Phanocles ecuadoricus, Hennemann & Conle, 2024

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2024, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXVI: Taxonomic review of Cladomorformia tax. n., a lineage of Diapheromerinae stick insects, with the descriptions of seven new genera and 41 new species (Phasmatodea: Occidophasmata: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 5444 (1), pp. 1-454 : 175-179

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5444.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DE4A9DD-99F7-4E23-AD50-58DC491BB75E

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DD7EA2A5-14B2-400C-B6CD-5375F3C6A0DF

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:DD7EA2A5-14B2-400C-B6CD-5375F3C6A0DF

treatment provided by

Plazi

scientific name

Phanocles ecuadoricus
status

sp. nov.

Phanocles ecuadoricus sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DD7EA2A5-14B2-400C-B6CD-5375F3C6A0DF

( Figs. 51A View FIGURE 51 , 55A View FIGURE 55 , 58F View FIGURE 58 , 59H View FIGURE 59 , 61G–J View FIGURE 61 , 66P–Q View FIGURE 66 , 88H View FIGURE 88 , 92G View FIGURE 92 , 99D View FIGURE 99 , 111A–B View FIGURE 111 )

Bacteria arumatia, Redtenbacher, 1908: 417 View in CoL (in part—only specimens from Ecuador, Cachabi). Hebard, 1924: 151.

HT, ♀: Paramba, Ecuador, E. Heyne vend. 23.V.1900; Paramba ( Ecuador); PHA 95 Zoologisches Museum Hamburg

[ ZMUH]. PT, ♀: Ecuador (G. v. Buchwald), R. Paessler ded. 28.II.1913; PHA 99 Zoologisches Museum Hamburg [ ZMUH]. PT, ♂: jungle vegetation; Ecuador: Pichincha Province, Puerto Quito, iv.1982, G. Onore, B. M. 1985–61 [ NHMUK]. PT, 3 ♀♀, 1 ♀ (penultimate instar): Cachabi , Ecuador, circ. 500ft, ix. 96; Collectio Br. v. W.; det. Redtenb. Bacteria arumatia

[NHMW, No. 806]. PT, ♀: Cachabi, Ecuador, circ. 500ft, ix. 96; Collectio Br. v. W.; det. Redtenb. Bacteria arumatia ; Bacteria arumatia Stoll ;

25.042; Phas. Inv. No. 770 [ NHMW, No. 806]. PT, ♀: Ecuador, Prov. Esmeraldas, El Placer , 675 m, 0052N 7833W, 25–31 July 1987 (G S Glenn) [ ANSP] .

PT, ♀: Carondeled , Esmeraldas, Ecuador, 60ft. Reed. IV ’01; Bacteria arumatia (Stoll) , det. Hebard 1923, A.N. S.P. [ ANSP] .

PT, ♀: Museum Paris, Equateur, Sta. Domingo, Dr. G. Rivet 1908 [ MNHN] .

PT, ♂: Rio Verde , Esmeraldas ( Ecuador) [ MNCN] .

PT, 2 ♀♀: Ecuador [ MNHU] .

PT, ♀: Ecuador, Prov. Pichincha, Union del Tuachi / Meija, Bastion del Diablo , 800 m, 29.I.2000, leg. Etonti [ FH, No. 0450– 1] .

PT, 1 egg (ex ovipositor): Ecuador, Prov. Pichincha, Union del Tuachi / Meija, Bastion del Diablo , 800 m, 29.I.2000, leg. Etonti [ FH, No. 0450-E1] .

PT, 2 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 25 eggs: Élevage en laboratoire Insectarium de Montréal , 2018–2019; Origine de: Équateur, Mindo, 19.III.2016, 1250 m, Lorraine Bluteau [ IMQC] .

PT, 12 eggs: ex Zucht: Insectarium de Montréal ( Canada), Herkunft : Ecuador, Prov. Pichincha, Mindo 1250 m, 0°03’35’’S 78°46’00’’, 19.III.2016 leg. Lorraine Buteau [ FH, No. 0450-E2] .

