Andeocalynda decorata, 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 : 313-317

Andeocalynda decorata n. gen., n. sp.

( Figs. 8–9 , 19 C–D, 21B)

HT, ♀: Ecuador, Cañar Prov. Rio Mazan , 25.VIII.90, 3500 m, AJE. Harman; A. Harman M. Salton Coll. [ NHMUK] .

PT, ♂: Ecuador, Cañar Prov. Rio Mazan , 25.VIII.90, 3500 m, AJE. Harman; A. Harman M. Salton Coll. [ NHMUK] .

PT, ♂: Ecuador, Azuay Prov., Rio Mazan , 3500 m, 25.VIII.1990, AJE. Harman; A. Harman M. Salton Coll. [ NHMUK] .

PT, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 5 eggs: Central Ecuador—Cordillera: Prov. Azuay, Cuenca Ģ Loja km35, 3300 m, S 03°10' W 079°01', leg. Hennemann, Conle & Friede 14.–15.IX.2003 [coll. FH, No’s 0519-1, 2 & E] .

PT, 1 ♀, 6 eggs: Ecuador: Prov. Cañar, Zhud , 2970 m, S 02°26.2’ W 078°59.7’, leg. Hennemann, Conle & Friede 17.IX.2003 [coll. OC, No’s 0540-1 & 2] .

Diagnosis: This distinctive species is easily distinguished from the other known members of the genus, ♀♀ differ-ing by the prominently and unevenly tuberculose meso- and metathorax ( Figs. 8 C–D), lobed mid and hind legs and obtusely rounded apex of the subgenital plate ( Figs. 8 F–H), and ♂♂ being readily recognized by the slight sub-basal expansion of the two outer ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora ( Figs. 9 A–B). Otherwise, ♂♂ resemble A. banosense n. sp. but differ from this species by the longer cerci and less bulgy poculum, which only bears a fairly small and blunt central protuberance ( Fig. 9E ).

Etymology: The name (decoratus lat. = decorated, furnished) refers to the lobed legs and tuberculose meso- and metathorax of ♀♀, which readily distinguish this species from all other known representatives of this new genus.

♀♀ ( Figs. 8 A–B, 21B): Moderately sized (body length incl. subgenital plate 83.9–105.0 mm) and fairly stocky for the genus with the meso- and metathorax prominently and unevenly tuberculose ( Figs. 8 C–D) and the mid and hind legs lobate; body surface dull. Colouration greyish pale to mid brown, the lateral surfaces of body slightly darker. The larger thoracic tubercles black-tipped. Genae dull cream in lower portion and with a faint, washed dark brown postocular stripe ( Fig. 8C ). Eyes reddish mid brown. Bases of profemora red interiorly. Legs coloured like body, all femora and tibae with two broad but faint pale transverse bands. Antennae reddish mid brown.

Head: Elongate, sub-cylindrical, slightly flattened dorsoventrally about 1.8x longer than wide and indistinctly narrowed towards the posterior; the genae very gently rounded and the vertex smooth but with an impressed coronal line ( Fig. 8D ). Between the bases of the antennae with a pair of small and shallow impressions. Eyes small, moderately projecting and slightly oval in outline; their diameter contained about 3.5x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment III. Scapus flattened and increasingly carinate laterally towards the base, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and about 1.5x longer than wide. Pedicellus round in cross-section and almost ¾ the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum as long but a little narrower than head, roundly rectangular with the lateral margins gently concave medially ( Fig. 8D ). Surface smooth with an impressed longitudinal median line, the transverse median sulcus moderate, gently curved and almost reaching to lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax parallel-sided and just very slightly widened in posterior portion; 2.8x longer than head and prothorax combined. Mesonotum with a indistinct longitudinal median line and irregularly covered with tubercles of variable sizes; the largest tubercles blunt but spiniform and tipped with black ( Figs. 8 C–D). A longitudinal row of medium-sized spiniform tubercles along lateral margins. Metanotum structured like metanotum, but posterior half only with a few small granules with spiniform tubercles restricted to the anterior portion. A marginal row of medium spiniform tubercles on meso- and metapleurae. Meso- and metasternum with two irregular, parallel median rows of variably sized, ochre granules ( Fig. 8E ).

