Atratomorpha jorgei 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 : 20-25

Atratomorpha jorgei Murcia and Cadena-Castañeda , new species

( Fig. 18–22 )

Holotype. ♂. Colombia, Cundinamarca, San Antonio de Tequendama, Chicaque Natural Park. 4°36′29″N 74°18′21″W. 2538 m. 7 March 2014 ( CAUD).

Paratypes. 2♀. Same data as holotype. ♂. 4°37′05″N 74°18′43″W. 2229 m. 26 September 2020. 2♂ 4°36′32″N 74°18′26″W 2469 m. 26 June 2013. 2♂ y 1♀ 4°37′11″N 74°18′46″W 2247 m. 26 June 2013 ( CAUD).

Description. Male. Body robust, general coloration dull black, antennomeres apically white, and tarsi brown ( Fig. 18A–B .) Head. As long as wide, similar in length to the pronotum and with ocellar rudiments, vertex flattened and without spines; eyes rounded and mid-sized; antennal scape rectangular in dorsal view, slightly compressed dorsoventrally, pedicel as long as the scape and round in cross-section, third antennomere as long as the scape and pedicel together ( Fig. 18C–D ), the others 35 antennomeres progressively increasing in length, antennae slightly surpassing the abdomen ( Fig. 18A–B ). Thorax. Pronotum indistinctly longer than wide, with large rounded anterolateral angles for defensive glands, pronotal disc with a longitudinal furrow extending from anterior margin to near posterior region of pronotum ( Fig. 18C–D ). Mesonotum about 1.2 times longer than pronotum, progressively widened from its anterior to posterior margin, with a pair of dorsolateral spines located on the anterior part and a pair of posterior dorsal spines near the middle of the mesonotum, the lateral margins with a longitudinal row of spines varying in size; a conspicuous small spine protrudes from its posterior margin ( Fig. 18A–D ). Metanotum half as long as of mesonotum, posterior margin very smooth almost indistinguishable from the median segment. Prosternum half as long as mesosternum, with distinctly convex posterior margin. Mesosternum with conspicuously invaginated mesofurcal groove. Metasternum one-third of the length of mesosternum with conspicuously invaginated metafurcal groove. Legs. Long, smooth and unarmed, femur rectangular, with four setous edges, slightly widened apically. Profemur longer than head, pro-, and mesonotum combined. Mesofemur slightly curved. Metafemur reaching the posterior margin of tergite VII; tibiae smooth and unarmed, area apicalis present, pro- and metatibiae distinctly longer than second ones. Basitarsi at least as long as the sum of the II–III tarsomeres, the rest of the tarsomeres progressively reducing their length. Abdomen. Distinctly thinner than thorax, longer than head and thorax combined. Abdominal segments II–VII with small posterolateral projections and segments II–VI with a small spine on its posterior margin. Median segment inconspicuous as long as metanotum; tergite II and III as long as wide; tergite IV–VI progressively elongated, slightly longer than wide; tergite VII as long as wide but shorter than previous tergites; tergite VIII broader than long; tergite IX longer than tergite VIII and slightly wider than long, slightly raised above midpoint; tergite X twice as wide as long but narrower than other tergites, lateral margins parallel, posterior margin prominent with a small extension in the central area and a small notch. Cerci setose, as long as tergite X, round transversely, curved and thicker near their base. Abdominal sternites smooth but slightly raised on their posterior margin; sternites II–III as long as wide; sternites IV–VI slightly longer than wide; sternites VII wider than long; sternites VIII twice as wide as long with posterior margin slightly convex, poculum, prominent raised, and cup-shaped ( Fig. 18E–G ).

Female. Body robust ( Fig. 19A–B ). Head. As in male ( Fig. 19C–D ). Pronotum. Quadrangular with slightly compressed lateral margins; mesonotum longer than pronotum with straight lateral margins ( Fig. 19A–B ). Abdomen. As wide as thorax, narrowing posteriorly. Tergites II–VI wider than long; tergite VII narrower than tergite VI; tergite VIII slightly shorter than tergite VII; tergite IX with posterior margin abruptly raised medially, tergite X cupuliform, slightly keeled longitudinally, wider towards its anterior margin, posterior margin tapering slightly towards its apex. Cerci slightly shorter than tergite X. Abdominal sternites similar to those of male but uniformly smooth, sternites II–III wider than long; posterior margin of sternite VII narrow at its apex; subgenital plate elongated, with fine hairs, and a convex and rounded posterior margin ( Fig. 19E–G ).

