Emmanuel Delfosse

Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle · Department of Natural History Collections

The Harvestmen Sabacon viscayanus Simon, 1881 is a rare and rather local species in continental France. We recently collected it in three different regions, including the Armorican and Pyrenean massifs. Three départements of Aquitaine (33 and 40) and of the Armorican Massif (29) and many places are new. This species is presented and its ecological...

TAXREF is the taxonomic register for all living organisms from metropolitain and overseas France, marine as well as continental. A new version is published each year. This 15th version can be downloaded here : https://inpn.mnhn.fr/telechargement/referentielEspece/taxref/15.0/menu

The fauna of Alsace includes 24 harvestmen species and about 372 species of spiders. However, in January 2021 a new harvestmen species for the region, Leiobunum limbatum L. Koch, 1861, was observed in a subterranean gallery located near the commune of Kaysersberg in the Haut-Rhin department. This alpine and central European species is known in Fra...

TAXREF is the taxonomic register for all living organisms from metropolitain and overseas France, marine as well as continental. A new version is published each year. This 14th version can be downloaded here : https://inpn.mnhn.fr/telechargement/referentielEspece/taxref/14.0/menu

The author proposes a revision of the stick insect species of the genus Thaumatobactron Günther, 1929. Four new species, T. bretoni n. sp., T. pulchracaelatura n. sp., T. pygminerme n. sp. and T. robillardi n. sp., are described. Egg of T. guentheri Hennemann & Conle, 1997, and females and egg of T. mayri Günther, 1930 are described for the first t...

Scotolemon doriae Pavesi, 1878 was discovered respectively in a small area behind the entomology building of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, in Paris (75), near an underground basin in Saint-Germainen- Laye (78), in a quarry in Bagneux (92) and in an artificial underground environment in Lille (59). Old specimens also record it newly from...

In this contribution we present the Catalog of Italian spiders, produced on the base of the available scientific information regarding spider species distribution in Italy. We analysed an amount of 1124 references, resulting in a list of 1670 species and subspecies, grouped in 434 genera and 53 families. Information on spider biodiversity in Italy...

Anatomy, biology, ecology, number of species (...) of the Harvestmen from Bouches-du-Rhône (13), a french department.

This paper provides the commented list of the 824 type specimens of stick-insects of the collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle of Paris, corresponding to 319 species (including 287 currently valid species). The catalogue was made together with the digitalization and the databasing of the collection; it comes with an electronic docu...

A few time ago, a catalogue has listed the Harvestmen species of the Mercantour National Park and of the southern French Alps (DELFOSSE & IORIO, 2015). We give some useful additions for some remarkable species and for other that are news for one of the studied departments or for the entire region.

28 species of opilions are currently known from Ile-de-France. 20 are confirmed for this area. New departments are listed for 14 species, two are new to Ile-de-France.

Harvestmen study collected during missions in Corsica during the years 2014 and 2015.

TAXREF is the taxonomic register for all living organisms from metropolitain and overseas France, marine as well as continental. A new version is published each year. This 12th version can be downloaded here : https://inpn.mnhn.fr/telechargement/referentielEspece/taxref/12.0/menu

Advancement of knowledge of the distribution of some species of opilion in metropolitan France and discussion concerning a future catalogue on the fauna of France.

The catalogue of Harvestmen from France including mainland and overseas territories (Delfosse, 2017) is completed and corrected.

Erratum et addendum on an Opiliones paper.

During three trips to French Guiana in 2000, 2002 and 2004, Florian Thévenot caught various species of Arthropods, including some Mantids. We intend to learn a little more about these Mantids with their identification and their distribution. One of them, Angela guyanensis Rehn, 1906 (Angelidae), has enabled us to carry out a breeding operation that...

Small Arthropods inventory during a trip.

Having spent several years with the Harvestmen identification on photography, we have finally decided to collect the resulting data to complete the biogeographical and phenological knowledge of this order. Of course, a number of questions, some ethical, naturally arise.

Environ 10 espèces d'Opilions ont été capturées en divers lieux du département de la Seine-Maritime (76). Dans ce département, la mise à jour des connaissances sur cet ordre permet d'obtenir un total de 17 espèces avérées tandis que 16 autres potentielles sont discutées. Mots-clés-Opilions, biogéographie, Seine-Maritime, France, nouvelles données....

Following the work on the recorded Harvestmen from metropolitan France (Delfosse, 2014) we add some corrections and complete the list of the french fauna with also the species of the DOM-TOM.

Inventory of Arthropods during a field trip.

This book begin by a brief general introduction to the world of Opiliones. It give a presentation of the main useful bibliographic references to study French Opiliones, and the methods of capture and collection. It give also a commented list of known and potentially existing species in Northern France, which include the following regions: Alsace, F...

