Hirtuleius gracilis, Conle & Hennemann & Bellanger & Lelong & Jourdan & Valero, 2020

Conle, Oskar V., Hennemann, Frank H., Bellanger, Yannick, Lelong, Philippe, Jourdan, Toni & Valero, Pablo, 2020, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XX: A new genus and 16 new species from French Guiana, Zootaxa 4814 (1), pp. 1-136 : 21-24

Hirtuleius gracilis n. sp.

( Figs. 7–8 )

HT, ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., leg. Stéphane Brûlé 04.01.2014; ex coll. Conle; OC-0345-3 [ ZSMC] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Régina, Réserve Naturelle des Nouragues—Camp Inselberg, 4°05’ N– 52°41’W, 411m, S.E.A.G., leg. Stéphane Brûlé 18.05.2013; ex coll. Conle; OC-0345-8 [ MNHN] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., leg. Stéphane Brûlé 07.08.2013 [coll. OC, No. 0345-1] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., leg. Stéphane Brûlé 29.05.2011 [coll. OC, No. 0345-2] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 31.08.2013 [coll. OC, No. 0345-4] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 15.06.2013 [coll. OC, No. 0345-5] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 19.09.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0345-6] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 12.10.2013 [coll. OC, No. 0345-7] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 25.04.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0345-9] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 24.01.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0345-10] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 07.05.2016 [coll. OC, No. 0345-11] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 19.11.2016 [coll. OC, No. 0345-12] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 01.10.2016 [coll. OC, No. 0345-13] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 02.12.2017 [coll. OC, No. 0345-14] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 07.07.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0345-15] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie pink trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 13.10.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0345-16] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 19.05.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0345-17] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 03.11.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0345-18] .

Further material [ 1 ♂]: FRENCH GUIANA : 1 ♂: Guyane, Régina, Savane Roche Virginie, GFPHASM19-067, rec. Yannick Bellanger 30.X.2019 [ YB] .

Etymology. The name gracilis (lat. slender, gracile) refers to the comparatively slender body of ♂♂ of this new species.

Differentiation. Males of this new species can easily be distinguished from those of H. gibbosus by the distinctly more slender and elongate shape, entirely smooth body surface, relatively longer legs with the mesofemora longer than the pronotum and mesonotum combined, as well as the distinctive bifid vomer.

Description. ♂ ( Figs. 7–8 ). Large (body length 74.3–99.6 mm) and slender for the genus with fairly short alae (38.3–45.8 mm). Body, head and legs pale grey to greenish brown with irregular white markings and shadings, ventral body surface in particular with large drab to whitish markings. Eyes brown with a broad, a white band below the eyes. Antennae uniformly brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale brown, anal region of alae transparent with a slight brownish hue.

Head: Head globose with vertex elevated towards the posterior, entirely smooth, about 1.2x longer than wide. Eyes circular and large, strongly convex and prominently projecting from head capsule, about 1/3 the length of entire head. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally and slightly longer than pedicellus, remaining antennomeres covered with tiny setae. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment V.

Thorax: Thorax entirely smooth and dorsal surface shiny. Pronotum at best 2x longer than wide, shorter and much more slender than head. Mesothorax very slender and elongate, 8–9x longer than wide. Mesonotum more than 4x longer than pronotum. Metanotum prominently shorter than mesonotum and median segment, indistinctly longer than wide. Tegmina small, oval, tapered towards the base and slightly convex; slightly longer than the metanotum. Alae reaching half way along tergum V.

Abdomen: Median segment about 4x longer than metanotum, smooth. Segments II–VII at least 4x longer than wide. Tergum VIII at best half the length of VII and distinctly broadened towards the posterior. IX slightly narrower than VIII, gently constricted medially and 1.8 × longer than wide. Anal segment 2/3 the length of IX, widened towards the posterior. Posterior margin raised and with a slight median gap. Tergum and sternum VIII each slightly protruded into a faint lobe at the posterior edges. Cerci slender, straight and almost cylindrical, only slightly tapering towards the posterior, at best projecting anal segment by half of its length. Vomer creamish grey with two black, pointed apices and reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded, slightly projecting anterior margin of anal segment.

Legs. All long and slender, completely destitute of spines or teeth. All femora and tibia swollen and widened at the apical end. In the swollen, apical part of the legs the carinae are raised an elevated. Profemora about as long as head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora slightly longer than mesonotum, pronotum and head combined and metafemora reaching centre of tergum V. All carinae covered with fine setae. All tarsi simple, basitarsi about as long as the remaining tarsomeres combined.

Measurements HT [mm]: Body 90.7, pronotum 2.8, mesonotum 16.0, metanotum 16.2, tegmina 5.4, alae 41.9, profemora 27.4, mesofemora 22.4, metafemora 28.2, antennae> 66.0.

Measurements PT [mm]: Body 74.6–100.7, pronotum 2.7–2.9, mesonotum 13.3–17.2, metanotum 14.3–18.2, tegmina 4.6–6.0, alae 37.7–48.5, profemora 21.6–29.4, mesofemora 16.6–23.2, metafemora 21.5–28.0, antennae> 50.0.

Comments. This new species is so far only known from the ♂♂. Since the ♀♀ are not known, the generic placement of this new species is not free of doubt. Most morphological characters however, such as the strongly globose head and apical expansions of the femora, suggest it is provisionally best placed in Hirtuleius Stål, 1875 .

Distribution. French Guiana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux [coll. OC, ZSMC]; Commune de Régina, Réserve Naturelle des Nouragues—Camp Inselberg [coll. OC]; Commune de Régina, Savane Roche Vir- ginie [MNHN].

Figures

FIGURE 7. Male (PT) of Hirtuleius gracilis n. sp. a–c. habitus: a. lateral; b. ventral; c. dorsal; d–f. head, prothorax and mesothorax: d. ventral; e. lateral; f. dorsal; g–i. apex of abdomen: g. ventral; h. lateral; i. dorsal.

FIGURE 8. Male (HT) of Hirtuleius gracilis n.sp. a–b. habitus: a. lateral; b. dorsal.