pronotum combined. Outer ventral carinae armed with 10-14 saw-like teeth, central teeth largest. Medioventral carinae with few minute spines. Dorsal carinae armed with 3-5 smaller saw-like teeth. Mesotibiae about as long as metafemora. Dorsal carinae with few minute serrations. Ventral carinae strongly serrated. Metafemora and metatibiae as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina. Probasitarsus about as long as head and pronotum combined. Meso-and metabasitarsus about as long as following tarsomeres combined. Claws prominent. Head. Vertex with faint median line. Oval, about 1.6x longer than wide, vertex rounded. Between bases of antennae, transverse oval impression and two faint circular impressions between eyes. Eyes large, circular and strongly convex. Antennae with scapus dorsoventrally flattened and more or less rectangular in dorsal aspect. Last antennomere reaching about halfway along metathorax.
tHorax. Pronotum narrower and shorter than head, anterior margin narrower than posterior one, 1.4x longer than wide. Anterior margin raised and followed by transverse depression. Second transverse depression at about half length of pronotum. Faint longitudinal depression centrally not reaching anterior or posterior margin. Mesothorax about 5.4x length of pronotum. Mesonotum damaged during drying process in all specimens, wrinkled anteriorly. Surface smooth, more or less parallel-sided. Metanotum about half the length of mesonotum, parallel-sided. Pleurae and sterna simple.
aBdomen. Median segment transverse, about 1/3 the length of metanotum. Segments II-VI slightly increasing in length. Tergum VII about 4/5 the length of VI with distinct, rounded lobe posterolaterally. Sternum VII with distinct bifurcate praeopercular organ at posterior margin. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of definite, diverging spines, slightly projecting over margin of sternum VIII. Tergum VIII distinctly narrower than previous, about 3/4 as long as VII; IX less than half the length of VIII. Anal segment hardly longer than IX, slightly broader towards apex, with faint median carina and strongly notched postero-medially. Postero-lateral angles acute. Supra-anal plate small, surpassing posterolateral angles of tergum IX, tectiform with fine median carina, apex rounded. Cerci short, more or less cylindrical, rounded at apex and slightly surpassing supra-anal plate. Gonapophyses elongated, up-curving and reaching apex of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate keeled and strongly projecting over apex of abdomen, apex acute.
Egg (Figs 3G-H, 4I-M) Capsule oval in lateral aspect, rounded at polar area, slightly compressed laterally and oval in crosssection. Capsule with relatively wide carina on ventral surface and polar area, reaching micropylar plate, and indistinct small impression on polar area. Capsule surface smooth, brown and dull. Micropylar plate coloured as capsule with darker margin, large, covering about 2/3 of dorsal capsule surface. Micropylar plate elongated, rounded towards anterior end. Broader posteriorly, posteromedially with distinct gap. Micropylar cup small, blackish, placed in posteromedial gap of plate. Median line short and projecting over posterior margin of plate. Operculum oval, coloured as capsule with darker outer margin. Capitulum large, reddish brown, concave with darker centre. Stalk obvious.

Nymph (Fig. 4B)
Newly hatched 20 to 25 mm long. Head pale with white marking between eyes. Eyes black and antennae short, black and consisting of eight segments. Apical segment strongly elongated, longer than five preceding segments together. Median segment, pro-, meso-and metanotum bluish-green. Meso-and metanotum with black line laterally. Abdominal terga II-VI green. Terga VII-IX with more or less triangular black marking posteromedially and posterolateral edges tipped black. Abdominal tergum X whitish, cerci small, whitish and setose.
Procoxae and first portion of profemora orangish. Apical portion with white transverse marking, followed by brown transverse band. Protibiae brown with two transverse white bands. Meso-and metacoxae brown. Meso-and metafemora brown with two transverse white bands. Meso-and metatibiae brown with three transverse white bands. Basitarsi with large transverse white band, other tarsi and claws brown. Claws small.