The objectives of this study were to provide a first update on the arachnofauna of the directed biological reserve on Île Sainte Marguerite.

The Harvestmen Dicranopalpus caudatus Dresco, 1948 is discovered again in France 50 years later (SANKEY & STOREY, 1969) and listed for the first time in the Eastern Pyrenees (66).

This article is a follow up on other works and is an attempt to estimate the number of known living species in France and worldwide. After studying Arachnida, Myriapods and Insects (DELFOSSE, 2015), we now focus on Panarthropods, marine Cheliceriforms, Pancrustaceans non-Insects.

New data on the number of spiders in France and in the world.

How identify Harvestmen species from the North West of France. Taxonomy, distribution, morphological characters to identify the various species.

Harvestmen biology.

Au cours des dernières années, l'étude du Parc national du Mercantour s'est intensifiée afin de davantage cerner sa flore et sa faune. Dans le cadre de l'Inventaire biologique généralisé (ATBI), nous avons étudié les opilions du Parc. Ce travail a été élargi à toute la région méridio-alpine, correspondant aux départements des Alpes-de-Haute-Provenc...

Spiders are not like toys, neither necessarely animals without any danger, so we must be carreful when handling, that which not stop potential risk of accidents. Some accidents are exposed here and also some advices to limit them.

In France, Histricostoma argenteolunulatum was known only in the Alpes-Maritimes department and in Corsica. 33 specimens have been found for the first time on the littoral of the south of Vendée (town of La Faute-sur-Mer). It greatly extends the known distribution of this species. Information is given on the discovery of this species but also on it...

Different Stick-insects species of the genus Decidia Stål, 1875 are presented. A new species is described for the first time from Ecuador: Decidia macrocercata n. sp.. Currently only the male is known. An identification key for all Decidia male species is given.

A new species of leaf insect is described from Thailand, Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae n. sp., very close to P. (Pulchriphyllium) sinense Liu, 1990, but differs by various distinct characters such as the armature of the mesonotum, shape of the anterior legs, abdomen and abdominal apex. Like P. sinense, P. maethoraniae n. sp. is only known...

Biology of Harvestmen.

This article is a follow up on other works and is an attempt to estimate the number of known living species in metropolitan France and worldwide (DELFOSSE, 2005, 2007, 2009 & 2011 ; DUPRÉ, 2011 ; IORIO, 2002 & 2006).

This article is like a notebook of a trip and give a non exhaustive list of the animals met in various places of the South of the metropolitan France.

A preliminary catalogue of Harvestmen from metropolitan France has already been done in the past (Delfosse, 2004). It is here reviewed, corrected and completed. Taxonomy is updated but synonyms are not mentioned. Assumptions are made about potential species for the fauna of France. 41 genera, distributed in 10 families, would be present in France....

Jean-Guillaume Audinet, Audinet de Serville, Audinet-Serville ou Serville ?

An identification keys for Harvestmen from the nord west of France.

A new species of stick-insect belonging to the genus Trapezaspis Redtenbacher, 1908, from Isle of Pines (Phasmatodea, Phasmatidae). The stick-insects of the genus Trapezaspis Redtenbacher, 1908, are presented. A new species from New Caledonia is described from a female specimen collected on Isle of Pines. An identification key is given to recognize...

We give results of 2 survey years wich have permit to record 8 Harvestmen species in french departments : Aisne (02), Oise (60) and Somme (80).

The discoveries of the spider Dolomedes fimbriatus (Clerck, 1757) and of the dragonfly Oxygastra curtisii (Dale, 1834) at Biot (Alpes-Maritimes department, France), beside the Brague river, are detailed by the authors who also briefly recall their general distribution and their ecological preferences. The bibliographical data show that D. fimbriatu...

The author deals with the Small Peruvian walkingstick of Schulte Peruphasma schultei Conle & Hennemann, 2005. He deals with its taxonomy, biogeography, and especially of its biology.

Nous n'avons que peu de données sur la répartition et le biotope du phasme Anisomorpha paromalus (WESTWOOD, 1859). Le voyage au Mexique de Fabian Vol nous apporte quelques éléments d'informations à ce propos. Abstract-We have only few data on the distribution and biotope of the Stick-insect Anisomorpha paromalus (WESTWOOD, 1859). The travel in Mexi...

The French harvestmen fauna includes 3 species of the genus Opilio Herbst, 1798 : O. canestrinii (Thorell, 1876), O. parietinus (De Geer, 1778) and O. saxatilis C.L. Koch, 1839. We propose an identification key and a synthesis of their geographical distribution which include new data, with the aim of making their study easier. O. canestrinii has be...

The new stick insect family Gallophasmatidae, based on Gallophasma longipalpisgen. et sp.n., from the Earliest Eocene French amber has a pattern of tegmina venation typical of Archaeorthoptera, also present in at least some Mesozoic ‘Phasmatodea’. On the other hand, Gallophasma displays in its body anatomy some apomorphies of the extant Euphasmatod...

