First record of Autolyca pallidicornis Stål, 1875 (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae) from Honduras, with notes on the genus Autolyca

The genus Autolyca Stål, 1875 (Pseudophasmatidae: Pseudophasmatinae: Anisomorphini) comprises several species endemic to Nuclear Central America. Here, we report the first record of Autolyca pallidicornis Stål, 1875 from Honduras, based on specimens from the Celaque Mountains and historical, previously unreported museum material from a nearby locality in Gracias housed in the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH), Chicago.

The species can be distinguished by its characteristic shiny black coloration, robust abdomen, orange-yellowish antennae, and distinctive genital structures. Previously, A. herculeana Conle & Hennemann, 2002 was the only species of the genus formally recorded from the country. With this new record, two species of Autolyca are now formally known from Honduras.

Additionally, we provide notes on the natural history of the species and a taxonomic review of the genus Autolyca. This finding underscores the importance of studying the diversity of phasmids and other taxa in this region to better understand its distribution and biogeographic patterns.