Remarks
At the time of description this species was placed in the genus Nearchus Redtenbacher, 1908, most probably due to the elongated subgenital plate of the female. Hennemann & Conle (2008: 129) synonymised Nearchus Redtenbacher, 1908with Phobaeticus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907; hence, the genus name is no longer valid. The key provided by Hennemann & Conle (2008: 82) clearly places N. bachmaensis in genus Phryganistria Stål, 1875. Hence, it is here transferred to that genus.
Eggs of this species were collected by the authors in 2011 from Bach Ma National Park and the species was cultured by Dr. Bruno Kneubühler. Bramble (Rubus spp., Rosaceae) was accepted as alternative foodplant by all instars. Beech (Fagus sylvatica, Fagaceae), hazel (Corylus avellana, Betulaceae), salal (Gaultheria shallon, Ericaceae) and oak (Quercus spp., Fagaceae) were readily eaten by older nymphs and adults (not tested on newly hatched nymphs). Matings were frequently observed and the males remained coupled with the females for 1-2 days. In the wild females are also mostly accompanied by a male, the male clinging to the female. No difficulties were observed when rearing this species.

Distribution
The type locality of this species is Bach Ma National Park. Its distribution is here extended to Da Krong Nature Reserve (Fig. 12A).

Diagnosis
This species can be this distinguished from other representatives of the genus by the flattened cerci. In females these are also conspicuously enlarged.

Etymology
This species is named after the beautiful Tam Dao National Park. Specimens were firstly collected from this locality where the species is common.