Renphasma sinica gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Early Cretaceous Yixian Formation in Liaoning. It has the general habitus of the Mesozoic “stick-insects”, with a short thorax, and broad and long tegmina, as long as the hindwings. Its pattern of tegmina venation is typical of the Mesozoic Phasmatodea, also present in the Eocene stick insect...

This article deals with the taxonomy, the distribution and first of all with the biology of the New Caledonian Stick-Insect Canachus alligator Redtenbacher, 1908. The egg of this species is described for the first time.

This article is a follow up on other works and is an attempt to estimate the number of known living species in metropolitan France and worldwide. After the studies of the Arachnida (Delfosse, 2005, 2007 & 2009) and of the Myriapoda (Iorio, 2002 & 2006), we now focus on the Insects.

This article deals with the taxonomy, the distribution and before all with the biology of the Philippine small Stick-insect Sosibia parvipennis (Stål, 1877).

The authors propose various informations on the spider named Bee spider, Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772). A brief description of the animal as well as its taxonomy, biogeography and biology are given.

24 species of Harvestmen have been recorded in various metropolitan French localities. Details of the catching areas are given.

During some world travels, before all in La Réunion and in french Guyana, Florian Thévenot captured some Arthropods in order to study them. The author offers to study the StickInsects and their biogeography, one species from La Réunion : Monandroptera acanthomera (Burmeister, 1838) and six other from French Guyana : Citrina servillei Redtenbacher,...

This article is interested mainly in the biology of the South African Cricket Phaeophilacris bredoides Kaltenbach, 1986. Otherwise, we are looking for its taxonomical statut that looked doubtful to us.

During a travel in French Guyana, Florian Thévenot has getting two Whip-spiders species of the genera Heterophrynus Pocock, 1894 and Charinus Simon, 1892. We look to know more on their real identity and on their biology. Hatching and growth of young Charinus have been studied.

This article first deals with taxonomy, biogeography and biology of two species of Asiatic Mantids of the genus Deroplatys Westwood, 1839 : D. desiccata Westwood, 1839 and D. lobata (Guérin-Méneville, 1838). Some various notes talk about three other species in the same genus : D. angustata Westwood, 1841, D. trigonodera Westwood, 1889 et D. truncat...

The author deals with two species of Asian Stick-insects belonging to the genus Medaura Stål, 1875 : Medaura jobrensis Brock & Cliquennois, 2001 and M. scabriuscula (Wood-Mason, 1873). He deals with their taxonomy, their biogeography and especially with their biology. Some notes concern the two other species of known Medaura : M. austeni (Wood-Maso...

The author deals with the taxonomy, biogeography and biology of three species of Asian stick insects belonging to the genus Phaenopharos Kirby, 1904 : Phaenopharos herwaardeni Hennemann, Conle & Brückner, 1996 ; P. khaoyaiensis Zompro, 2000 et P. struthioneus (Westwood, 1859). A determination key is given for the three species.

A la suite d'autres recherches, nous avons trouvé maintes sources citant un nombre d'espèces d'Arachnides supérieur à ceux que nous présentions dans deux précédents articles (Delfosse, 2005 & 2007).

A determination key is given for the eggs of the three species of Asian stick-insects belonging to the genus Phaenopharos Kirby, 1904 : P. herwaardeni Hennemann, Conle & Brückner, 1996 ; P. khaoyaiensis Zompro, 2000, et P. struthioneus (Westwood, 1859).

This article deals with the taxonomy, the distribution and before all with the biology of the Andamans Stick-insect Sceptrophasma hispidulum (Wood-Mason, 1873). Clonaria luethyi (Zompro, 2000) and Sceptrophasma hispidulum eggs are compared and then follows a discussion about them.

Remarks about Medaura Stål, 1875 and of a new species in this genus, and review of an article describing 19 new species of Thai Stick-insects.

Breeding of the cetonid Eudicella smithi (Mcleay, 1838).

Presentation of the world of insects with the various orders, how to recognize them, their biology, their interest ...

The genus Cranidium Westwood, 1843 (Type-species: Diapherodes (Cranidium) serricollis Westwood, 1843) is re-described. Bacteria clavigera Redtenbacher, 1908 is shown to represent the male of Cranidium gibbosum (Burmeister, 1838) (new synonym). Detailed descriptions and illustrations of both sexes and the eggs as well as a complete synonymic list ar...

En France, les Opilions de la famille des Sironidae comptent actuellement deux genres regroupant quatre espèces. Nous nous intéressons aussi bien à leur taxinomie qu'à leur répartition en France métropolitaine. Une clé de détermination, agrémentée de schémas et de dessins, est proposée afin de faciliter leur identification. Une autre espèce potenti...

