Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906

Chiquetto-Machado, Pedro I., Morales, Adriana C. & Cancello, Eliana M., 2022, Taxonomic revision of Paraphasma Redtenbacher, 1906 (Phasmatodea, Pseudophasmatidae) based on phallic and external morphology, Zootaxa 5122 (1), pp. 1-80 : 11-16

Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906

Figs 2–6 , Table 2 .

Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906: 117 ; Brock, 1998a: 23; Zompro, 2004: 159; Otte & Brock, 2005: 251; ChiquettoMachado & Cancello, 2021: 4, 26, figs 2, 24, 25, 26. Lectotype (here designated): ♀, Brazil, Alto Amazonas (NHMW) ( Fig. 5 ). Paralectotype (here designated): 1♂, Brazil, Pará (MNB) ( Fig. 2E ).

Diagnosis. Similar to P. indistinctum sp. nov., P. laterale , P. marginale , P. minus and P. sooretama sp. nov., but clearly distinguishable by the phallic organ, with a “large type ” sclerite of the ventral lobe ( Fig. 4 , in green), which is roughly semicircular in dorsal view and has two protuberances: the apical one ( Fig. 4 : ap), which is narrow and elongate, and the left basal one ( Fig. 4 : lp), rounded and partially divided in two (approximately saddle-shaped). Although not exclusive of P. conspersum , the following features may also be useful for the identification of this species: relatively small body length (♂ <49 mm; ♀ <63 mm); tegmina shoulder pad developed into a sharp spine; male cerci with spatulate apex ( Fig. 3A–C ); vomer longer than wide ( Fig. 3E ); male subgenital plate with posterolateral margins forming a pair of approximately triangular expansions with malleable aspect ( Fig. 3B–D : arrows); female sternite VII with a rounded indentation on the posterior margin.

