Megacraniinae —The Palm Stick Insects: A new subfamily of Old World Phasmatodea

The Palm Stick Insects (or "Coconut Stick Insects") have been transferred to a new subfamily on their own, the Megacraniinae subfam. nov.. The new subfamily is subordinate to Phasmatidae sensu stricto (= Lanceocercata). It is characteristic for the remarkably large head and strongly enlarged genae (“cheeks”), which are necessary to accomodate the massive mandibular muscles needed for feeding on the hard leaves of various palms (Arecaceae) e.g. coconut (Cocos nucifera) or screw palms (Pandanus spp., Pandanaceae). The subfamily Platycraninae sensu novo is shown to be not closely related and is redefined. Platycraninae now inludes the two tribes Platycranini and Stephanacridini.

 

Reference:

Hennemann, F. H. (2020): Megacraniinae—The Palm Stick Insects: A new subfamily of Old World Phasmatodea and a redefinition of Platycraninae Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1893 (Phasmatodea: “Anareolatae”). Zootaxa, 4896(2): 151-179.

https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4896.2.1

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