In a previous article (Delfosse, 2005), we presented the number of species of Arachnids in France and in the world. Here, we try to provide some more precise information on the Arachnids of the world.

The author deals with the taxonomy, the distribution and above all with the biology of Guérin’s Stick-insect Lamponius guerini (Saussure, 1838). This species, very common, is present everywhere in Guadeloupe. It has been bred for several decades now. A surprising morphological and chromatic variability observed. Some notes are given for two other s...

This article deals with the taxonomy, the distribution and before all with the biology of the little stick-insect from Borneo, Epidares nolimetangere (de Haan, 1842).

New record and new synonym for the Orchid Mantid Hymenopus coronatus (Olivier, 1792).

The authors deal with the taxonomy, the distribution and above all with the biology of the Orchid-Mantis Hymenopus coronatus (Olivier, 1792). Many populations have been imported for raising over decades and these generally failed after a few generations. This beautiful species remains hard to keep in captivity. A method is suggested to help the bre...

We try to review the taxonomy and the distribution of three species and some subspecies of Flower beetles of the genus Mecynorrhinella Marais & Holm, 1992. The biology of those Beetles is widely explained.

Breeding of the stick insect from Guadeloupe Lamponius guerini (Saussure, 1868).

Breeding in captivity of the stick insect Sungaya inexpectata (Zompro, 1996).

The taxonomy, the distribution and the biology of the African horned flower beetle Eudicella gralli Buquet on 1836 (Insecta, Coleoptera, Cetoniidae). We try to know a little more about the population' distribution of the African horned flower beetle Eudicella gralli Buquet, 1836 maintained at present in captivity, and on the various subspecies know...

The preparation of Arthropods for collection varies according to the method of conservation, which is why several methods are proposed. The softening of Arthropods sometimes has some disadvantages, there are also various methods to clean and degrease your animal, to restore it if certain parts are separated from the body.

This article discusses the taxonomy of the Martinican giant stick-insect Paraphanocles keratosqueleton (Olivier, 1792), its distribution and provides a brief description of the egg, female and male. Its biology and breeding are more detailed at length.

Stick-insects of the genus Anisomorpha Gray, 1835 were revised twice lately, before all by Conle & Hennemann (2002), but also by Zompro (2004). The taxonomy of Anisomorpha buprestoides (Stoll, 1813), Anisomorpha ferruginea (Palisot de Beauvois, 1805) and Anisomorpha paromalus Westwood, 1859 is briefly given as well as their distribution. Their biol...

This article briefly deals with the taxonomy, the distribution and the biology of the Flies belonging to the family of Diopsidae.

This article deals with the taxonomy, distribution and especially with the biology of the wingless “hissing” cockroaches of Madagascar of the genera Elliptorhina van Herrewege, 1973, Gromphadorhina Brunner, 1865 and Princisia van Herrewege, 1973. A key of the genera of the Gromphadorhinini tribe is given. The breeding methods are particularly devel...

We try to review the taxonomy and the distribution of three species and some subspecies of Flower beetles of the genus Mecynorrhinella Marais & Holm, 1992. The biology of those Beetles is widely explained.

Inventory fauna of an area in France (92).

Taxonomy, biology and biogeography of stick and leaf insects all over the world.

Breeding of the stick insect Medaura scabriuscula (Wood-Mason, 1873).

Breeding and biology of the cockroach Elliptorhina chopardi (Lefeuvre, 1966).

Breeding and biology of the cochroach Princisia vanwaerebeki van Herrewege, 1973.

Taxonomy, distribution, biology and breeding of the Uropygi Typopeltis tarnanii Pocock, 1902.

An unexhaustive inventory of the entomofauna has been done in Blémur wood (95) during an associative meeting in June 28th 2003.

Entomology, legislation, equipment, field and laboratory work methods, etc.

How to prepare Arthropods for collection. Legislation, equipment, various methods...

The number of Arachnids species recorded in France and in the world (Arthropoda : Arachnida). The species number of Arachnida described in France and in the world is proposed. We mainly focus on the eleven orders still alive today as well as on fossil orders or species.

Cet article présente la liste de 44 espèces de phasmes dont les types sont conservés dans la collection de José Pantel au Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, à Paris. Deux nouvelles synonymies sont proposées : Necroscia illaesa Redtenbacher, 1908 = Trachythorax maculicollis (Westwood, 1848) et Carausius jesuitae Brunner, 1907 = Carausius sechelle...

This article deals with the taxonomy and distribution of the South American giant woodworm Zophobas morio (Fabricius, 1776), and provides a brief description of larvae and adults. Its biology and breeding are more detailed at lenght.

The taxonomy and the distribution of the silkworm Tussah Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1855) are proposed. The rearing of the sub-species Antheraea pernyi pernyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1855) is dealt with at length.