Andeocalynda lojaense, Hennemann & Conle, 2020

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2020, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXIV: Andeocalynda n. gen., a new genus of Andean stick insects, with the descriptions of nine new species from Colombia and Ecuador (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 4896 (3), pp. 301-341 : 321

Andeocalynda lojaense n. gen., n. sp.

( Fig. 11 )

HT, ♂: Ecuador, Thal v. Loja b d. Stadt , 2200 m, 23.VIII.1905; Dr. Fr. Ohaus leg. id. vend. 30.I.1907. cfr. Reisebericht 1907.; PHA 304, Zoologisches Museum Hamburg [ ZMUH] .

Diagnosis: ♂♂ of this new species are well recognized by the very long abdominal tergum IX, which is>2x longer than tergum VIII and as much as 2.5x longer than the anal segment. Other characteristic features that distinguish them from all other currently known ♂♂ of the genus are the angular posterior margin of the poculum and the shape of the anal segment, which is gradually widened towards the posterior.

Etymology: Named after the type-locality Loja, capital of the Loja province in South Ecuador.

♂♂ ( Figs. 11 A–B): Small (body length 58.0 mm) and of typical shape for the genus. Body surface slightly shiny and smooth. General colouration of the unique holotype yellowish ochre, the anterior portions of all body segments with a slightly darker greyish brown wash. Lower lateral portions of head pale cream, the genae with a faint and weakly defined but broad dark postocular streak. Bases of profemora with a slight pale pink wash interiorly. Lower lateral portion of abdominal tergum IX and upper margin of poculum cream. Vomer reddish mid brown. Antennae dull straw to ochre.

Head: Elongate-ovoid, about 1.6x longer than wide, the vertex smooth, flattened and the genae gently narrowing towards the posterior. Two shallow indentions between the bases of the antennae. Eyes moderately projecting, almost circular in outline and their diameter contained about 2.7x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment V. Scapus flattened towards the base, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect with the lateral margins gently rounded and about 1.5x longer than wide. Pedicellus round in cross-section, slightly ovoid and about ¾ the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum a little shorter and slightly narrower than head, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect, gently narrowed medially and about 1.4x longer than wide (artificially compressed laterally in the unique holotype). Surface with a weakly impressed longitudinal median line, the transverse median sulcus indistinct, weakly arched and not reaching to lateral margins of segment; the outer ends terminating in a slight shallow pit. Mesothorax 3.3x longer than head and pronotum combined; very indistinctly widened in posterior portion, smooth.

Abdomen: Entirely smooth. Median segment 1/3 the length of metanotum, roughly 1.8x longer than wide and notably narrowed medially and with posterior margin somewhat wider than anterior margin. Segment II about 1.3x longer than median segment, II–V slightly subequal in length, VI and VII notably shortened with VII only little more than half the length of IV. VI about 4x, VII only about 3x longer than wide. All roughly uniform in diameter and II–VI slightly constricted medially. Tergum VIII strongly shortened, only 2/3 the length of VII, gradually widening towards the posterior and trapezoidal in dorsal aspect. IX strongly elongated and over 2x longer than VIII with the lateral margins straight and segment rectangular in lateral aspect ( Figs. 11C, F ). VIII and IX both with a prominent, obtusely keel-like longitudinal bulge laterally, which is notably more pronounced on IX ( Fig. 11E ). Anal segment only ¾ the length of IX, rather flattened, slightly declining towards the posterior, carinate medio-longitudinally and distinctly widened towards the posterior with the concave posterior margin 1.4x wider than anterior margin ( Fig. 11F ); the posterior margin slightly labiate with the outer lateral angles swollen and the posterior margin almost over entire breadth ventrally armed with numerous minute, black denticles ( Fig. 11D ). Vomer small, fairly broad, roundly triangular to heart-shaped and with a very short but strongly up-curving terminal hook. Cerci short and only about half the length of anal segment, the basal portion compressed laterally, the apical portion gently in-curving and the apex slightly club-like ( Fig. 11 D–E). Poculum bulgy and strongly convex, higher than tergum IX, angular with a diagonal bulge laterally that at the angle terminates in a prominent and acute, posteriad directed spiniform projection ( Figs. 11C, E ); reaching only 2/3 the way along tergum IX and the posterior margin straight and angular ( Fig. 11D ).

Legs: All long, slender, entirely unarmed and all carinae minutely setose. Profemora a little longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora shorter than mesothorax, metafemora reaching about halfway along abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. Mesobasitarsus slightly, the pro- and metabsitarsi considerably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

Comments: ♀♀ and eggs unknown.

Distribution: S-Ecuador: Prov. Loja (Valle de Loja, 2200 m).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Andeocalynda lojaense n. sp. HT, ♂ [ZMUH]. A. Habitus lateral view; B. Habitus dorsal view; C. Apex of abdomen in lateral view; D. Apex of abdomen in ventral view; E. Apex of abdomen in ventrolateral view; F. Apex of abdomen in dorsal view.