Measurements (mm). ♂ / ♀ TL: 26–35 / 37–40, Pr: 2–4 / 3–4, Ms: 4–6 / 5–6, Mt: 2.5–5 / 3–5, MSeg:1–2 / 2–3, Pf: 11–11.5 / 13–12, Mf: 8–11 / 10–10.5, Hf: 11–13 / 13–14, Pt: 11–13 / 14–15, Mt: 9–10 / 10–11, Ht: 13–14 / 16–16.5, Ant: 24–36 / 39–43.

Eggs. Capsule rough, bright light brown ( Fig. 20 ). Rectangular in shape with posterior pole rounded dorsally ( Fig. 20A ), capsule 1.3 times longer than wide and 1.2 times longer than tall, dorsal surface straight and narrowed abruptly over polar area ( Fig. 20B ), ventral surface almost straight narrowing over the polar area, operculum ovoid and flat with a small central cone ( Fig. 20C ). Micropylar plate ellipse-shaped, located in the central part of the egg, with raised inner part and, wide margins. Micropylar cup over posterior end of micropylar plate ( Fig. 20A ). 7 eggs examined.

Measurements (mm). Length 3, capsule height 2.4, capsule width 2, operculum diameter 1.2.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to the father of the first author, Jorge Murcia Romero, thanking him for his invaluable support and recognizing his impetus for persistence in the face of adversity.

Comparison. This new species is included within Atratomorpha , due to its matte black coloration, apterism, antennae slender and longer than the body, legs elongated and slender, profemur at least equal in length to the combination of the pro- and mesothorax. This new species is very similar to Atratomorpha atrata ( Hebard, 1919) , but differs in the shape of the scape being rectangular, not as square, the pronotum smooth and without granules. Female with the posterior margin of the tergite IX abruptly elevated medially, the tergite X is cupuliform; subgenital plate is elongated with a distinctly rounded margin and is not conical in shape as described for A. atrata . The tergite X of the male of A. jorgei new species has a prominent posterior margin and a small prolongation in the central area; very different from that seen in A. atrata which is distinctively rounded, smooth, and not prominent. The cerci in both sexes are setose but differ in being curved and thicker near their base in the new species.

It also differs from Atratomorpha coriacea ( Redtenbacher 1906) , which has bright yellow eyes in the dorsal half and black in the ventral half, but in Atratomorpha jorgei new species the eyes are entirely black; also, the surface of the body of A. coriacea is densely grained.

Comments. Sometimes the males with Acari (Mesostigmata) ectoparasites on their antennae, were observed ( Fig. 21A ). Several individuals were seen perched or moving on ferns ( Fig. 21B ). Eventually, copulating individuals were found, and sexual dimorphism in this species can be noticed, with the females being distinctively more robust and slightly longer than the males ( Fig. 22A ). When handled and feeling threatened, they frequently release a white spray from their prothoracic glands that are fired from a distance, irritating the mucous membranes and leaving the insect’s body covered with this liquid, giving a milky appearance on the integument ( Fig. 22B ).

The specimens examined are very similar and show no apparent intraspecific variation ( Fig. 22C ). However, the specimens found in the lower zone of the park at 2229 m have a larger body size, being noticeably more robust and longer than the individuals found in the upper zone of the park above 2530 m, showing an evident reduction in body size in the higher areas of the park.

Tribe Pseudophasmatini Kirby, 1904

Comments. Nubilophasma Murcia and Cadena-Castañeda , new genus, is included in Pseudophasmatini , due to the following characters: 1) body opaque, not shiny; 2) head clearly longer than wide; 3) ocelli present in at least one of the sexes; 4) mesonotum with a distinctive midline dorsally; 5) profemur longer than head prothorax and mesothorax combined, strongly curved and compressed basally ( Zompro 2005). 6) Tegmina with projecting anterolateral borders and wings that do not project beyond the tip of the abdomen ( Zompro 2004).

Figures

Figure 18. Atratomorpha jorgei new species. (Male). A–B) Habitus in lateral and dorsal view. C–D) Head and pronotum in lateral and dorsal view. E–G) Terminalia in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views, respectively.

Figure 19. Atratomorpha jorgei new species. (Female). A–B) Habitus in lateral and dorsal view. C–D) Head and pronotum in lateral and dorsal view. E–G) Terminalia in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views, respectively.

Figure 20. Atratomorpha jorgei new species. Eggs. A) Dorsal view. B) Ventral view. C) Anterior pole.

Figure 21. Atratomorpha jorgei new species. Live male. A–B) Lateral and dorsal view respectively.

Figure 22. Atratomorpha jorgei new species. A) In copulation. B) Live female. C) Live male.