PT, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 12 eggs: Ecuador, Prov. Pichincha, Parroquia de Pacto, Mashpi Lodge , 800-1000 masl, 0°09’57”S, 78°52’43”W, leg. Hennemann, Valero & Conle 27.IX.-3.X.2023 [ OC] GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Both sexes of this new species are similar to the Colombia P. remphan (Weestwood, 1859) comb. n. but both sexes differ by the more globose head and somewhat stockier shape and proportionally shorter body segments. Females ( Fig. 51A View FIGURE 51 ) also differ by the unicoloured head that lacks the light cream to grey lower portion of the genae seen in remphan ( Fig. 58F View FIGURE 58 ), more pronounced posterolateral lobe of abdominal tergum IX, presence of a small sub-basal tooth on the two outer ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora, as well as the much more prominent dorsal lobe of the basitarsi. Males ( Fig. 55A View FIGURE 55 ) can be distinguished from those of Ph. remphan by the somewhat shorter alae that only reach to posterior margin of abdominal segment III (halfway along abdominal segment IV in remphan ), lack of a posteromedian tubercle on abdominal terga V and VI, relatively shorter anal segment and differently shaped vomer. Males also resemble the two Ecuadorian species Ph. aequatorialis ( Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n. and Ph. falcatus sp. n. From ♂♂ of the first species they may be separated also be distinguished by the larger size (body length <100.0 mm in aequatorialis ), more globose head ( Fig. 59H View FIGURE 59 ) and more developed cephalad spines, wholly smooth mesonotum, less pronounced medio-longitudinal carina of the mesonotum, presence of a central protuberance on the poculum and dorsally lobed basitarsi. From those of falcatus sp. n. these ♂♂ can be distinguished by the slightly less globose head, not distinctly black lateral margins of the pronotum, relatively shorter and broader anal segment, that has the posterior margin broadly rounded (narrowed towards the posterior in falcatus ), smaller and obtuse central protuberance of the poculum, much smaller, broader and not distinctly arcuate vomer as well as the dorsally lobed basitarsi (merely have a faint median dorsal deflexion in falcatus ).

Etymology. Named after Ecuador, the distribution of this new species.

Description. The colouration is partly described from pictures of live specimens reared in the Montreal Insectarium, Canada and taken by René Limoges (technical assistant at the Montreal Insectarium).

♀♀ ( Fig. 51A View FIGURE 51 ): Large to very large (body length including subgenital plate 156.0–209.0 mm) and slender species with an ovoid and unarmed head, smooth thorax and a short subgenital plate, that projects beyond the tip of the abdomen by no more than the length of the anal segment. Body surface wholly smooth. General colouration variable and ranging from green over ochre and buff over various shades of brown to dark greyish brown. Head with a faint dark postocular stripe and several indistinct longitudinal stripes on vertex. Eyes ochreous mid brown. Meso- and metafemora with several very faint greyish transverse bands. Antennae except scapus and pedicellus dark greyish brown dorsally, black ventrally and towards the apex.

Head ( Fig. 58F View FIGURE 58 ): Ovoid with the vertex roundly convex and wholly smooth; about 1.2x longer than wide. Frons with two small, shallow impressions between the bases of the antennae and behind the eyes occasionally with a pair of very indistinct, small and low conical elevations. Eyes moderately projecting and almost circular in outline with the anterior margin somewhat angular, their diameter contained 2x in length of genae. Antennae ± reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, very slightly constricted towards the base and with the lateral margins almost straight; 1.6x longer than wide. Pedicellus round in cross-section, slightly narrowed at the apex and roughly half the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum about as long but noticeably narrower than head, 1.7x longer than wide and roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect with the anterior angles notably widened. Entire surface with an impressed medio-longitudinal furrow, the transverse median sulcus distinct, widely V-shaped but not reaching to lateral margins of segment ( Fig. 58F View FIGURE 58 ). A pair of low median granules directly behind transverse median sulcus. Mesothorax 6.9x longer than prothorax, slightly constricted anteriorly and the posterior portion just weakly expanded. Metanotum about one-third the length of mesonotum, with a narrowing post-medially and about 2.5x longer than wide. Meso- and metanotum and pleurae wholly smooth. Meso- and metasternum minutely granulose and rugose along the midline and each with a fine but acute longitudinal carina parallel to lateral margins.

