Lobolibethra carbonelli, Hennemann & Conle, 2018

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2018, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XVIII: Four new species of Lobolibethra Hennemann & Conle, 2007 from Peru and Ecuador (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Diapheromeridae), European Journal of Taxonomy 449, pp. 1-33 : 5-11

Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:881B5F7B-A260-4F08-9E84-17C6B3BD178A

Figs 1–13 , 56–58

Diagnosis

Closely related and similar to L. pozuzoae sp. nov. but differing by the on average smaller size, somewhat more stocky body and relatively shorter body segments of both sexes. Females may also be distinguished by the presence of two small cephalid spines, the more convex and bulgy subgenital plate ( Fig. 7 ), which has the lateral margins less excavated and the lateral surfaces each supplied with about three blunt projections ( Fig. 8 ), medially indented posterior margin ( Fig. 6 ) and less deflexed lateral margins of the anal segment and more prominent ventral lobes of the mesofemora. Males are readily distinguished by the granulose to nodulose meso- and mesonotum ( Fig. 5 , smooth in L. pozuzoae sp. nov.), lack of a concave posterior excavation of the lateral margins of the anal segment ( Fig. 10 ) and more rugulose poculum, which has the posterior margin indented medially ( Fig. 11 ). The eggs differ by the slightly more elongate capsule and longer micropylar plate, which covers almost ¾ of the dorsal egg-surface ( Figs 12–13 , only ½ in L. pozuzoae sp. nov.).

Etymology

Named after C. S. Carbonell, who collected the holotype and paratypes in the collection of MNHU.

Material examined

Holotype

PERU: ♀, “Peru, Tingo Maria – 16.07.1948 ( Nachtfang im Wald ), leg. C.S. Carbonell; Uruguay – Expedition, Dr. K.K. Günther April – Juni 1948; Dept. Ent. Montevideo Uruguay” ( MNHU).

Paratypes (130 ♂♂, 126 ♀♀, eggs)

PERU: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, “ Peru, Tingo Maria – 16.07.1948 (Nachtfang im Wald), leg. C. S. Carbonell; Uruguay – Expedition, Dr. K. K. Günther April – Juni 1968; Dept. Ent. Montevideo Uruguay ” ( MNHU); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, “ Peru, Tingo Maria – 16.07.1948 (in Copula), leg. C. S. Carbonell; Uruguay – Expedition, Dr. K. K. Günther April – Juni 1968; Dept. Ent. Montevideo Uruguay ” ( MNHU); 1 ♂, “ Peru, Tingo Maria, IV, V-1952, P. Araoz ” ( USNM); 1 ♀, “ Peru: Tingo Maria, IV & V.52 night, Pedro Araoz ” ( USNM); 22 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, eggs, “ ex Zucht: F. Hennemann 2011-13, Herkunft: Peru, Oriente, Dept. Huanuco, Tingo Maria, 2010” ( FH, 0569-1–33 and E 1); 4 eggs, “ Libethra PSG 51 , Peru, Tingo Maria; ex coll. J. T. Clark Sellick ” ( FH, 0569- E 2); 62 ♂♂, 64 ♀♀, eggs, “ Ex Zucht: O. Conle 2011 -12, Peru: Oriente, Dept. Huanuco, Tingo Maria, leg. 2010” ( OC, 0399-1–32, 0399-38–100, 0399-110–141); 9 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, “ Ex Zucht: B. Kneubühler 2010, Peru: Oriente, Dept. Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Gen F 1, leg. 2010” ( OC, 0399-33–36, 0399-101–109); ♀, “ Ex Zucht: B. Kneubühler 2011, Peru: Oriente, Dept. Huanuco, Tingo Maria, Gen F 2, leg. 2010” ( OC, 0399-37); 33 ♂♂, 43 ♀♀, eggs, “ Ex Zucht: O. Conle 2011 -12, Peru: Oriente, Dept. Huanuco, Tingo Maria, leg. 2010; Ex Coll. Conle ” ( ZSMC).

