Diapheromerinae

Diapheromerinae is a subfamily of the stick insect family Diapheromeridae. They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea.[1]

Diapheromerinae
Adult male (left) and female of Oreophoetes p. peruana (Oreophoetini)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Phasmatodea
Family: Diapheromeridae
Subfamily: Diapheromerinae
Kirby, 1904
Diversity
Three tribes

The family contains the huge Paraphanocles keratosqueleton, often discussed under its obsolete name[2] Bostra maxwelli and known as godhorse or hag's horse in Barbados. It belongs to the typical tribe of Diapheromerinae, the Diapheromerini. It grows to over 30 cm (12 in) long and is known for its slow-moving stick-like appearance. In A-Z of Barbados Heritage, the species is discussed thus:

Godhorse. The local name of unknown origin for the walking stick insect which may grow to 33 cm. ... Many people are afraid of it, on the grounds that if given a chance, it will crawl into a human ear, though there is no record of any having done so. There is a superstitious belief that the presence of a godhorse around the house means a death will occur at the house. They are harmless to man but are generally disliked and Rev. Hughes common name of Hag's Horse conveys this.[3]

Systematics

Three tribes are generally recognized in the Diapheromerinae. These, with some notable genera and species also listed, are:[1]

Diapheromerini Zompro, 2001[4]

  • Bactricia Kirby, 1896
  • Diapheromera
    • Diapheromera femorata – common American walkingstick, northern walkingstick
  • Megaphasma Caudell, 1903[5]
  • Paraclonistria
  • Paraphanocles Zompro, 2001
  • Pseudosermyle Caudell, 1903[4]

Ocnophilini Günther, 1953

  • Dubiophasma
  • Exocnophila
  • Ocnophila
  • Ocnophiloidea
  • Parocnophilia

Oreophoetini Zompro, 2001

  • Oreophoetes
  • Oreophoetophasma

Footnotes
  1. PSG (2009)
  2. Bostra is actually the name for a genus of Pyralini snout moths
  3. Carrington & Fraser (2003)
  4. "Phasmida Species File, tribe Diapheromerini". phasmida.speciesfile.org. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  5. "Phasmida species file, genus Megaphasma".
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References
  • Carrington, Sean & Fraser, Henry C. (eds.) (2003): "Godhorse". In: A-Z of Barbados Heritage: p. 88. Macmillan Caribbean. ISBN 0-333-92068-6
  • Phasmid Study Group (PSG) (2009): Phasmida SpeciesFile – Diapheromerinae. Version of 28 September 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
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