Differentiation
Most closely related to Phryganistria heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997) and Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906. Males share the broadened meso-and metafemora. The enlarged subapical spine on the outer ventral carinae of meso-and metafemora is present, but not as pronounced as in the other two species. Males can also easily be distinguished by their body colouration: mesonotum bluish green and anterior legs not black. Females can be distinguished from all other species in the genus by the enlarged, flattened and lanceolate cerci.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens. Measurements, see Table 2.
Male (Figs 5I-N, 6D, 7C, I-J) Body. Medium sized and robust for the genus, widest part of the body up to 9.3 mm. Body surface smooth and shiny, colouration very distinct.
Colouration. Head and pronotum golden brown. Genae with brown line reaching from occiput to eyes. Anterior and posterior portion of mesonotum and mesosternum golden brown, central areas clear blue. Mesonotum with lateral black line. Posterior part of mesopleura black, anterior part golden brown. Metanotum and metasternum coloured as previous. Metapleura black. Median segment and abdominal terga coloured golden brown. First sterna with some blue markings, others golden brown. Femora with carinae blue, area between carinae pink, spines black. Tibiae and tarsomeres pinkish-brown.
Head. Smooth, 1.5x longer than wide. Eyes relatively large and strongly projecting. Two shallow crescent-shaped impressions between eyes and a transverse impression between antennae. Antennae reaching posterior margin of median segment. Scapus and pedicellus coloured as head, remaining antennomeres black. aBdomen. Median segment trapezoidal and smooth. Terga II-VI slightly increasing in length and cylindrical in cross section. Segment VII about as long as segment II. Tergum VIII about 2/3 of segment VII and wider posteriorly. Tergum IX about half of abdominal segment VII but more compressed laterally, lateral margins with pale marking. Anal segment laterally compressed with distinct carina dorsally, splitting halfway into two semi-tergites. Semi-tergites roughly triangular in lateral aspect, broad anteriorly and tapered apically. Apices narrow and rounded. Interior surface apically swollen with small black teeth. Cerci elongated and flattened, broadening towards apex; these rounded and not legs. Profemora slightly longer than combined length of head, pro-and mesonotum, incurving basally and with anterodorsal carinae showing 8-12 black saw-like teeth. Some specimens have one or two black teeth on posteroventral carinae. Protibiae carinate but unarmed, roughly 1.3x the length of profemora. Mesofemora distinctly swollen, about as wide as centre of mesonotum and as long as mesonotum. Outer ventral carinae armed with 10-16 black saw-like teeth, last two teeth prominently enlarged. Medioventral carinae with 6-11 smaller spines. Dorsal carinae unarmed or with few minute teeth. Mesotibiae about as long as metafemora. Dorsal carinae unarmed or with few minute teeth. Outer ventral carinae strongly armed with saw like teeth. Medioventral carinae with minute incurving spines starting at about 1/3 from base, spines more numerous towards apex. Metafemora and metatibiae as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina. Probasitarsus about as long as head and pronotum combined. Meso-and metabasitarsus about as long as following tarsomeres combined. Claws prominent.
Body. Medium sized and quite broad for the genus.
Colouration. Overall colour of female light brown to dull green with brown mottling. Profemora pinkish in curved basal portion. Carinae of other femora with bluish hue and with some pinkish markings between carinae.
Head. Oval, about 1.6x longer than wide, vertex rounded. Transverse impression between bases of antennae, and two very faint impressions between eyes. Eyes quite large, circular and convex. Antennae with scapus dorsoventrally flattened and rectangular. Pedicellus short, 1/3 the length of scapus and cylindrical. Antennomere III about as long as pedicellus, III-XVIII gradually increasing in length, the following decreasing in length, the terminal antennomeres very short.
tHorax. Pronotum narrower and shorter than head, anterior margin slightly narrower than posterior margin, 1.3x longer than wide. Anterior margin raised and followed by transverse depression. Second transverse depression at about half length of pronotum, not reaching lateral margins. Faint longitudinal depression not reaching anterior or posterior margin. Mesothorax 5-5.5x length of pronotum. Mesonotum smooth, parallel-sided, slightly broadening posteriorly. Metanotum slightly more than half length of mesonotum, parallel-sided. Pleurae and sterna simple.
aBdomen. Median segment transverse, about 1/3 as long as metanotum, rectangular. Segments II-VI slightly increasing in length and very slightly, gradually narrowing (II-IV broadest), II 1.3x, VI almost 2.5-3x longer than wide. Tergum VII about 4/5 as long as VI, with small, rounded lobe posterolaterally. Sternum VII with distinct praeopercular organ at posterior margin. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of definite spines, slightly projecting, surpassing margin of sternum VIII. Tergum VIII distinctly narrower than previous one, about 4/ 5 as long as VII. IX half as long as VIII. Anal segment hardly longer than IX, somewhat broader apically, with faint median carina and almost semi-circular median incision at posterior margin. Posterolateral angles narrowed and rounded apically. Supra-anal plate small, semicircular and with fine median carina, reaching apex of anal segment. Cerci flattened, strongly lanceolate and rounded at apex, almost 1.5x as long as anal segment. Gonapophyses elongated, up-curving and slightly surpassing apex of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate keeled, boat-shaped, almost reaching apex of anal segment legs. All moderately long and fairly robust. Profemora longer, mesofemora as long as mesonotum, metafemora almost reaching apex of abdominal segment V. Anterodorsal and posteroventral carina of profemora armed with 8-13 prominent, triangular serrations. Other leg armature as in male but last two teeth on outer ventral carinae of meso-and metafemora not prominently enlarged.
Egg (Figs 5G-H, 6G-J, 7E-H) Large, capsule oval in lateral aspect, slightly impressed at polar-area, slightly compressed laterally and oval in cross-section. Capsule with distinct keel beginning at medium line of micropylar plate, crossing polar area and ventral surface, and ending at operculum. Capsule surface smooth and dull. General colouration of capsule and micropylar plate light brown, operculum blackish. Micropylar plate elongated, tapering towards anterior end and with distinct gap posteromedially. Outer margin dark. Micropylar cup small and dark brown, placed in posteromedian gap of plate. Median line present and distinctly projecting over posterior margin of plate. Operculum oval and slightly concave, outer margin raised. Capitulum brownish, strongly concave and relatively large. Stalk obvious, whitish.
Nymph (Figs 6E-F, 7D) Newly hatched 20 to 25 mm long, general body colouration green. Meso-and metanotum slightly darker with some minute white spots. Central portion of profemora and bases of meso-and metafemora coloured reddish brown. Antennae brown, very short, not reaching halfway along profemora. Apical tarsi and claws brown.