Description

Female ( Figs 1–2 , 57–58 )

BODY. Size fairly small (body length 48.5–53.2 mm, Table 1 ), form stocky, body surface tuberculose, rugulose and carinate (abdomen in particular) and mid and hind legs moderately lobed. Abdominal tergites III and IV mostly with a transverse scale-like posteromedian lobe, which is very variable in shape and size (small on IV although).

COLOUR. Colour variable, ranging from dull ochre to dark greyish brown, sometimes with indicated longitudinal stripes or slightly greenish portions. Meso- and metapleurae usually with a marginal row of dark markings in pale specimens. Antennae pale to dark brown.

HEAD. Elongate-oval with cheeks very gently narrowing towards posterior and vertex flattened; about 1.2× as long as wide. Posterior portion of vertex distinctly tuberculose and a few dispersed tubercles also on cheeks; two tubercles at posterior margin somewhat enlarged and spiniform and a pair of short, conical spines roughly in centre of vertex. Eyes small, sub-circular and their length contained about 2.6× in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment III. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, rounded rectangular, with lateral margins very gently deflexed and rounded; about 1.2× as long as wide. Pedicellus cylindrical and somewhat tapered towards apex. Antennomere III very elongate and almost as long as scapus and pedicellus combined; IV less than ¼ length of III.

THORAX. Pronotum about as wide as but a little shorter than head, rectangular in shape, about 1.2× as wide as long and somewhat narrowed medially. Transverse median sulcus midways on prothoracic disc, moderately impressed, gently curved and expanding over entire width of segment. Surface densely granulose and tuberculose, with two tubercles just in front of median sulcus slightly more pronounced. Mesothorax about 3.8× as long as prothorax, parallel-sided, with only posterior portion gently widened. Mesonotum bluntly tectiform, irregularly granulose, tuberculose and rugulose; rugulae longitudinally directed and several of these raised to form a blunt tubercular swelling ( Fig. 4 ). An irregularly interrupted carina along lateral margins. Metanotum sculptured like mesonotum but lacking noticeably enlarged tubercles. Meso- and metanotum both with a more or less decidedly enlarged pair of blunt tubercles posteromedially. Meso- and metapleurae with a fine longitudinal carina roughly midways and a marginal row of about 7–8 (mesopleurae) or 3–4 (metapleurae) blunt tubercles. Meso- and metasternum granulose and supplied with some irregularly dispersed small tubercles.

ABDOMEN. Median segment a little more than ¼ length of metanotum and almost 2× as wide as long; surface like metanotum and usually with a somewhat enlarged pair of blunt tubercles posteromedially. Segments II–III slightly widening and increasing in length, IV parallel-sided and V–VII slightly narrowing and decreasing in length; IV widest and longest segment, roughly quadrate. II transverse and shorter than VII. Tergites II–IX with four longitudinal, sub-parallel carinae (most decided on II and VII–IX) and II–VII with three small, blunt nodes at lateral margins; otherwise minutely granulose and occasionally with a further very faint carina laterally. Two inner carinae supplied with some blunt tubercles on VII–IX and on latter two tergites often terminating in a rounded lobe or obtuse swelling. Tergum III mostly with a fairly large, transverse, scale-like lobe, which spans between the two outer carinae and is very variable in size and shape (rarely obsolete). Often also a much smaller, somewhat bowl-shaped posteromedian lobe on tergum IV. Sternites II–VII granulose, with a fine and irregularly interrupted longitudinal carina laterally and two blunt, irregular, sub-parallel carinae medially, each of which terminates in a small, blunt swelling at posterior margin; otherwise granulose and minutely tuberculose. Praeopercular organ indistinct. Tergum VIII somewhat widening towards posterior, IX shorter than VIII and roughly quadrate, both with a fairly acute longitudinal median carina; two inner lateral carinae occasionally protruded into a bluntly rounded lobe posteriorly. Anal segment equal in length to IX, with lateral margins roughly parallel-sided in dorsal aspect, moderately deflexed and bluntly rounded; dorsal surface with a very acute longitudinal median keel and posterior margin almost straight, with a shallow median indention ( Fig. 6 ). Epiproct fairly large, broadly rounded, transverse and very slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment ( Fig. 6 ). Cerci small, conical, compressed dorsoventrally and slightly projecting beyond anal segment. Subgenital plate reaching about half way along anal segment, tub-shaped, with apical half strongly convex and keeled longitudinally ( Fig. 7 ); basal portion compressed laterally, dorsal margins weakly excavated and concave in apical half and apex obtusely rounded. Surface irregularly rugulose and tuberculose and each lateral surface in apical half with three conspicuous spiniform projections ( Fig. 8 ).