Abdomen: All segments smooth, but terga III–VI with a single scale-like (III–IV) or two rounded swellings (V–VI) at posterior margin. Median segment about 2/5 the length of metanotum, 1–3x longer than wide and gently widened towards the posterior; smooth. Segments II–VII roughly uniform in width. II almost 1.4x longer than medi-an segment but shorter than III–VI. III–VI slightly increasing in length; V roughly 3x longer than wide. VII slightly narrower than preceding and about ¾ the length of VI. Praeopercular organ formed by an obtuse, black, back-curving spine some distance off the posterior margin of sternum VII, which towards the posterior terminates in a longitudinal keel, that itself terminates in a small, wart-like swelling posteriorly ( Fig. 8J ). Other sterna smooth. Tergum VIII a little more than 2/3 the length of VII and gently widened in posterior portion, IX about 2/5 the length of VIII; both weakly tectinate longitudinally. Anal segment 2/3 the length of IX, distinctly carinate longitudinally, narrowed towards the apex and the posterior margin rounded with a small and fairly shallow triangular median indention ( Fig. 8G ). Epiproct small, triangular and with an acute median keel; very slightly projecting over apex of anal segment. Cerci slender, round in cross-section and tapered towards a narrow tip. Gonoplacs enlarged, laterally compressed, lobiform, elongate-ovoid in lateral aspect and projecting notably beyond posterior margin of anal segment ( Fig. 8G ). Subgenital plate elongate, carinate longitudinally, minutely granulose in the basal portion and with the apex obtuse ( Fig. 8G ); projecting over apex of abdomen by more than the combined length of terga VIII–X ( Fig. 8F ).

Legs: All moderately long but fairly robust with characteristic lobes. Profemora indistinctly longer than mesothorax, mesofemora roughly equal in length to metathorax, metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatarsi slightly projecting apex of abdomen. Two lower outer carinae of meso- and metafemora with a prominent foliaceous lobe sub-basally, the posterodorsal carina with a much smaller sub-basal lobe and a roundly triangular, tooth-like lobe sub-apically. The two outer lower carinae also with a moderately distinct but blunt sub-apical tooth; medioventral carina distinct, smooth. Meso- and metatibiae with a roundly triangular subapical lobe on posterodorsal carina. Mesobasitarsi slightly longer, the pro- and metabasitarsi notably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

♂♂ ( Figs. 9 A–B): Moderately sized (body length 65.0– 73.5 mm) and slender for the genus. Body surface slightly shiny. General colouration plain mid to dark brown with the lateral surfaces of thorax a little darker. Lower lateral portions of head cream, the genae with a fine and very faint dark postocular streak ( Fig. 9D ). Bases of profemora red interiorly ( Figs. 9 C–D). Lateral margins of pronotum blackish, those of abdominal tergum IX pale cream. Meso- and metafemora and corresponding tibiae each with two pale grey or ochre transverse bands. Antennae reddish mid brown.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀. Eyes strongly projecting and their diameter contained almost 2.5x in length of genae ( Figs. 9 C–D). Antennae reaching to abdominal segment VI. Scapus flattened, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and about 1.5x longer than wide; lateral margins gently rounded ( Fig. 9C ). Pedicellus almost round in cross-section and about 2/3 the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum as wide but a little shorter than head, roundly rectangular with the lateral margins gently concave medially; 1.3x longer than wide ( Fig. 9C ). Surface with a slightly impressed longitudinal median line, transverse median sulcus distinct, gently curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax almost 3.6x longer than head and pronotum combined; very indistinctly widened in posterior portion. Mesonotum with a few minute, scattered white granules near lateral margins.