Redescription of male. Color ( Figs 2 , 3 ): Body mostly dark gray or pale brown, with a pair of pale yellowish or greenish lateral stripes extending along head, prothorax, mesothorax and costal region of tegmina and hindwings. Pro- and mesonotum with fairly dense pale yellow spots and dorsomedian line in the same yellow shade. Legs brown; apical region of femora and tibiae black. Body ventrally grayish-brown or reddish-brown; abdominal sternite VIII and subgenital plate black-stained. Head ( Fig. 2 ): Smooth; slightly longer than wide; sub-rectangular in dorsal view; vertex weakly convex. Compound eye very prominent, covering nearly half of head length, slightly elongate or almost round in lateral view. Ocelli well-developed; median one distinctly separated from lateral pair. Antennae filiform, very long, distinctly surpassing end of abdomen; scape compressed dorsoventrally; pedicel cylindrical, slightly shorter than scape; first flagellomere about 3x longer than pedicel. Thorax ( Fig. 2 ): Prothorax smooth; as long as head and distinctly narrower than it; weakly convex dorsally and ventrally, laterally flat. Pronotum subrectangular, with slight constriction on anterior third; anterolateral corners with rounded indentations, outlining openings of paired defensive glands; posterior margin convex; pair of gentle dorsolateral carinae originating posterior to defensive glands and extending until nearly posterior margin. Mesothorax slightly rugose, 1.5–1.8x longer than prothorax; about as wide as prothorax on anterior half and gradually widening on posterior half. Mesonotum with weak longitudinal carina extending along each lateral margin; mesepisternum with more pronounced carina extending along ventral margin. Metathorax and median segment smooth; parallel-sided, as wide as posterior region of mesothorax; dorsally convex, laterally flat, weakly convex ventrally; metathorax about 3x longer than median segment; both combined 1.5–2x longer than mesothorax. Metepisternum with longitudinal carina extending along ventral margin. Legs ( Fig. 2 ): Fairly long and slender. Profemur slightly longer than combined length of mesothorax, metathorax and median segment; curved and compressed basally; approximately trapezoidal in crosssection, with carinate edges and distinct ventromedian carina; anterodorsal carina weakly raised. Mesofemur as long as or slightly longer than pro- and mesothorax combined; 0.6x length of profemur. Metafemur slightly shorter than profemur. Meso- and metafemur sub-rectangular in cross-section, with dorsal and ventral faces slightly convex; edges weakly carinate; ventromedian carina absent. Tibiae slightly shorter than corresponding femur, 1.5–2x longer than corresponding tarsus; rectangular or trapezoidal in cross-section; ventromedian carina absent; with conspicuous area apicalis. Pro- and metabasitarsus slightly longer than following three tarsomeres combined; mesobasitarsus about as long as following three tarsomeres combined. Wings ( Fig. 2 ): Tegmina short, not reaching median region of metanotum; in dorsal view 2.5–3x longer than wide; posterior margin rounded, apical margin gently rounded or weakly acuminate; shoulder pad developed into a sharp spine, often damaged in preserved specimens; anal region with conspicuous reticulate venation. Hindwing reaching abdominal tergite VII. Abdomen ( Figs 2A–C , 3 ): About 1.8x longer than the combined length of head, thorax and median segment; dorsally and ventrally smooth, but tergite X slightly carinate on posterior region. Segments gradually shortening from II to VIII. Tergites VIII–X very short and distinctly wider than II–VII; tergite IX ( Fig. 3A,B ) about as long as VIII and almost 1.5x longer than X. Tergite X ( Fig. 3A,B ) strongly convex; narrower than VIII and IX; wider than long or almost as long as wide, narrowing towards the posterior region; posterior margin emarginate, in caudal view inverted U-shaped. Thorn pads formed by 10–15 minute teeth grouped on a slightly swollen region on each side of posterior margin of tergite X. Cerci ( Fig. 3A–D ) slightly longer than tergite X; gently incurved; basally cylindrical with spatulate apex; in lateral view apex subquadrate or with a tiny projection. Vomer ( Fig. 3E ) subtriangular, symmetric; longer than wide; basal region broad, abruptly constricting towards apical region; apex simple. Epiproct small, rounded, hardly visible under tergite X. Sternite VIII ( Fig. 3B,C ) distinctly shorter than corresponding tergite; wider than long. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 3B–D ) at least 2x longer than sternite VIII, longer than tergites IX and X combined; distinctly divided into anterior and posterior region; anterior region with somewhat soft exoskeleton, enabling folding of subgenital plate for exposure of phallic organ; posterior region swollen; posterior margin truncate, straight in caudal view, but laterally forming a pair of conspicuous, approximately triangular expansions with malleable aspect ( Fig. 3B–D : arrows). Cerci, posterior margin of tergite X and subgenital plate densely pilose. Phallic organ ( Fig. 4 ): Dorsal sclerite roughly rectangular in dorsal view, wider than long ( Fig. 4 , in red); distal process short and wide, directed to the left, almost perpendicular in relation to longitudinal axis of organ ( Fig. 4 : dp). Dorsal and ventral lobes partially fused on left side. Dorsal lobe ( Fig. 4 : dl) subdivided into main body on the right and a dorsal smaller pouch on the left ( Fig. 4 : asterisks). Sclerite of the ventral lobe of “large type ” ( Fig. 4 , in green), covering entire inner face of ventral lobe and slightly extending to outer face on right side; roughly semicircular in dorsal view, with rounded posterior margin; apical and left basal protuberances present ( Fig. 4 : ap, lp), the former narrow and elongate, the latter rounded and partially divided in two (approximately saddle-shaped). One of base apodemes ( Fig. 4 , in blue) projecting into dorsal lobe as a distinct spatulate expansion.

