Description of the male of Clemacantha regale Rainbow
Abstract
In 1897 the late W.J. Rainbow described a new genus and species of Phasmid under the name Clemacantha regale from a female example received from Narrabri, New South Wales. The species is a remarkable one, being the largest recorded from Australia, as well as being of exceptional beauty and delicacy of colour. The male of this species remained unknown until January 29, 1933, when Capt. F. H. Andrew forwarded specimens of a male and female taken in cop. at Kempsey, New South Wales. Opportunity is now taken to describe the male. The female with which the male was paired was received in poor condition. Two eggs were contained in the boat-shaped ovipositor of the female, and one of these is now figured as providing another link in the life history of this magnificent species. These eggs are, as usual in those of the Phasmidae, very distinctive and quite unlike those of any other species known to me. The original figure of the female is not entirely satisfactory, so I have had a new figure prepared by Miss N. B. Adams, of the Australian Museum, so that reliable illustrations of both sexes may now be available. The location of the type female was not stated in Rainbow's paper, and it was presumed that it was housed in the Australian Museum, but a search of the collection has failed to reveal it. Its whereabouts are, therefore, unknown. Clemacantha regale is represented in the Australian Museum collection by examples from Uralla, Camira Creek via Casino, Boomi, Laurieton, Kempsey, Singleton, and Garrawilla via Mullaley, New South Wales; Jandowie via Dalby, and Longreach, Queensland; Katherine, North Australia, Derby, North-West Australia, and Groote Eylandt.