LEGS. All fairly short and stocky, profemora about equal in length to mesothorax and metafemora roughly reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment VI. Anterodorsal carina of profemora weakly undulate and anterodorsal carina of protibiae with several weakly developed, blunt lobules. Dorsal carinae of mesofemora weakly undulate and anteroventral carina with three rounded lobes that increase in size towards apex; terminal sub-apical lobe variable in size. Two dorsal carinae of meso- and metatibiae with a small, blunt tooth-like lobe sub-basally. All tarsi short, with basitarsus about as long as following two tarsomeres combined.

Male ( Figs 3 , 56 )

BODY. Size fairly small (body length 42.0–45.0 mm, Table 1 ), form moderately slender for the genus; thorax granulose and nodulose.

COLOUR. Plain, mid to dark greyish brown, head and extremities usually with a slight reddish hue. Lateral surfaces of meso- and metathorax as well as meso- and metapleurae dull greenish in live specimens. All tubercles and nodes of thorax and abdomen ochre to dull yellow ( Fig. 5 ). Antennae reddish mid brown.

HEAD. Sub-oval, broadest at eyes, with cheeks slightly sub-parallel and narrowing towards posterior; vertex flattened, minutely granulose and with a small pair of tubercles roughly in centre, a similarly sized pair at posterior margin and 2–3 small tubercles on cheeks. Eyes sub-circular strongly projecting and their length contained about 1.9× in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment VI; otherwise as in females.

THORAX. Pronotum somewhat shorter and narrower than head as in females but with sculpturing less decided. Mesothorax a little more than 5× as long as prothorax. Surface of meso- and metanotum minutely granulose, mesonotum with about six somewhat enlarged nodes in median portion ( Fig. 5 ); both with a longitudinal row of small tubercles along lateral margins. Meso- and metapleurae with a longitudinal median row of minute tubercles and about 3–4 slightly enlarged tubercles. Meso- and metasternum granulose.

ABDOMEN. Median segment less than 1/5 length of metanotum, roughly quadrate in outline. Segments II–VII uniform in width, II–V slightly increasing and VI–VII decreasing in length; VII shorter than II. V longest segment and about 2× as long as wide. Tergites II–V very minutely granulose, VI and VII increasingly rugulose and VII with a blunt longitudinal median carina. Sternites very minutely and sparsely granulose. Tergum VIII trapezoidal and distinctly widened towards posterior, with posterior margin about 1.3×as wide as anterior margin; surface irregularly granulose and with five blunt longitudinal carinae, of which median carina is most decided. IX about equal in length to VIII, narrowed towards posterior, slightly tectiform and with carinae noticeably more decided than on VIII; outer lateral carina in particular very blunt and irregularly scabrous. Anal segment shorter than preceding, constricted basally, with lateral margins strongly deflexed in median portion ( Fig. 9 ); dorsal surface with a fine longitudinal median carina; posterior margin with a shallow median excavation and outer angles bluntly triangular ( Fig. 9 ), somewhat swollen and supplied with several minute black denticles ventrally ( Fig. 11 ). Cerci short, gently curved and slightly club-shaped, with an obtuse apex. Vomer well developed triangular and with a fairly short but acute, straight terminal hook; dull reddish brown. Poculum moderately convex, bowl-shaped, with complete surface strongly rugulose and scabrous; posterior margin weakly labiate and with a distinct, rounded median indention ( Fig. 11 ).

