Studies On Neotropical Phasmatodea Xix: The Enigmatic Genuslaciphorusredtenbacher, 1908 From Coastal Peru (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromerinae)

The enigmatic, monotypic genusLaciphorusRedtenbacher, 1908 (type species:Laciphorus lobulatusRedtenbacher, 1908) is redescribed and its taxonomic position is explained. It belongs to a subgroup of 'anareolate' Phasmatodea currently referred to as Diapheromerinae: Diapheromerini: 'Bacteria-group' and now members of a clade termed Occidophasmata (Simon et al., 2019).GlobocalyndaZompro, 2001 is shown to be the morphologically most similar and presumably most closely related genus. Two new synonymies are revealed. The previously believed lost female holotype ofLaciphorus lobulatusRedtenbacher, 1908 is traced in the collection of the Naturhistorisches Museum, Vienna (NHMW) and is shown to be the same specimen as the holotype ofBostra scabrinotaRedtenbacher, 1908, which consequently is a junior objective synonym (n. syn.). Both species are here shown to be synonyms ofOcnophila capitataBrunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907, because this represents the male of Redtenbacher's two aforementioned species (n. syn.). Thus, the valid name for this species now isLaciphorus capitatus(Brunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907) n. comb. A lectotype is designated forOcnophila capitataBrunner v. Wattenwyl, 1907.Laciphorusappears to be geographically restricted to the 'Coastal Lomas' of western Peru, which biogeographically lie within the Coastal Peruvian Desert, and seems to be peculiar to its host-plantOphryosporus pubescensSmall, 1814 (Asteraceae).