Diapheromerinae
{{Short description|Subfamily of stick insects}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Oreophoetes peruana - pair.JPG
| image_caption = Adult male (left) and female of Oreophoetes p. peruana (Oreophoetini)
| taxon = Diapheromerinae
| authority = Kirby, 1904
| diversity_link = #Systematics
| diversity = Three tribes
}}
Diapheromerinae is a subfamily of the stick insect family Diapheromeridae. They belong to the superfamily Anareolatae of suborder Verophasmatodea.PSG (2009)
The family contains the huge Paraphanocles keratosqueleton, often discussed under its obsolete nameBostra is actually the name for a genus of Pyralini snout moths 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{{Verify source|date=April 2011}}. ... 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.Carrington & Fraser (2003)
Systematics
Three tribes are generally recognized in the Diapheromerinae. These, with some notable genera and species are:{{Cite web| title=Phasmida Species File, tribe Diapheromerini| url=http://phasmida.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1202147| website=phasmida.speciesfile.org| accessdate=17 June 2021}}
Diapheromerini Kirby, 1904
Selected genera:
- Diapheromera Gray, 1835
- Diapheromera femorata – common American walkingstick, northern walkingstick
- Megaphasma Caudell, 1903{{Cite web|url=http://phasmida.speciesfile.org/Common/basic/Taxa.aspx?TaxonNameID=1202378|title=Phasmida species file, genus Megaphasma}}
- Pseudosermyle Caudell, 1903
Ocnophilini Günther, 1953
- Dubiophasma Zompro, 2001
- Exocnophila Zompro, 2001
- Ocnophila Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907
- Parocnophila Zompro, 1998
Oreophoetini Zompro, 2001
- Dyme (phasmid) Stål, 1875
- Libethra Stål, 1875
- Lobolibethra Hennemann & Conle, 2007
- Ocnophiloidea Zompro, 2001
- Oreophoetes Rehn, 1904
- Oreophoetophasma Zompro, 2002
Footnotes
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{aut|Carrington, Sean & Fraser, Henry C. (eds.)}} (2003): "Godhorse". In: A-Z of Barbados Heritage: p. 88. Macmillan Caribbean. {{ISBN|0-333-92068-6}}
- {{aut|Phasmid Study Group (PSG)}} (2009): Phasmida SpeciesFile – [http://phasmid-study-group.org/category/SpeciesFile-28092009/7222 Diapheromerinae]. Version of 28 September 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
External links
- {{Commons category inline}}
- {{Wikispecies inline}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q904995}}