Redescription of female. Color ( Fig. 5A–G ): As in male, but abdominal sternites V–VII and subgenital plate black-stained. Head and thorax ( Fig. 5C,D ): As in male. Legs ( Fig. 5A–D ): As in male, but slightly shorter in relation to body and anterodorsal carina of profemur distinctly raised medially. Wings ( Fig. 5A–D ): As in male, but hindwing reaching abdominal tergite VIII. Abdomen ( Fig. 5A,B,E–G ): Approximately 1.6x longer than the combined length of head, thorax and median segment; dorsally and ventrally smooth, but tergite X gently carinate longitudinally. Segments II and III the longest; then gradually shortening from III to VII. Tergites VIII–X ( Fig. 5E,G ) distinctly shorter and slightly narrower than II–VII; tergite IX slightly shorter than VIII and about 1.3x longer than X. Tergite X slightly longer than wide; tectiform; posterior margin gently emarginate. Cerci ( Fig. 5G ) short, straight and cylindrical; slightly surpassing posterior margin of tergite X; apex blunt. Epiproct rounded; hardly visible under tergite X. Sternite VII with small but conspicuous praeopercular organ ( Fig. 5F,G ), developed into an elongate, shiny protuberance, extending until rounded indentation on posterior margin of sternite VII. Subgenital plate ( Fig. 5F,G ) lanceolate, extending until posterior margin of tergite X; apex somewhat sharp; inner face longitudinally carinate. Cerci, tergite X and subgenital plate densely pilose.

Description of egg ( Fig. 6 ). Capsule somewhat elongate, approximately barrel-shaped, slightly higher than wide on median region, gently narrowing towards operculum and polar area, the latter almost flat; capsule uniformly covered with a net of sinuous, relatively discreet ridges which bear long and thin bristles, longer on polar area. Operculum approximately oval, slightly higher than wide, perpendicular in relation to longitudinal axis of capsule; also bearing long bristles. Micropylar plate rounded but slightly elongate, positioned medially on capsule, with a small central hump. Median line ( Fig. 6A : arrow) very short and inconspicuous. Internal micropylar plate not examined. Egg light brown with sparse darker regions. Measurements (mm, n = 1): capsule length, 2.4; capsule width, 1.5; capsule height, 1.6; operculum width, 1.0; operculum height, 1.1; micropylar plate length, 0.7; micropylar plate width, 0.5.

Distribution ( Fig. 1 : green circles). This species is known from Pará and western Maranhão states, suggesting a distribution restricted to eastern Brazilian Amazon. The type localities ‘Pará’ and ‘Alto Amazonas’ are vague, but the latter may refer to the Solimões River (see “Remarks” under Paraphasma minus ), possibly corresponding to a record further west.

Remarks. The description of Paraphasma conspersum was based on one female and one male (herein designated as lectotype and paralectotype, respectively). However, as mentioned in the original description ( Redtenbacher 1906), the paralectotype misses the final portion of the abdomen ( Fig. 2E ), precluding the examination of the terminalia and phallic organ, which gather most of the characters used for differentiating species of Paraphasma . Therefore, the identification of the specimens of P. conspersum housed at MZUSP, MPEG and ESALQ was mainly based on body size, tegmina morphology, color pattern and collecting locality.

