Ramandeun coronatum Murcia and Cadena-Castañeda, 2023

Murcia, Andres David & Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., 2023, The stick insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea) from the Cloud Forest of the Chicaque Natural Park, Colombia, Insecta Mundi 2023 (20), pp. 1-45 : 15-20

Ramandeun coronatum Murcia and Cadena-Castañeda , new species

( Fig. 13–17 )

Holotype. ♂. Colombia, Cundinamarca, San Antonio de Tequendama, Chicaque Natural Park. 4°36′59″N, 74°18′46″W. 2216m. 23 May 2021 ( CAUD).

Paratype. ♀. Same data as holotype ( CAUD).

Description. Male. General coloration of the body pale yellow, surface completely smooth without tubercles or granules ( Fig. 13A–B ). Head. Longer than wide, slightly broader towards the eyes and narrowing near the posterior margin, vertex slightly elevated with two tiny parallel tubercles slightly protruding from the anterior region ( Fig. 14A–B ); eyes conspicuous, spherical, and prominent; antennae reaching the posterior margin of tergite III ( Fig. 13A–B ); scape elongated, 1.5 times longer than pedicel, dorsoventrally compressed and rectangular in dorsal view; pedicel round in cross-section; third antennomere narrower than the pedicel, the other 60 flagellomeres variables in length. Thorax. Pronotum slightly longer than the head, rectangular, 1.5 times longer than wide, with a longitudinal midline extending from anterior to posterior margin and with a transverse suture running through it, anterior margin concave and posterior convex and narrow ( Fig. 14A–B ). Mesonotum elongate, cylindrical, thinner than the pronotum, and approximately seven times longer ( Fig. 13B ). Metanotum as long as half the length of the mesonotum ( Fig. 13B ). Legs. Long, pro- and metathoracic legs equal in length, slightly longer than mesothoracic legs, all femora slightly trapezoidal, profemora compressed basally. All tibiae without area apicalis, with four prominent edges similar in size. Probasitarsus and metabasitarsus longer than the other tarsomeres combined, mesobasitarsus as long as the other tarsomeres combined. Abdomen. Median segment indistinguishable from metanotum. Tergites II–VI elongated and 3.5 times longer than wide, tergite VII slightly shorter than tergite VI; tergite VIII narrower and shorter than tergite VII; tergite IX parallel-sided, shorter than tergite VIII; tergite X distinctly shorter than tergite IX, posterior margin slightly convex and elevated. Cerci shorter than tergite X, slightly curved, compressed towards its apex. Sternites II-VI with parallel sides and equal in length, sternites VII slightly shorter than sternite VI and elevated near the posterior margin, sternite VIII slightly shorter than sternite VII and elevated from its anterior to posterior margin; poculum as long as the sternite VIII, slightly convex ( Fig. 14C–E ).

Female. Similar to male. Body yellow, irregularly covered with small black spots; distinctly longer than male and slightly more robust with slightly granular thorax ( Fig. 15A–B ). Head. As in male. Vertex with a crown of spines crossing transversely just behind the eyes, the two central spines very conspicuous and the lateral ones less prominent ( Fig. 16A–B ). Thorax. Slightly granulose. Mesonotum very elongated, about 7.5 longer than the pronotum. Legs. Mesofemur with a small latero-ventral spine on its anterior part. Abdomen. Tergite X slightly elevated, as long as tergite IX, traversed by a longitudinal carina from its anterior to posterior margin, its posterior margin is abruptly depressed in the middle. Sternite VII flat. Subgenital plate lanceolate, laterally compressed, narrowing towards the apex, very elongated, projecting beyond the apex of the abdomen, three times longer than the anal segment. Cerci very small, dorsoventrally compressed, slightly curved, and hidden in dorsal view by the anal segment ( Fig. 16C–E ).

Eggs. Unknown.

Etymology. The name refers to the characteristic crown of thorns that crosses the vertex of the female.

Measurements (mm). ♂ / ♀ TL: 90 / 115, Pr: 3 / 4, Ms: 24 / 29, Mt:13 / 15, Pf: 23 / 30, Mf: 20 / 26, Hf: 26 / 39, Pt: 27 / 36, Mt: 22 / 28, Ht: 29 / 39, Ant: 55 / 70.

Comments. A live female with a green coloration was observed in the field, and the crown of thorns that cross the vertex transversely just behind the eyes can be seen ( Fig. 17A–B ). Both type specimens were collected in copulation.

Family Pseudophasmatidae Rehn, 1904

Subfamily Pseudophasmatinae Rehn, 1904

Tribe Anisomorphini Redtenbacher, 1906

Genus Atratomorpha Conle and Hennemann, 2002

Figures

Figure 13. Ramandeun coronatum new genus and new species. (Male). A–B) Habitus in lateral and dorsal views, respectively.

Figure 14. Ramandeun coronatum new genus and new species. (Male). A–B) Head and pronotum in lateral and dorsal views, respectively. C–E) Terminalia in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views, respectively.

Figure 15. Ramandeun coronatum new genus and new species. (Female). Habitus in lateral and dorsal views, respectively.

Figure 16. Ramandeun coronatum new genus and new species. (Female). A–B) Head and pronotum in lateral and dorsal views, respectively. C–E) Terminalia in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views, respectively. F) Sternum VII, the black arrow indicates the lack of preopercular organ.

Figure 17. Ramandeun coronatum new genus and new species. A) Live female. B) See the crown details.