Pseudomicrophyllium Cumming, 2017

Cumming, Royce T., Leong, Jing V. & Lohman, David J., 2017, Leaf insects from Luzon, Philippines, with descriptions of four new species, the new genus Pseudomicrophyllium, and redescription of Phyllium (Phyllium) geryon Gray, 1843, (Phasmida: Phylliidae), Zootaxa 4365 (2), pp. 101-131 : 111

Pseudomicrophyllium Cumming gen. nov.

Type Species: PseudOmicrOphyllium faulkneri Cumming gen. et sp. nov.

Etymology: The genus is named because it was thought for several years to be a new Microphyllium species because of its size and it was not until closer examination that it was revealed it to be a new genus evading detection right under the first author’s view because of those similarities.

Diagnosis. ♂: Appearing closely related to Phyllium (Phyllium) with characteristics such as the antennae, thorax, but the body size and spination of the legs are reminiscent of Microphyllium . The combination of the below morphological features characterize males of the new genus and differentiate it from the other known phylliid genera.

Antennae: Long and filiform with long setae, similar to Phyllium (Phyllium) .

Profemora: Completely lacking an exterior lobe, interior lobe greatly reduced, similar to Microphyllium .

Protibia: Lacking both exterior and interior lobes, similar to Microphyllium .

Thorax: Similar to Phyllium (Phyllium) with a distinct mesopraescutum.

The most evident feature that differentiates Pseudomicrophyllium gen. nov. from Microphyllium Zompro, 2001 are the long filiform antennae. Abdominal shape in the walking leaf family is a feature that has proven to be very variable in female Phyllium and more stable in male Phyllium . However not enough is known about the male variation of abdominal shape in the small phylliid genera of Luzon to use abdominal shape as a strong morphological feature in their differentiation and identification. Antennae structure is a feature that has proven much more stable throughout the family and this emphasis is reflected in the dichotomous key at the end of this work.

♀: UNKNOWN