Remarks
The typical egg, the length of the median segment (about 1/3 of the metanotum in females and ¼ in males) and the presence of a praeopercular organ place this species in Phryganistria Stål, 1875.
This species violates one of the key features of Phryganistria Stål, 1875 proposed by . According to these authors, Phryganistria have a median segment that is longer than wide and at least 1/ 5 the length of the metanotum. However, females of this species have a transverse median segment. This nonconformity does not cause problems in any other genus of Pharnaciini except Baculonistria Hennemann & Conle, 2008 which has a transverse median segment, but has a median segment of 1/8 the length of the metanotum.
The flattened and strongly lanceolate cerci in females are characters commonly found in Phasmatinae sensu Henneman & Conle 2008. The cerci of Clitumninae are usually small and shorter than the anal segment, cylindrical to sub-cylindrical in cross-section, but can also be laterally compressed or slightly lanceolate . The laterally flattened and enlarged foliacous or lanceolate cerci are one of the five apomorphic characters to support the monophyly of Bradler's (2001) Lanceocercata. However, the presence of a praeopercular organ on sternum VII in females and the profemora with the medioventral carina strongly displaced towards the anteroventral carina place this species in Clitumninae.
The material from Da Krong Nature Reserve is excluded from the type material as there are several characters that differ from specimens from Tam Dao N.P. and Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve. Males lack the lateral black markings on meso-and metathorax (Fig. 7I-J) and have the semi-tergites tapering more gradually. Females have slightly more elongated lobes of the praeopercular organ and comparatively more rounded cerci. The eggs have smaller dimensions and are more strongly laterally compressed.
Also, since this locality is relatively distant from the type locality, more material from in between both localities is needed to support a possible subspecies rank.
Eggs of this species were collected by the authors in 2011 from Tam Dao National Park and Da Krong Nature Reserve. The culture stock from Da Krong Nature Reserve was cultured by Dr. Bruno Kneubühler and the culture stock from Tam Dao N. P. was reared by the first author. Bramble (Rubus spp., Rosaceae) and oak (Quercus spp., Fagaceae) were very well accepted as alternative foodplants. The species is still cultured by several enthusiasts around Europe from eggs collected by the authors from Tam Dao National Park (Fig. 6) and Da Krong Nature Reserve (Fig. 7).

Comments
Hennemann & Conle (2008: 205) differentiate the male of P. grandis from the closely related species P. heusii heusii by the brown colour of their profemora, the absence of spines on the postero-ventral carinae of the profemora and the elongated and slender cerci ± reaching the apex of the anal segment. Colouration of the profemora is constant in all the material examined in this study. The absence of spines on the postero-ventral carinae of the profemora has been oberved in the majority of the specimens; however, several specimens from Phia Den have a few small saw-like spines on the outer ventral carinae. The differentiation by the cerci could not be confirmed and therefore both characters are here excluded from the key.
The identity of P. grandis needs some clarification as the records from Tam Dao pertain to P. heusii heusii and one of the paratypes of P. fruhstorferi identified as P. grandis by  is here attributed to P. heusii yentuensis subsp. nov. Unfortunately, the primary type of P. grandis does not bear an exact locality but only "North Tonkin" Phryganistria heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997)

Remarks
Material from the type locality was collected and compared with specimens from other localities, which lead to the conclusion, that the species has a broader distribution than known to date.  Bresseel (2007).

Distribution
This species was described from Cuc Phuong National Park and is here also recorded from Tam Dao National Park (Fig. 12A).

Diagnosis
Males can be distinguished from all other members of the genus by the combination of the following characters: profemora black, meso-and metapleura with distinct triangular black marking and shape of the semitergites (Fig. 8K, M-N); females: tergites II-VII with a posteromedian granule and praeopercular organ of female wide and not strongly tapered (Fig. 8C).

