Mycovartes montanus, Bresseel & Constant, 2024

Bresseel, Joachim & Constant, Jérôme, 2024, Stick insects from Vietnam: The new genus Mycovartes gen. nov., with two new species and two new species of Neooxyartes Ho, 2018 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 965, pp. 1-50 : 14-24

Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4CB5325E-B5B7-4E45-9AD7-2EEF8EE9D1DF

Figs 1 , 8–14

Diagnosis

Readily distinguishable from both congeneric species by the presence of scale-like tegmina that reach the base of the micropterous alae.

Etymology

The species epithet ‘ montanus ’ is the adjective derived from the Latin word ‘ mons ’ meaning ‘mountain’ and refers to the high altitude where this species was collected.

Type material

Holotype

VIETNAM • ♂; Dak Lak Province, Chu Yang Sin N.P. ; 1600 m a.s.l.; 12°27′24″ N, 108°22′15″ E; 12– 14 Aug. 2019; GTI Project; ex breeding Tim Bollens 2019; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.:34.048; RBINS.

Paratypes (1 ♂, 5 ♀♀)

VIETNAM – Dak Lak Province • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; RBINS • 1 ♀; Chu Yang Sin N.P. ; 1600 m a.s.l., 12°27′24″ N, 108°22′15″ E; 12–14 Aug. 2019; GTI Project; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.:34.048; RBINS . – Lam Dong Province • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; VNMN • 1 ♀; Bidoup-Nui Ba N.P. ; 12°26′ N, 108°30′ E; 21–25 Jul. 2014; night collecting; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; GTI Project; I.G.: 32.779; RBINS • 1 ♀; same data as for preceding; ex breeding K. Rabaey, 2015; RBINS .

Additional material

Eggs

VIETNAM • Lam Dong Province, Bidoup-Nui Ba N.P. ; 12°26′ N, 108°30′ E; 21–25 Jul. 2014; night collecting; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; GTI Project; I.G.: 32.779; ex breeding K. Rabaey, 2015; RBINS .

Description

MEASUREMENTS. See Table 2 .

Male ( Figs 8–10 , 13A–B )

HEAD. Longer than wide, approximately rectangular in dorsal view and rugose. Dorsal portion fairly flat, with area between eyes slightly raised and granulose. Head capsule with several golden-brown tubercles. Back of head with six vague humps divided by shallow longitudinal furrows, central humps slightly more prominent. Eyes circular and strongly projecting.Antennae filiform, distinctly shorter than body with around 40 segments. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, lateral margins rounded and broader than antennomeres. Pedicellus short, knob-like and circular in cross-section. Pre-apical antennomeres very short.

THORAX. Pronotum about as long as head, longer than wide and slightly constricted medially, anterior margin concave, posterior margin somewhat convex; with faint mediolongitudinal line and shallow transverse furrow medially. Dorsal surface with several scattered orange to reddish brown tubercles. Mesonotum elongate, more or less parallel-sided and more than four times the length of pronotum. Anterior margin with four conical reddish brown spines; central pair not symmetrical; dorsally with several, reddish brown conical spines scattered over its surface except for posterior portion; lateral margins lined with, more or less evenly spaced, golden-brown tubercles. Metanotum short, about two thirds of median segment and unarmed, anterior margin straight, posterior margin concave.

WINGS. Tegmina short, micropterous, reaching bases of alae; distinctly raised, almost tectiform. Alae very small, only slightly projecting over metanotum; costal area rugose, coloured as body; anal area orange red without distinct venation. Outer margin broadly rounded, inner margin straight.

LEGS. Profemora incurved basally and laterally flattened; all carinae present, with minute setae. Mesofemora laterally flattened, medioventral carina indistinct, outer ventral carinae with pair of minute spines. Metafemora slightly longer than profemora, shaped as mesofemora. Protibiae slightly longer than profemora, somewhat laterally flattened. All carinae with minute stiff black setae. Mesotibiae about as long as mesofemora, metatibiae distinctly longer than corresponding femora. Meso-and metatibiae shaped as protibiae.

ABDOMEN. Median segment rugose, about one third longer than metanotum. Abdominal terga II–IX rugose with variable armature; posteromedial process ranging from absent to a small granule, hump or minute flattened spine or to a broad triangular process as can be observed on tergum VII in holotype; armature on terga subject to strong variation. Tergum VIII distinctly shorter than VII, somewhat trapezoidal; tergum IX with indistinct median carinae ending in blunt hump posteromedially. Anal segment with basal part parallel-sided, later narrowing with lateral margins concave, posterior portion with posteromedian shallow notch; ventral portion with minute blackish spines/tubercles near posterior margin. Poculum shallow, spoon-shaped, reaching to slightly projecting over posterior margin of tergum IX and rounded posteriorly. Vomer well developed, approximately triangular; basal portion broad, somewhat swollen, slightly narrowing toward the posterior; posterior portion more strongly narrowing, medially split resulting into two, approximately symmetrical upcurving teeth ( Fig. 10 ). Cerci short, reaching apex of anal segment; broad basally, narrowing in posterior half, approximately round in cross-section with apices rounded and incurving.

Female ( Figs 11–12 , 13B–C )

HEAD. Longer than wide, approximately rectangular in dorsal view and rugose. Dorsal portion fairly flat, with area between eyes slightly raised and granulose. Head capsule with several golden-brown tubercles. Back of head with six vague humps divided by shallow longitudinal furrows, central humps slightly more prominent. Eyes small, circular and strongly projecting. Antennae filiform with approximately 40 segments, distinctly shorter than the body. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, lateral margins rounded and broader than antennomeres. Pedicellus short, knob-like and circular in cross-section.