Abdomen: Median segment 1.25x longer than metanotum, distinctly constricted medially and about 3x longer than wide. Segment II three-quarters the length of median segment and 2.2x longer than wide. II–V slightly increasing in length, V longest segment and 2.7x longer than wide, VI–VII decreasing in length and VII somewhat shorter than II. III–VI may have the lateral margins gently rounded in specimens that are in full egg-production. Terga V and VI often with two small scale-like posteromedian projections. Tergum VII narrower than preceding and three-quarters the length of VI, lateral margins parallel-sided but usually forming a small, rounded lobe posteriorly ( Fig. 61G View FIGURE 61 ). Sterna smooth. Praeopercular organ indistinct and formed by a shallow median swelling and two very low and short converging carinae near posterior margin of sternum VII ( Fig. 61J View FIGURE 61 ). Tergum VIII two-fifth the length and narrower than VII, about 1.8x longer than wide and somewhat narrowed medially; strongly convex longitudinally. IX about two-thirds the length of VIII and almost quadrate in dorsal aspect. Anal segment a little longer than IX, carinate longitudinally, scarcely wider than long with the posterior portion slightly deflexed; the posterior margin broadly rounded and with a shallow median indention ( Fig. 61H View FIGURE 61 ). Epiproct minute and wholly concealed under anal segment. Cerci very small and tapering towards an obtuse apex; almost completely hidden under anal segment. Gonapophyses VIII elongate, distinctly upcurved with the apical portion somewhat widened and the apex pointed; projecting over tip of abdomen by almost the length of anal segment. Subgenital plate obtusely keeled longitudinally in the apical half, with the apex fairly obtuse and projecting over the tip of abdomen by ± the length of anal segment ( Figs. 61G–J View FIGURE 61 ); basal half with two prominent, uneven lateral longitudinal carinae.

Legs: All long and moderately stocky. Profemora about as long as mesothorax, mesofemora almost reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II, metafemora ± reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatarsi roughly reaching to apex of abdomen. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora slightly deflexed sub-basally and the posterodorsal carina with a small, rounded lobe sub-apically. Posterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae forming a distinct, rounded lobe at the apex. All legs otherwise unarmed. All basitarsi with a prominent, roundly triangular dorsal crest; all slightly longer than corresponding following three tarsomeres combined.

♂♂ ( Fig. 55A View FIGURE 55 ): Medium-sized (body length 109.0– 121.6 mm) and slender for the genus with well-developed alae, that reach about half way along abdominal tergum IV (38.5–46.0 mm), a moderately globose, indistinctly bi-tuberculate head and a dorsal lobe on the basitarsi. General colour buff to ochre mid brown, the mesonotum mostly pale ochre and with a pale yellowish line along lateral margins. Meso- and metasternum with a slight greenish wash. Head dark brown with a short dark yellow longitudinal median streak posteriorly and the lower portion of the genae pale yellow; a dark postocular streak weakly indicated. Eyes creamy brown and flecked with yellow. Pronotum with the fine medio-longitudinal line black and in anterior half with two broader, additional, slightly diverging black stripes. Tegmina mid to dark brown with the central protuberance black and the portion anterior to the radial vein pale yellow. Costal region of alae mid brown interiorly and dark brown along the radial vein with the anterior margin broadly pale yellow; anal fan transparent pale brown. Abdominal tergum IX with a white marking at anterolateral angles. Anal segment with a whitish to pale yellow wash. Vomer ochre. Meso- and metafemora reddish pale brown basally and with three faint greenish transverse bands; tibiae alike but not reddish basally. Antennae reddish brown dorsally and black ventrally and towards the apex.

Head ( Fig. 59H View FIGURE 59 ): Shape generally as in ♀♀ but vertex slightly less convex, broadest at the eyes and slightly narrowing towards the posterior; the pair of cephalad tubercles behind the eyes much more pronounced. Eyes large, almost circular in outline and projecting hemispherical from head capsule, their diameter contained 1.15x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment V. Scapus and pedicellus basically as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum as long but considerably narrower than head, rectangular in dorsal aspect with the lateral margins straight but notably expanded anteriorly; roughly 1.7x longer than wide. Surface smooth and with an impressed longitudinal median line; transverse median sulcus as in ♀♀. Mesothorax 7.4x longer than and a little narrower than prothorax. Mesonotum, meso- and metapleurae smooth. Mesosternum with a fine but acute longitudinal median carina, metasternum with the medio-longitudinal carina only very weakly indicated. Tegmina elongate, oval and gradually narrowed in the anterior portion; central protuberance fairly distinct and obtusely rounded. Alae reaching about half way along abdominal tergum IV.