Etymology
The subspecies name refers to its type locality: the Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens. Measurements, see Table 3.
Colouration. Body surface smooth and glabrous, colouration characteristic. Overall colouration of body orange-brownish to light brown. Genae black. Distal portions of meso-and metapleura with distinct triangular black marking. Profemora basally as body, followed by large black portion, apex brown. Protibiae and tarsi blackish brown with a dark reddish hue. Meso-and metafemora coloured as body, ventral carinae with faint blue colouration. Armature black. Meso-and metatibiae coloured as femora except for blue markings.
Head. Smooth, 1.3x longer than wide, widest parts at eyes. Eyes relatively large and strongly projecting hemispherically. Small, shallow transverse sulcus between antennae. Vertex with faint median line, lateral edges of vertex with longitudinal depression, more distinct posteriorly. Antennae long and filiform, scapus and pedicellus coloured as head, all other antennomeres black. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, pedicellus short and swollen, broader than following segments. tHorax. Pronotum shorter and narrower than head. Anterior margin concave. Pronotum gradually broadening until about 2/3 of its length, remaining portion parallel-sided. Posterior margin rounded, with minute, granule-like elevation postero-medially. Transverse central depression and faint longitudinal depression, not reaching posterior margin. Mesonotum elongated and smooth, cylindrical in cross section. Metanotum as mesonotum, about 4x length of median segment.
aBdomen. Median segment trapezoidal and smooth, anterior margin indistinct. Terga II-VI becoming slightly longer and cylindrical in cross section. Segment VI about 1.3 to 1.4x as long as segment VII. Tergum VIII trapezoidal, about half of segment VII and wider posteriorly. Tergum IX shorter than VIII. Anal segment strongly tectiform basally, splitting into two semi-tergites. Semi-tergites elongated, relatively slender and tapered apically. Apices narrow and slightly rounded. Interior surface swollen basally and armed with numerous small, black, back-curving teeth. Outer surface setose. Cerci elongated, cylindrical in cross section, setose and incurving. Apices rounded, not reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Poculum strongly cup-shaped, with indistinct longitudinal carina in basal half, medially with V-like elevation, connecting distinct longitudinal carina in apical half with transverse ridges, roughly reaching apex of tergum IX.
legs. Profemora longer than combined length of head, pro-and mesonotum, incurving basally and with anterodorsal carinae showing 12-19 black saw-like teeth. Protibiae carinate but unarmed, roughly 1.3x as long as profemora. Mesofemora swollen, about as wide as centre of mesonotum and roughly as long as mesonotum and pronotum combined. Outer ventral carinae armed with 10-15 black sawlike teeth, last teeth prominently enlarged, in some specimens last two teeth of carina enlarged. Medioventral carinae sometimes with few minute spines. Dorsal carinae unarmed or with 1-3 saw-like teeth. Mesotibiae slightly longer than mesofemora. Dorsal carinae unarmed or with few minute teeth. Outer ventral carinae strongly armed with saw-like teeth. Medioventral carinae with minute incurving spines starting at about 1/3 of the base, spines more numerous towards apex. Metafemora and metatibiae as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina. Probasitarsus longer than  the following tarsomeres combined. Meso-and metabasitarsus about as long as following tarsomeres combined. Claws prominent.
Female (Fig 8A-F) Body. Large to very large. Colouration of female green to brown. Basal curve of profemora pinkish.
Head. Oval, about 1.4-1.5x longer than wide, vertex rounded. Transverse, straight impression between bases of antennae. Eyes quite large, circular and convex. Antennae filiform with scapus dorsoventrally flattened, rectangular and slightly widening towards apex. Pedicellus short and cylindrical. Antennomere III about as long as pedicellus. Antennae projecting well over posterior margin of mesonotum.
tHorax. As in male.
aBdomen. Median segment transverse, but longer than wide in the largest specimen. Segments II-VI slightly increasing in length, all having a posteromedian tubercle. Tergum VII shorter than VI and with posterolateral small, rounded lobe. Sternum VII with distinct praeopercular organ at posterior margin. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of rounded lobe-like protuberances, rounded laterally and wrinkled ventrally; projecting over margin of sternum VIII. Tergum VIII distinctly narrower than previous one, laterally compressed and about half as long as V. IX roughly half as long as VIII. Anal segment slightly longer than IX, with faint median carina and almost triangular median incision at posterior margin. Posterolateral angles rounded apically. Supra-anal plate small, semi-circular and with distinct median carina, slightly surpassing anal segment. Cerci flattened, slender and blunt at apex, projecting over supra-anal plate. Gonapophyses elongated, up-curving and slightly projecting over apex of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate keeled, boat-shaped, surpassing apex of anal segment.
legs. All moderately long and robust. Profemora longer than pro-and mesonotum combined; mesofemora as long as mesotibiae; metafemora reaching about halfway along abdominal segment V. Anterodorsal and posteroventral carinae of profemora armed with 13-19 prominent, triangular serrations. Posterodorsal carinae unarmed or armed with 1-3 minute spines. Other carinae unarmed. Protibiae carinate, roughly 1.3x as long as profemora, posteroventral carinae serrated with saw-like spines. Mesofemora swollen and roughly as long as mesotibiae. Outer ventral carinae armed with 13-18 saw-like teeth. Medioventral carina with 6-9 spines. Dorsal carinae with 1-4 saw-like teeth, being larger on anterodorsal carinae. Mesotibiae with strongly serrated ventral carinae. Anteroventral carinae with few small spines and enlarged saw-like spine at about 1/3 of its length. Posterodorsal carinae with few minute spines. Metafemora and metatibiae as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina. Probasitarsus longer than following tarsomeres combined. Meso-and metabasitarsus with outer ventral carinae serrated basally, about as long as following tarsomeres combined. Claws prominent.
Egg (Fig. 8G-H) Capsule oval in lateral aspect, rounded at polar area, slightly compressed laterally and oval in crosssection. Capsule with indistinct impression on polar area and ventral surface. Capsule surface smooth and slightly shining. General colouration of capsule and micropylar plate light brown to grey brown, sometimes with blakish areas. Operculum oval, brownish with black outer margin. Micropylar plate covering about half capsule length. Elongate, rounded towards anterior end and posteromedially with distinct gap. Posterolateral angles rounded. Outer margin dark. Micropylar cup small and dark brown, placed in posteromedial gap of plate. Median line distinctly projecting over posterior margin of plate. Capitulum enlarged, orange to reddish brown, irregularly conical and strongly wrinkled. Stalk obvious.