THORAX. Pronotum about as long as head, longer than wide, anterior and lateral margins concave, posterior margin somewhat convex; with faint mediolongitudinal line and shallow transverse furrow medially. Dorsal surface with several scattered tubercles. Mesonotum elongate, approximately parallel-sided and about four times the length of pronotum. Anterior margin with pair of conical spines centrally, sometimes with 3–4 conical spines. Dorsal surface with several scattered tubercles. Metanotum short, about two thirds of median segment, unarmed and rugose.

WINGS. Tegmina short, micropterous, reaching bases of alae, with indistinct hump medially, almost circular in dorsal view. Alae very small, somewhat incurving, only slightly projecting over metanotum; costal area rugose, coloured as body; anal area bright orange without distinct venation. Outer margin broadly rounded, inner margin straight.

LEGS. Profemora incurved basally and laterally flattened; all carinae present, with minute setae. Anterodorsal and posteroventral carinae slightly raised and sinuate. Mesofemora laterally flattened, medioventral carina indistinct, posteroventral carinae slightly raised with few minute humps and with pair of minute spines distally; metafemora shaped as mesofemora. Protibiae about as long as profemora, somewhat laterally flattened; all carinae present and with minute stiff dark setae. Mesotibiae slightly shorter and metatibiae slightly longer than corresponding femora. Meso-and metatibiae straight, armed as protibiae.

ABDOMEN. Median segment rugose, almost twice as long as metanotum. Abdominal terga rugose; terga II–V all similar in length, VI–IX gradually shortening.Abdominal terga II–IX rugose with posteromedian armature; posteromedial process on these terga ranging from absent to a small granule, hump or minute flattened spine or to a broad circular or triangular process. Largest armature often on tergum VII sometimes absent; armature on all terga subject to strong intraspecific variation. Tergum VIII distinctly shorter than VII, somewhat trapezoidal with posteromedian small hump; tergum IX with indistinct median carinae ending in blunt hump posteromedially. Anal segment arrowhead-shaped in dorsal view, basal portion parallel-sided, later narrowing towards the posterior; apex elongate, narrow and distinctly incised posteromedially. Subgenital plate short, distinctly projecting over posterior margin of tergum IX with distinct mediolongitudinal carinae, not reaching apex of abdomen; lateral margins rounded; posterior margin somewhat rounded, later tapering towards the posterior and ending triangularly. Sternum VII without distinct praeopercular organ, medially with three irregular longitudinal carinae which are straighter and somewhat thicker posteriorly. Cerci short, not reaching apex of anal segment and incurving.

Nymph ( Fig. 13D )

Newly hatched nymphs strongly resembling the nymphs of Mycovartes khoii gen. et sp. nov. but somewhat stockier and with the markings on mesonotum, median segment and abdominal terga II–IX more distinct.

Egg ( Fig. 14 )

Measurements (in mm): length: 3.1; width: 2.1; height: 2.4.

Capsule more or less oval with dorsal surface more convex than ventral surface; the polar area slightly indented; colouration cream with a variable network of dark grey markings (sometimes almost absent); cream-coloured areas on capsule surface distinctly granular and with irregularly shaped clusters of minute, pale, mushroom-like protuberances. Micropylar plate notably displaced towards polar area; small, drop-like with anterior portion tapered and posterior margin rounded and indented; surface smooth with a rather long mediolongitudinal carina. Micropylar cup small. Micropylar plate posteriorly followed by a definite mediolongitudinal, dark line reaching polar area. Polar area blackish with pale center, armed with small central cluster of mushroom-like protuberances. Operculum subcircular and convex; central portion with minute, pale, mushroom-like excrescences. Other portions of operculum coloured darker than the center and with a somewhat thickened opercular rim.

Biology

The species was collected in mountainous tropical evergreen rainforest, at a rather high altitude (1600 m a.s.l.). The specimens were observed on low vegetation and seemed to feed on a variety of plant species. The eggs are dropped to the ground.

In captivity, the species accepts Rubus sp. and other Rosaceae as food plants.

Distribution

This species is known from Chu Yang Sin N.P. and Bidoup-Nui Ba N.P., both localities are situated on the Da Lat Plateau (also known as the Langbian plateau) in the Southern Annamites ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Mycovartes gen. nov., distribution map.

Fig. 8. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (RBINS). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Head and thorax, dorsal view. D. Terminalia, dorsal view. E. Terminalia, ventral view. F. Terminalia, lateral view. G. Habitus, lateral view. H. Head and thorax, lateral view.

Fig. 9. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov., ♂ in situ from Chu Yang Sin N.P. A. Lateral view. B. Head and thorax, lateral view. C. Head and thorax, dorsal view.

Fig. 10. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov., ♂ vomer. A. Ventral view. B. Posteroventral view. C. Lateral view.

Fig. 11. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov., paratype, ♀ from Bidoup-Nui Ba N.P. (RBINS). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, ventral view. C. Head and thorax, dorsal view. D. Terminalia, dorsal view. E. Terminalia, ventral view. F. Terminalia, lateral view. G. Habitus, ventral view. H. Head and thorax, lateral view.

Fig. 12. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov., ♀ in situ from Bidoup-Nui Ba N.P. A. Dorsal view. B. Lateral view. C. Terminalia, dorsal view. D. Head and thorax, dorsal view. E. Head and thorax, dorsolateral view. F. Terminalia, dorsolateral view. G. Terminalia, lateral view.

Fig. 13. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov. A. ♂, dorsal view. B. Maiting pair. C. Wings. D. Newly hatched nymph. Photographs ©T. Bollens.

Fig. 14. Mycovartes montanus gen. et sp. nov., eggs (RBINS). A. Lateral view. B. Dorsal view. C. Operculum. D. Ventral view. E. Dorsolateral view. F. Anterolateral view. G. Posterodorsal view. H. Polar area. I. Variation.