Abdomen: Median segment 1/3 the length of metanotum, almost 3x longer than wide and roundly narrowed medially. Segment II 1.25x longer than median segment but very slightly shorter than III–V; the latter roughly equal in length and about 4x longer than wide. VI as long as II and VII only ¾ the length of VI. VIII 2/3 the length of VII and slightly widened towards the posterior; trapezoidal in dorsal aspect. IX 1.4x longer than VIII with the lateral margins straight; rectangular in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 9E ). Anal segment about half the length of IX, obtusely tectiform and with the lateral surfaces strongly convex and roundly swollen ( Figs. 9 F–G); in lateral aspect hardly longer than high and the posterior and ventral margins broadly rounded and together almost forming a semicircle ( Fig. 9E ). The posterior margin somewhat swollen and labiate, the two lateral portions facing each other and with the interior sur-face set with a marginal row of minute denticles ( Fig. 9G ). Vomer slender and up-curving. Cerci elongate, slender, moderately in-curving and tapering in the apical one third, slightly compressed laterally and about equal in length to anal segment; ventrad directed. Poculum reaching about 4/5 along tergum IX, moderately convex, angular and about equal in height to tergum IX; the ventral surface straight and flattened in lateral aspect and with a blunt and short, posteriad directed central protuberance ( Fig. 9E ).

Legs: All moderately long and slender, all carinae minutely setose. Profemora almost as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora almost as long as mesothorax, metafemora reaching halfway along abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. All entirely unarmed, but the two lower ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora with slight expansion sub-basally. All basitarsi considerably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

Eggs ( Figs. 19 C–D): Capsule elongate, about 2.3x longer than wide and 1.8x longer than high, compressed laterally and oval in cross-section. Anterodorsal portion convex. Capsule surface very minutely granulose and shiny. Micropylar plate a little more than half the length of capsule and roughly 4.8x longer than wide; shape elongate, very slightly widened sub-posteriorly and gently narrowed in the median portion with the anterior end obtusely rounded and the posterior end narrowed. Micropylar cup represented by a rounded swelling close to posterior end of the plate. Median line a distinct obtuse ridge, that reaches about half the way towards the polar-area. Operculum oval and with a roundly conical capitulum, that has several, irregular, radial directed impressions laterally. Colour of capsule plain reddish brown. The area surrounding the micropylar plate broadly pale cream to white, this pale marking almost rectangular in outline. Micropylar plate chestnut brown, the median line dull ochre and the capitulum dark reddish brown. Measurements [mm]: length incl. capitulum 3.6, length 3.2, width 1.2, height 1.3, length of micropylar plate 1.7.

Comments: As for A. tenuis n. sp. from the same two localities, it is noteworthy that specimens in the two authors’ collections (coll. FH and coll. OC) are considerably smaller than the examples from Río Mazán, Parque Nacional Cajas (see table 3 below). Also, the holotype from Río Mazan has the meso- and metathoracic armature much more pronounced with the tubercles being notably more numerous and larger.

Several eggs were laid by the two ♀♀ in the authors collections and served for the description here presented. Unfortunately, the few nymphs that emerged from these eggs refused all alternative food-plants offered in Europe.

Distribution: S-Ecuador: Azuay Province (Parque Nacional Cajas, Río Mazan, 3500 m; Cuenca Ģ Loja km35, S 03°10' W 079°01', 3300 m); Cañar Province (Zhud 2970 m).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Andeocalynda decorata n. sp. ♀♀. A. HT [NHMUK], habitus dorsolateral view; B. HT [NHMUK], habitus dorsal view; C. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of HT in lateral view [NHMUK]; D. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of HT in dorsal view [NHMUK]; E. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of HT in ventral view [NHMUK]; F. Apex of abdomen of HT in lateral view [NHMUK]; G. Apex of abdomen of HT in dorsal view [NHMUK]; H. Apex of abdomen of HT in ventral view [NHMUK]; J. Ventral view of abdominal sternum VII of PT showing praeopercular organ [coll. FH, No. 0519-1].

FIGURE 9. Andeocalynda decorata n. sp. ♂♂. A. PT [NHMUK], habitus dorsal view; B. PT [NHMUK], habitus dorsolateral view; C. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of PT in dorsal view [NHMUK]; D. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of PT in lateral view [NHMUK]; E. Apex of abdomen of PT in lateral view [NHMUK]; F. Apex of abdomen of PT in dorsal view [NHMUK]; G. Apex of abdomen of PT in ventral view [NHMUK].

FIGURE 19. Eggs of species of Andeocalynda n. gen.. A. Andeocalynda tenuis n. sp., dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0518-E]; B. Andeocalynda tenuis n. sp., lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0518-E]; C. Andeocalynda decorata n. sp., dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0519-E]; D. Andeocalynda decorata n. sp., lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0519-E];