Marmessoidea hainanensis hainanensis Ho

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2016, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea III: Catalogue of the phasmids of Hainan Island, China, with descriptions of one new genus, one new species and two new subspecies and proposals of three new combinations, Zootaxa 4150 (3), pp. 314-340 : 319-320

Marmessoidea hainanensis hainanensis Ho sp. nov. & subsp. nov. E/T

(Figs. 5–10, 19)

Types. Holotype: ♀, Jianfengling , Hainan, China, 7.VI.2008, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 1♂ & 4 eggs (naturally laid by Holotype ♀), Jianfengling , Hainan, China, 7.VI.2008, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Marmessoidea hainanensis hainanensis Ho sp. nov. & subsp. nov. [ China (Hainan)] is similar to M. annulata ( Fabricius, 1798) [ India and Malaysia] but can be separated by brownish body and wings with grayish markings in both sexes and cylindrical capsule in egg. M. annulata can be distinguished from this new species by grassy green or bluish green body and reddish brown wings in both sexes and oval capsule with tapering posterior apex in egg.

Description. Female (Figs. 5–6, 19). Body brown, with gray markings. More robust and larger than male. Head smooth and oval. Occiput concave, with indistinct furrows and posterior swellings. Compound eyes rounded, about 2 times length of genae. Lacking ocelli. Antennae brown with pale yellow rings, filiform, longer than all legs; scapus 2 times length of pedicellus, as long as third segment. Thorax smooth. Pronotum rectangular, longer than head, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before centre of segment, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin rounded. Mesonotum longer than mesofemora, 2.8 times length of pronotum, parallel-sided, mediolongitudinal line distinct, sparsely and inconspicuously covered with minute granules. Mesopleurae, mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum smooth. Abdomen cylindrical, tapering posteriorly, smooth. Seventh sternum lacking praeopercular organ. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment longer than ninth tergum, posterior margin with a small emargination. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, apex pointed, reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci straight, roughly longer than anal segment; swollen and flattened, apices rounded. Legs unarmed. Sparsely covered with short bristles. All femora thicker than corresponding tibiae. Profemora curved basally. Tegmina oval, longer than pronotum, apex of elevated angle blunt, with a pale yellow longitudinal stripe marginally. Alae short, apices reaching anterior margin of fourth abdominal tergum, anal region grayish brown.

Male (Figs. 7–8, 19). Generally similar to female, but distinctly smaller and more slender. Body brown. Legs dull green. Head rounded and smooth. Occiput with indistinct furrows and posterior swellings. Compound eyes rounded, about 1.5 times length of genae. Antennae dark brown with pale yellow rings, filiform, longer than body length and all legs; scapus cylindrical, flattened at base, 1.5 times length of pedicellus, shorter than third segment. Pronotum rectangular, lacking granulation, anterior margin truncate, posterior margin rounded, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle area. Mesonotum sparsely covered with small granules, 3.5 times length of pronotum, as long as mesofemora. Mesopleurae, mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum smooth. Abdomen smooth. Second to sixth terga equal in length. Seventh tergum as long as combined length of eighth and ninth terga. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum. Anal segment shorter than eighth tergum, posterior margin with a small emargination. Poculum cup-like, posterior margin rounded, reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci long, apices blunt and curved inwards. Legs unarmed, sparsely covered with short bristles, bristles on ventral carinae shorter than bristles on dorsal carinae. Slender and long. All femora slightly longer than corresponding tibiae. Tegmina short and oval, with a pale yellow longitudinal stripe marginally, posterior apex subtruncate. Alae long, apices reaching sixth abdominal tergum, anal region grayish brown.

Measurements. Body ♀ 75 mm, Ƌ 54 mm; head ♀ 4 mm, Ƌ 2.5 mm; antennae ♀ 61 mm, Ƌ 70 mm; pronotum ♀ 3.5 mm, Ƌ 2 mm; mesonotum ♀ 14 mm, Ƌ 12 mm; metanotum (including median segment) ♀ 9 mm, Ƌ 7 mm; profemora ♀ 18 mm, Ƌ 19 mm; mesofemora ♀ 12 mm, Ƌ 12 mm; metafemora ♀ 18 mm, Ƌ 18 mm; protibiae ♀ 17.5 mm, Ƌ 18 mm; mesotibiae ♀ 11 mm, Ƌ 11 mm; metatibiae ♀ 18.5 mm, Ƌ 19 mm; tegmina ♀ 5.5 mm, ♂ 4 mm; alae ♀ 21 mm, ♂ 27 mm.

Eggs (Figs. 9–10). Capsule brown; cylindrical, taping posteriorly, posterior apex with a small rounded appendage. Micropylar plate oblong, anterior apex pointed, posterior apex rounded. Micropylar cup placed after middle point of plate. Median line short, about one-fourth of micropylar plate, placed below micropylar plate. Operculum brown; centrally with a closed-stalk and rounded capitulum, marginally convex.

Measurements. Length 4 mm, width 2.5 mm, height 2.5 mm.

Distribution. Hainan (Jianfengling), China.

Notes. The posterior apex of each egg capsule has a small rounded appendage which is a function for the female to glue the capsule on their foodplants. The egg is vertically glued on the surface of the leaves.

Etymology. This new species is named after the type locality, Hainan Island, China.