Differentiation
Males share the black profemora and tibiae with the nominate form, but can easily be distinguished by the brown body colouration and meso-and metapleura with distinct triangular black marking. Apices of praeopercular organ of female wider but not as strongly tapered when compared with Ph. heusii heusii. Micropylar plate of egg rounded anteriorly (tapered in nominal form) and capitulum strongly enlarged. Hennemann & Conle (2008: 204) stated that the three male paralectotypes of Phryganistria fruhstorferi (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) in NMW represent males of Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906. However, one of these paralectotypes has turned out to be a Phryganistria heusii yentuensis subsp. nov. The male originates from Mount Mauson (misspelled on the original label as 'Montes Mahokon').

Remarks
Hennemann & Conle (2008) examined a large amount of non-type material of Phryganistria grandis, but only this specimen originates from Mount Mauson.
Eggs of this subspecies have been collected from Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve and it is currently reared by Dr. Bruno Kneubühler (Switzerland) with bramble (Rubus spp., Rosaceae) as alternative foodplant.
P. heusii yentuensis subsp. nov. is the second longest insect species known to date: a female with a 320.0 mm body length, 540.0 mm with anterior legs spread (Fig. 11A-B) was captured and measured in the field. Distribution (Fig. 12C) This subspecies is currently recorded from Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve located in Luc Nam and Son Dong Districts, Bac Giang Province, about 150 kilometers ENE of Hanoi. Another specimen is also reported from northeast Vietnam: Mount Mauson, 30 km E of Lang Son city.

Diagnosis
Females can be distinguished from all other members of the genus by the shape of the praeopercular organ (Fig. 9C) Males can be distinguished by the length of the alae and the shape of the semitergites. (Fig. 9G-L).

Etymology
The species is dedicated to our Vietnamese colleague Vu Tru Hoang (IEBR), better known as "Mr Tru".
Males can be easily distinguished from P. ingens and P. hypharpax by their considerably shorter alae, which only reach the posterior margin of abdominal segment II, while these project beyond the posterior margin of abdominal segment IV in P. ingens and P. hypharpax. Males of P. rex and P. lobulatus are unknown.
Females can be distinguished from all closely related species by the strongly developed bilobed praeopercular organ. Furthermore it can be differentiated from P. rex, P. hypharpax and P. lobulatus   by the small lateral lobes of abdominal tergum VII. From P. ingens they can be differentiated by the relatively longer median segment, which is more than 2/3 the length of metanotum.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens. Measurements, see Table 4.  Colouration. Head, pronotum, margins of mesonotum and metanotum pale brown, mesonotum except margins greenish blue. Abdominal segments II-VII pale brown, with black transverse band posteriorly. Segment VIII pale brown and segments IX-X pale brown with some whitish markings. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale brown with central portion darker brown and with anterior margin white. Anal region transparent grey with brown veins. Profemora with carinae black and paler markings in between. Meso-and metafemora with carinae greenish blue and black saw-like teeth, other areas of meso-and metafemora brownish pink. Tibiae and tarsomeres dark brown with several distinct pale transverse bands.

