Myronides pussulatus, Hennemann, 2021

Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5073 (1), pp. 1-189 : 53-55

Myronides pussulatus n. sp.

( Fig. 21 )

HT, ♀: Indonesien, N-Molukken, Prov. Maluku Utara, Sulu Archipel, Sanana Island, Waifara , II.2013 [ ZSMC, ex coll. FH] .

Etymology: The name ( pussulatus lat. = with vesicles) refers to distinctive vesicle-like swellings or tubercles on the pro-, meso- and metanotum of ♀♀ of this new species ( Figs. 21F–G ).

Differential diagnosis: The large thoracic vesicle-like tubercles and sub-basally expanded anterodorsal carina of the profemora readily distinguish ♀♀ of this new species from all other representatives of the genus.

Description. The description of the colouration is solely based on the dried and unique holotype, which might provisionally have been preserved in ethanol. A slight greenish hue suggests the insect might have been much greener when alive. The specimen is complete except for the very apical portions of the right antenna.

♀ ( Fig. 21 ). Large (body length 125.5 mm), form slender and elongate for the genus with very distinctive and prominent vesicle-like swellings on dorsal surface of thorax ( Fig. 21A ). General colour ochre with a slight greenish hue on mesothorax, portions of abdomen and legs. Cephalic and prothoracic tubercles pale creamish-green, the large meso- and metathoracic tubercles pale greenish with a black ring in median portion, the smaller metathoracic tubercles and the few tubercles on the basal abdominal terga black. Eyes and antennae dull ochre.

Head: Ovoid, longer than wide, the vertex rather flattened and with the coronal line notably impressed. Vertex with about six prominent rounded coronal tubercles and a row of four considerably smaller sub-orbital tubercles; two medium sizes tubercles on each genae ( Fig. 21F ). Between the eyes with a pair of prominent, acute spines that are slightly arched towards the anterior ( Fig. 21E ); between bases of antennae with two small, transverse grooves. Eyes small, almost circular, strongly projecting and their diameter contained almost 2.6x in length of genae. Antennae filiform and reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II. Scapus strongly compressed dorsoventrally with the lateral margins gently deflexed, almost rectangular and about 1.8x longer than wide. Pedicellus very short, sub-spherical. III about equal in length to scapus, IV much shorter.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head, somewhat narrowed in posterior portion, about 1.3x longer than wide. The transverse median sulcus distinct, gently curved and expanding over entire width of segment. Anterior margin obtusely raised and with four moderate tubercles; the two median ones larger than the two outer ones. Anterior portion with two, posterior portion with four distinct tubercles; the anterior pair of the posterior portion of pronotal disc the largest ( Fig. 21E ). Meso- and metanotum with a very fine longitudinal median carina, both irregularly set with tubercles and vesicle-like swellings of variable sizes ( Figs. 21F–G ); tubercles less numerous and smaller on metanotum although. Meso- and metapleurae each with a few rather small tubercles positioned in a longitudinal row. Mesosternum distinctly, metasternum just slightly tectinate longitudinally; each with only a very few small paired tubercles ( Fig. 21G ). Mesothorax elongate and slender, almost cylindrical and about 2.4x longer than head and pronotum combined. Length of metanotum contained about 2.3x in that of mesonotum; almost 4x longer than wide.

Abdomen: Median segment less than 1/3 the length of metanotum, slightly narrowed in anterior portion and with anterior margin very gently rounded; surface with a curved transverse row of four small black tubercles in median portion ant two pale green tubercles near posterior margin. Abdomen excluding median segment about equal in length to head and complete thorax combined. All abdominal tergites with a fine longitudinal median carina and a few small tubercles in the median portion, which become increasingly less distinct from II towards VII. III–VII with the median carina posteriorly protuded into a laterally compressed, triangular, spiniform and posteriad directed swelling that is most prominent on VI. Segments II–VII of uniform width, slightly subequal in length and on average about 3x longer than wide. Sterna sparsely and minutely granulose; VII with Preopercular organ formed by a median pair of very prominent, obtuse, upright and laterally compressed lobes close to posterior margin ( Figs. 21B, D ). Terga VIII and IX tectiform longitudinally. Anal segment about as long as IX, with an acute longitudinal median keel, the posterior margin with a wide almost semicircular excavataion and the outer lateral angles acutely triangular ( Fig. 21C ). Epiproct large, obtusely triangular, shield-like and projecting notably beyond outer lateral apices of anal segment ( Fig. 21C ). Cerci very small, obtusely conical and somewhat compressed laterally. Subgenital plate very strongly keeled, deeply convex and bulgy post-medially with the median longitudinal keel slightly undulate in apical portion ( Fig. 21B ); apex obtusely triangular and somewhat projecting over apex of abdomen Figs. (21C–D),

Legs: All long, slender and entirely unarmed except for fairly prominent rounded sub-apical lobe followed by a minute tooth on both ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora ( Fig. 21A ). Anterodorsal carina of profemora strongly deflexed and weakly undulate sub-basally ( Fig. 21E ). Basitarsi slender and elongate, longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

Comments: Males and eggs unknown.

Distribution: Sula Islands Regency, Sanana Island, Waifara.

Figures

FIGURE 21. Myronides pussulatus n. sp. ♀, holotype [ZSMC]: A. Habitus, dorso-lateral view; B. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT); C. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT); D. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT); E. Head and pronotum in dorso-lateral aspect; F. Head, pro- and mesothorax seen laterally; G. Head, pro- and mesosternum seen ventrally.