LEGS. All long, slender and completely unarmed. Profemora almost as long as pro- and mesothorax combined, metafemora reaching to abdominal segment VIII and metatibiae projecing considerably beyond apex of abdomen. Tarsi moderately elongate, with basitarsus a little longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

Egg ( Figs 12–13 )

Small, globose, 1.25× as long as high and about 1.8× as long as wide, compressed laterally and oval in cross-section, with dorsal portion strongly convex. Capsule surface strongly shiny and very minutely granulose if seen in strong magnification. Micropylar plate elongate, slender, almost parallel-sided with only posterior portion very gently widened and about 3/5 length of capsule. Central portion raised and gently convex. Micropylar cup small and near posterior end of plate, median line very indistinct and reaching about ½ to polar area. Operculum elliptical, gently downcurving dorsally and flat. In centre with a rim of irregularly shaped tubercles and short projections. When newly laid, the eggs are black with dorsal surface creamish mid grey. Older or incubated eggs that have already come in contact with humidity tend to become increasingly pale, being reddish mid brown. Micropylar plate dull cream, with outer marginal portion pale cream. Outer margin of operculum grey and opercular structures dull yellow or straw (reddish brown in older eggs). Measurements (in mm): length 2.6, capsule length 2.5, width 1.4, height 1.9, length of micropylar plate 1.9.

Remarks

As usual for the more cryptic species in the genus, considerable variability is seen in the sculpturing of the abdominal tergites of females. The scale-like posterior lobe of abdominal tergum III is variable in size and shape, and occasionally there is a further much smaller lobe on tergum IV. More rarely both lobes are obsolete. Some specimens may also have a pair of small posterior lobes on abdominal tergum IX. The size of the ventral lobes of the mesofemora shows quite some variability as well, and while the metatibiae are unarmed in most specimens at hand, there may occasionally be a small sub-basal lobe on the posterodorsal carina. Considerable variation is also seen in colouration.

The type locality Tingo Maria is situated at the junction of Río Monzón and Río Huallaga at an elevation of about 660 m in the Huánuco region of Leoncio Prado Province in eastern Peru. The coordinates are 9°18′ S, 76°0′ W.

Culture stock from the type-locality was first imported to Europe in 1992 by Allan J.E. Harman (Essex, UK), but the culture was lost after a few generations. This culture was included on the Phasmid Study Group culture-list as PSG No. 51. A second stock from the type locality was imported in 2010 and first reared by Bruno Kneubühler (Luzern, Switzerland). Bramble ( Rubus fruticosus , Rosaceae ), raspberry ( Rubus idaeus , Rosaceae ), roses ( Rosa spp., Rosaceae ) and oak ( Quercus robur , Fagaceae ) were accepted as alternative food plants. In captivity males reached maturity after about three months, while females took about four months to reach maturity at average temperatures of 20–24 °C. Females produced an average of 10– 12 eggs per week, which were simply dropped to the ground.

Figures

Figs 1–5. Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov. 1. ♀, PT (FH, 0569-1). 2. ♀, PT (FH, 0569-3). 3. ♂, PT (FH, 0569-15). 4. ♀, PT: detail of head and thorax in lateral view (FH, 0569-3). 5. ♂, PT: detail of head and thorax in lateral view (FH, 0569-15).

Figs 6–11. Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov. 6. ♀, PT: apex of abdomen in dorsal view (FH, 0569-10). 7. ♀, PT: apex of abdomen in lateral view (FH, 0569-11). 8. ♀, PT: apex of abdomen in ventral view (FH, 0569-10). 9. ♂, PT: apex of abdomen in dorsal view (FH, 0569-23). 10. ♂, PT: apex of abdomen in lateral view (FH, 0569-20). 11. ♂, PT: apex of apex of abdomen in ventral view (FH, 0569-23).

Figs 12–13. Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov. 12. Egg, PT: lateral view (FH, 0569-E1); 13. Egg, PT: dorsal view (FH, 0569-E1).

Figs 56–58. Lobolibethra carbonelli sp. nov. 56. Live ♂, PT (FH). 57. Live ♀, PT (FH). 58. Live ♀, PT (FH).