Male
Head. Elongate, oval, about one third longer than wide, slightly narrowing basally and with faint impressed median line and two faint impressed lines on each side of head. Posterior portion with two longitudinal lateral impressions at each side of coronal-line. Slightly raised, smooth, C-shaped area between eyes. Eyes very prominent, strongly convex and projecting hemispherically. Antennae almost reaching median segment. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened with longitudinal impression ventrally. Pedicellus short, cylindrical. Length of antennomeres increasing towards apex of antennae.
tHorax. Pronotum distinctly shorter and narrower than head, 1.3x longer than wide, posterior margin broader than anterior one. Anterior margin raised, followed by transverse depression and short longitudinal indentation turning into a longitudinal median line. Median transverse depression distinct, not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax smooth and elongated, 3x to almost 3.5x longer than head and pronotum combined. Tegmina projecting over anterior margin of metanotum, elongated, narrowed basally. Alae reaching about halfway along abdominal tergum II.
aBdomen. Segments II-V slightly increasing in length and roughly of equal width, all slightly constricted medially. Tergum V with distinct hump posteromedially; VI and VII slightly shorter than previous; VI slightly broadened posteriorly; VIII 2/3 as long as VII and strongly broadened posteriorly; IX slightly longer than VIII, but distinctly narrower, broadened anteriorly and constricted medially. Anal segment longer than IX, laterally compressed and tectiform. Semi-tergites elongated, tapered but not pointy and gently down-curving. Interior surface densely covered with minute black teeth (thorn-pads). Cerci elongated, cylindrical in cross section, in-curving and tapered apically. Poculum reaching about halfway along tergum IX, strongly convex and cup-like.
legs. All very elongated, profemora longer and mesofemora almost as long as head, pro-and mesothorax combined, metafemora reaching about halfway along abdominal segment VI and metatibiae surpassing apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 7-15 prominent saw-like teeth. Posterodorsal carina sometimes with 1-2 small, triangular teeth. Posterodorsal carina smooth. Posteroventral carina with 5-12 small, pointed teeth. Anterodorsal carina of protibiae sometimes with small triangular lobe, otherwise unarmed. All carinae of meso-and metafemora prominent, armed with several black small, saw-like teeth. Ventral carinae of meso-and metatibiae with minute serrations all long. Anterodorsal carina serrated and with larger, triangular pre-medial teeth. Posterodorsal carina also with small serrations. Basitarsi with uniformly raised dorsal carina, longer than remaining segments combined. Dorsal carina of all tarsi resulting in a posteromedian lobe, projecting over following tarsus. Claws prominent.
Colouration. General colour of body and legs mid to dark brown, with numerous irregular paler and darker markings and spots. Forelegs and meso-and metatibiae with more or less distinct dark transverse bands. Armature of legs reddish brown to black. Eyes pale brown. Antennae dark greyish brown.  (Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov. and P. heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997 Head. Elongate, oval, 1.6x longer than wide, slightly narrowing basally; vertex smooth and gently convex. Two transverse median impressions, one between antennae and one between eyes. Eyes large, strongly convex and projecting laterally. Antennae filiform, rather short, not reaching apex of profemora. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened. Pedicellus cylindrical, shorter than first antennomere.
tHorax. Pronotum shorter and narrower than head, about 1.3x longer than wide, posterior margin broader than anterior margin, slightly constricted centrally. Anterior margin with three small, holelike impressions, one central and two antero-lateral. Antero-median impression followed by median longitudinal line. Median transverse depression distinct, not reaching lateral margins. Mesothorax parallel-sided except for gradually widening posterior part, about 3.5x longer than head. Mesonotum with very faint longitudinal median line. Metanotum slightly more than 1/3 as long as mesonotum. Small, yet distinct posteromedian granule. Vestigial wings visible as small scales.
aBdomen. Median segment slightly shorter than metanotum. Segment II about as long as median segment. Terga III-V slightly increasing in length; V and VI of same length, with indistinct posteromedian hump; VII about as long as IV. Praeopercular organ distinct, represented by a pair of large lobes at posterior margin of sternum VII. Ventral view of praeopercular organ inverted heart-shaped about 1/3 the length of sternum VII. Tergum VIII distinctly shorter than previous and strongly convex; IX about half as long as VIII and strongly convex. Anal segment 1.5x length of IX, with fine median carina and widely triangular indentation at posterior margin, outer angles triangular. Supra-anal plate small, strongly keeled and rounded, not projecting beyond outer angles of anal segment. Cerci small, slightly flattened dorso-ventrally, oval in cross-section, finely setose and slightly exceeding anal segment. Gonapophyses filiform, up-curving but not reaching apex of anal segment. Subgenital plate longitudinally keeled, boatshaped and reaching posterior margin of anal segment.
legs. All long and broad, profemora slightly longer than combined length of pro-and mesonotum; mesofemora about as long as mesothorax; metafemora reaching over halfway the abdominal segment V and metatarsi nearly reaching apex of abdomen. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with 9-13 prominent, broad and undulate serrations. Posterodorsal carina sometimes with 4-8 small, triangular teeth. Posteroventral carina with 10-16 broad and undulate serrations. Anteroventral carina and medioventral carina strongly raised. Anterodorsal carina of protibiae raised, with 3-7 broad, triangular, lobe-like serrations. Posterodorsal carina with some small acute spines. Posterodorsal carina of mesofemora armed with 5-8 small saw-like spines; anterodorsal carina armed with 7-10 saw-to more prominent wave-shaped spines. Dorsal carinae of metafemora with 6-7 small saw-like spines. Medioventral of meso-and metafemora with 4-8 spines. Ventral carinae with 14-20 spine-like serrations. Ventral carinae of meso-and metatibiae serrated with small teeth. Dorsal carinae serrated with large to very large, roundly triangular pre-medial lobe; lobe more prominent on anterodorsal carina. Anterodorsal carina forming rounded, dentate lobe at apex of tibia. Probasitarsus with uniformly raised dorsal carina, about as long as remaining segments combined. Second tarsomere with dorsal carina raised and rounded. Meso-and metabasitarsus almost as long as remaining tarsomeres combined except claw and apically with dentate dorsal carina, gradually increasing in height.