Additional material examined. BRAZIL. Maranhão: 1♂, Igarapé Gurupi-Uma, Aldeia Araçu , 50 km E. de Canindé, 20.v.1963, Malkin ( ESALQ *) ; 2♂, São Pedro da Água Branca, Faz. Monte Cristo , 4.ii.2010 ( MZUSP 1326 , 1327 *) . Pará: 8♂, Altamira, Itapuama, Área 1— Trilha , 03º36’13.8”S, 52º20’37.7”W, 3.ii.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000290 , 19000291 , 19000292 , 19000293 , 19000294 *, 19000295, 19000296, 19000309) ; 1♂, 1♀, Anapu, Barra do Vento, Área 3— Acampamento , 03º27’45.4”S, 51º40’23.3”W, 24.i.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000297 , 19000314 ) ; 1♂, Anapu, Barra do Vento, Área 3— Trilha , 03º27’36.5”S, 51º40’08.4”W, 24.i.2008, Rede entomológica, A. L. Nunes ( MPEG 19000311 ) ; 1♂, Anapu, Barra do Vento, Área 3— Trilha , 03º27’36.5”S, 51º40’08.4”W, 24.i.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000310 *) ; 1♂, Itaituba, Camargo, Rio Tapajós ( MZUSP 0363 *) ; 2♂, 2♀, Vitória do Xingu, Bom Jardim, Área 3— Trilha , 03º24’44.6”S, 51º45’01.5”W, 25.i.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000298 , 19000299 , 19000300 , 19000301 ) ; 1♂, Vitória do Xingu, Ig de Maria, Área 2— Pasto , 03º21’50”S, 51º54’52.1”W, 16.xi.2007, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000305 *) ; 1♂, 2♀, Vitória do Xingu, Ig de Maria, Área 2— Trilha , 03º21’53.5”S, 51º54’38.1”W, 27.i.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000302 , 19000304 , 19000306 ) ; 1♀, 1 egg, Vitória do Xingu, Ig Galhoso, Área 2— Pasto , 03º20’50”S, 51º56’37.7”W, 26.i.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000303 ) ; 1♀, Vitória do Xingu, Ig Galhoso, Área 2— Pasto , 03º20’36.5”S, 51º56’41.5”W, 20.iv.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000312 ) ; 1♂, Vitória do Xingu, Travessão 50, Área 2— Trilha , 03º12’18.6”S, 51º47’57.4”W, 1.ii.2008, Rede entomológica, A. L. Nunes ( MPEG 19000307 ) ; 1♂, Vitória do Xingu, Travessão 50, Área 2— Trilha , 03º12’18.6”S, 51º47’57.4”W, 1.ii.2008, Rede entomológica, C. E. Braga ( MPEG 19000308 ) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution map of Paraphasma. Circles indicate records based on material examined; triangles indicate records from the literature (Stoll 1787; Serville 1839; Chopard 1911; Conle et al. 2011; Jourdan et al. 2014); stars indicate records of undetermined Paraphasma species based on Rehn (1906) and Piza (1939) (although these authors identified the specimens, the identifications are doubtful or insufficient).

FIGURE 2. Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906, male. A–D. Specimen MPEG 19000299, habitus in dorsal (A), lateral (B) and ventral (C) views, and anterior region of the body in dorsolateral view (D). E. Paralectotype (MNB), dorsolateral habitus (provided by Oskar Conle). Scale bars = 10 mm.

FIGURE 3. Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906, male terminalia. A–D. Terminalia in dorsal (A), lateral (B), ventral (C) and oblique caudal (D) views. E. Drawing of the vomer. Abbreviations: Ce, cerci; S8, sternite VIII; SPa, anterior region of the subgenital plate; SPp, posterior region of the subgenital plate; T8, T9, T10, tergites VIII, IX and X; TP, thorn pad; Vo, vomer. Arrows = expansion of the posterolateral margin of the subgenital plate. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 4. Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906, illustrations of the phallic organ. A. Dorsal view. B. Detail of the sclerite of the ventral lobe in dorsal view. C. Caudal view. D. Left view. E. Right view.Abbreviations: ap, apical protuberance of the sclerite of the ventral lobe; b, base; dl, dorsal lobe; dp, distal process of the dorsal sclerite; lp, left basal protuberance of the sclerite of the ventral lobe; rbp, right basal pouch; vl, ventral lobe. Colors: light gray, membranous regions; red, dorsal sclerite; green, sclerite of the ventral lobe; blue, base apodemes. * = left ramification of the dorsal lobe. In D and E the final portion of the ejaculatory duct is represented by transparency with dotted lines. Images A, B, D and E adapted from Chiquetto-Machado & Cancello (2021: fig. 2).

FIGURE 5. Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher, 1906, female, lectotype (NHMW). A, B. Habitus, dorsal (A) and ventral (B) views. C, D. Anterior region of the body, dorsolateral (C) and dorsal (D) views. E–G. Terminalia, dorsal (E), ventral (F) and lateral (G) views. H. Labels. Abbreviations: Ce, cerci; PO, praeopercular organ; SP, subgenital plate; T8, T9, T10, tergites VIII, IX and X. Scale bars = 10 mm, unless otherwise indicated.

FIGURE6. Paraphasma conspersum Redtenbacher,1906, egg.Dorsal(A), lateral (B) andanterodorsal (C) views.Abbreviations: Ca, capsule; Op, operculum; MP, micropylar plate. Arrow = median line. Scale bar = 1 mm.