Abdomen: Median segment over 4x longer than metanotum, very gently narrowing towards the posterior. Abdominal segment II scarcely more than half the length of median segment. II–VII uniform in diameter but slightly decreasing in length with II over 6x and VII only 4x longer than wide. Tergum VIII slightly more than half the length of VII, gradually widening towards the posterior, trapezoidal in dorsal aspect and the posterior margin almost 2x wider than anterior margin. IX about 1.2x longer than VIII, constricted medially and with the anterior portion slightly deflexed; lateral margins straight ( Fig. 66P View FIGURE 66 ). Anal segment noticeably shorter than IX, roundly angular in dorsal aspect and slightly narrowed towards the apex; posterior margin broadly rounded and with a very shallow median indention ( Fig. 66Q View FIGURE 66 ). Ventral surface of posterior margin set with several small black teeth. Cerci of moderate length, slender, very gently incurved and tapered towards a slightly club-like apex; projecting slightly beyond apex of anal segment. Vomer moderately elongate, basically triangular in outline and gradually narrowed towards a single, acute and upcurved terminal hook; the outer margins strongly inflated ant the medio-basal portion distinctly impressed. Poculum bulgy, strongly convex, angular and cup-shaped in lateral aspect with the vertical posterior portion carinate medio-longitudinally and the posterior margin obtusely triangular but without a basal protuberance or spine; roughly reaching to posterior margin of tergum IX ( Fig. 66P View FIGURE 66 ).

Legs:All long and slender, wholly unarmed. Profemora a little longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora equal to combined length of pro- and mesonotum, metafemora reaching two-thirds the way along abdominal segment V and metatibiae projecting considerably beyond apex of abdomen. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora slightly triangularly deflexed sub-basally. Posterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae forming a small, rounded lobe at the apex. All basitarsi noticeably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, the dorsal carina slightly triangularly raised medially.

Variability. Females are fairly constant morphologically but show considerable variability in size (see table 37 below) and colouration. White most specimens are uniformly green, buff or various tones of brown, the holotype from Paramba has a bold pale cream, roughly triangular posterior marking on the metanotum and median segment. One of the ♀♀ from El Placer in the collection of ANSP is dark greyish brown and has most of the pro- and metanotum as well as the median segment white with several irregular white markings on the mesonotum. Photographs of a live captive reared ♀♀ raised from stock originating in Mindo and taken by René Limoges (Montreal Insectarium, Canada) show a dull green specimen that has most of the dorsal body surface including the head white ( Fig. 111A View FIGURE 111 ).

Table 37: Measurements of Phanocles ecuadoricus sp. n.

Egg ( Fig. 99D View FIGURE 99 ). Fairly large but typical for the genus. Shape angularly ovoid with the polar-area flattened and the dorsal egg surface strongly convex and angular in the anterior portion; oval in cross-section. Whole capsule surface deeply and densely punctured, the pits fairly large and sharply defined. Micropylar plate elongate, very slightly but gradually widened towards the posterior end, about two-thirds the length of capsule and roughly 4x longer than wide; sculptured like capsule with the central portion slightly keeled longitudinally. Micropylar cup very small and positioned at polar end of plate. Median line short and indistinct. Operculum oval and with a unevenly convex, hollow excrescence formed by the outer margin, which has several irregular impressions in the upper portion; height of excrescence less than one-fifth of capsule length. Colour of capsule plain greyish with a very faint dark grey transverse band across ventral and lateral surfaces in the anterior half. Micropylar plate coloured like capsule. Opercular collar dark grey and the opercular structure reddish brown.

Measurements [mm]: Length including operculum 4.2, length 3.8, width 2.3, height 2.8, length of micropylar plate 2.4.

Comments. Material of this species has previously been allocated to “ Bacteria arumatia ( Stoll, 1813) ” in error ( Redtenbacher, 1908: 417; Hebard, 1924: 151). The latter species is not congeneric and a junior objective synonym of Phanocloidea baculus ( Olivier, 1792; see below). Culture stock has been collected at Mindo in the Pichincha Province of Ecuador by Lorraine Bluteau in March 2016 and a culture was maintained in captivity at the Montreal Insectarium, Canada (personal communication with Stéphane Le Tirant) mainly using guava ( Psidium guayava , Myrtaceae ) as an alternative food plant.

ZMUH

Zoological Museum, University of Hanoi

NHMUK

Natural History Museum, London

NHMW

Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

ANSP

Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

MNHN

Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle

MNCN

Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales

FH

Fort Hays

OC

Oberlin College

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Phasmida

Family

Diapheromeridae

Genus

Phanocles

Loc

Phanocles ecuadoricus

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V. 2024
2024
Loc

Bacteria arumatia, Redtenbacher, 1908: 417

Hebard, M. 1924: 151
Redtenbacher, J. 1908: 417
1908
Darwin Core Archive (for parent article) View in SIBiLS Plain XML RDF