Remarks
The species was originally described from Jianfengling National Forest Park in Hainan province, South China (Bi 1994). Hennemann & Conle (2008: 240) recorded this species from Cuc Phuong National Park and Than Moi in Vietnam, and Jinping County, Yunnan Province (900-1000 m) in Southern China. Recently Ho (2013) recorded the species from Hong Kong. The authors collected four nymphs of this species in Cat Ba National Park, Vietnam. One male and one female were reared to adulthood on a mixture of oak (Quercus spp., Fagaceae) and bramble (Rubus spp., Rosaceae). These records show that the species has a wide distribution range, which can also be observed in several other representatives of the genus Tirachoidea: e.g., T. biceps (Redtenbacher, 1908)

Comments
In the original description, Hennemann & Conle (2008: 144) excluded the material from Southern Vietnam from the type series because they estimated that the location of the specimen was doubtful. Four nymphs were collected by the authors in Cat Tien National Park on Lagerstroemia sp. (Lythraceae). In Europe they accepted oak (Quercus spp., Fagaceae) and bramble (Rubus spp., Rosaceae). All specimens reached adulthood and clearly represent Tirachoidea siamensis Hennemann & Conle, 2008, which confirms the presence of this species in Southern Vietnam. One small nymph was encountered in Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve but was not collected.

Discussion
The Phasmatodea of Vietnam remain poorly studied. Although some 70 species have been described (e.g., Kirby 1904;Brunner von Wattenwyl 1907;Redtenbacher 1908;Carl 1913), much work needs to be done describing new species and genera, in addition to redescribing and clarifying the status of existing taxa. Many genera are currently heterogeneous and prior to the description of new species, genera should be well defined and many species have to be transferred to different and even new genera.
The authors have built a large reference collection with thousands of specimens and hundreds of species. A catalogue of all species described from or present in Vietnam is in progress.
The discovery of several new giant species provides some evidence that there is a large number of new Vietnamese species still in need of description.
The Pharnaciini was recently revised by  and therefore the genera included are well defined and new species could be incorporated.
The types of the two Chinese species of Phryganistria could not be traced in IZCAS nor could any other types of species described by Chen & He (pers. comm. Rong Rong Wang, IZCAS). At the moment there are clearly several species currently attributed to the genus Ramulus Saussure, 1862 that should be transferred to Baculonistria . Examination of the type specimens is necessary to compare and differentiate with the species currently attributed to Baculonistria.