Lobofemora scheirei, Bresseel & Constant, 2015

Bresseel, Joachim & Constant, Jérôme, 2015, The new genus of stick insect Lobofemora from Vietnam, with the description of three new species (Phasmida: Phasmatidae: Clitumnini), European Journal of Taxonomy 115, pp. 1-25 : 18-23

Lobofemora scheirei sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9CE86F8D-E644-4A37-A278-DB4D99971378

Figs 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 H–J

Etymology

The species epithet refers to the Flemish TV show presenter Mr Lieven Scheire. We dedicate this new species to Lieven both in recognition of his efforts in raising public awareness of science (including taxonomy), especially for young people, in his TV shows, and as a present for his recent wedding.

Type material

Holotype

VIETNAM: ♂: “ Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Vietnam, Dong Nai Biosphere Res. 11°18’N 107°06’E, 25. vi- 6. vii. 2012, night collecting, Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G.: 32.161” ( RBINS).

Paratypes (39 ♂♂, 28 ♀♀, 17 eggs)

VIETNAM: 12 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀: same collection data as for holotype ( RBINS; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: VNMN); 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀: “Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., Vietnam, Cat Tien N.P., 11°26’N 107°26’E, 6- 16. vii. 2012, Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G.: 32.161” ( RBINS; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: VNMN); 12 eggs: “Coll. I.R.Sc.N.B., ex breeding J. Bresseel i.2015, origin: Vietnam, Cat Tien N.P., 11°26’N 107°26’E, 6- 16. vii. 2012, J. Constant & J. Bresseel” ( RBINS; 2: VNMN); 22 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, 5 eggs: “Ex culture F. Hennemann 2015, Origin: S-Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., Cat Tien N.P., 11°26’N 107°26’E, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel 6.- 16. VII. 2012 ” (3 ♂♂, 1 ♀: MNHU; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀: ZMUH; 4 ♂♂, 1 ♀: ZSMC; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀: RMNH; 4 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀: BMNH; 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, 5 eggs: FHC).

Additional material

VIETNAM: 25 ♂♂, 23 ♀♀, 45 eggs: “Ex culture F. Hennemann 2015, Origin: S-Vietnam, Lam Dong Prov., Cat Tien N.P., 11°26’N 107°26’E, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel 6- 16. VII. 2012 ” ( FHC).

Description

Male ( Figs 6 , 9 I–M, 10H)

MEASUREMENTS. See Table 3.

BODY. Complete body blackish-brown. Profemora dark brown, paler basally. Protibiae light brown. Other femora pale brown with darker apex. Corresponding tibiae pale brown.

HEAD. Longer than wide, slightly tapering posteriorly and granulose. Vertex slightly elongated. Dorsal portion of head flattened, with two spines projecting dorsally at posterior margin of eyes. Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically. Antennae almost reaching posterior margin of median segment, with 23 segments. Scapus strongly flattened dorso-ventrally and rounded laterally. Pedicellus cylindrical. Upper part of genae granulose.

THORAX. Pronotum trapezoidal and granulose, widening posteriorly; shorter than head; anterior margin incurved and raised, followed by median longitudinal impression not reaching posterior margin. Central transverse impression not reaching lateral edges of pronotum. Mesonotum about six to seven times as long as pronotum and strongly granulose, widening posteriorly; with fine median longitudinal line. Tegmina blackish, short and with definite hump; slightly tapering posteriorly and with apex rounded; external margin densely covered with minute tubercles. Alae projecting over apex of median segment; costal area coloured as elytra, anal area greyish brown; subcostal and radial veins densely covered with minute tubercles.

ABDOMEN. Abdominal segments II–V gradually increasing in length, V–VI about equal in length, slightly granulose and with fine median, longitudinal line; granules more concentrated along median line. Tergum VII shorter than tergum III. Tergum VIII about half as long as tergum II, slightly widening posteriorly. Tergum IX shorter than VIII and tectiform. Tergum X about as long as VIII and with median longitudinal carina; apically split into two semi-tergites. Inner apical rim of semi-tergite armed with several spines; apex obliquely pointing downwards; posterolateral angles rounded. Poculum rounded, slightly projecting over apex of abdominal tergum IX. Apex of poculum narrower and rounded. Cerci short, not reaching apex of tergum X, cylindrical in cross-section, with apices rounded.

LEGS. Profemora slightly longer than head and thorax combined; compressed and curved basally; anterodorsal carina with few, small serrations anteriorly; other carinae unarmed. Mesofemora about as long as pro- and mesonotum combined; posterodorsal carina variably with few triangular spines. Metafemora longer than head, pro-, meso- and metanotum combined and unarmed. Protibiae longer than profemora and unarmed. Mesotibiae slightly longer than mesofemora; anterodorsal carina with minute subapical spine; anteroventral carina with minute spine situated more basally than spine on anterodorsal carina; posteroventral carina with minute spine more basally than spine on anteroventral carina. Metatibiae with minute saw-like spines in posterior half on all carinae.

Female ( Figs 7 , 9 A–H, 10I–J)

MEASUREMENTS. See Table 3.

BODY. Colouration variable. Most specimens more or less uniformly brown with some black markings; some specimens with head, legs and apex of abdomen red-brown and very pale fawn body. Prosternum with conspicuous black, longitudinal median line.

HEAD. Longer than wide, slightly tapering posteriorly and granulose. Vertex slightly elongated and asymmetrical: vertex split by shallow longitudinal impression, right hump slightly more pronounced than left one. Dorsal portion of head flattened, with transverse, laterally acute ridge at posterior margin of eyes. Eyes circular and projecting hemispherically. Antennae short, with 23–25 segments, most females possess 25 segments. Scapus strongly flattened dorso-ventrally and rounded laterally, with outer lobe more prominent. Pedicellus slightly flattened dorso-ventrally. First antennomere about as long as following two ones combined. Apical half of antenna with very short segments; apical segment about as long as four preceding segments combined. Upper part of genae granulose.

THORAX. Pronotum trapezoidal, widening posteriorly; shorter than head and granulose; anterior margin incurved and raised, followed by median longitudinal impression not reaching posterior margin. Central transverse impression not reaching lateral edges of pronotum. Posterior margin with small posteromedian tubercle. Mesonotum about 3.7 times as long as pronotum and strongly granulose, widening posteriorly; fine median longitudinal line; tiny vestigial wing remnants posterolaterally. Metanotum with anterior margin weakly incurved and raised, subquadrate and strongly granulose. Median segment slightly longer than wide; anterior portion strongly granulose. Meso- and metasternum with posteriorly, between legs, Y-shaped impression resulting in two small pseudo-foramina.

ABDOMEN. Abdominal segments II–VI gradually increasing in length, granulose and with fine median, longitudinal line; larger granules along median line. Tergum VII about as long as tergum III; sometimes with stalked, irregularly shaped tubercles. Tergum VIII shorter than tergum II, slightly widening posteriorly; posterior margin weakly incurved. Tergum IX with anterior margin slightly convex; posterior margin slightly narrower. Tergum X about as long as IX and with median, longitudinal carina; strongly notched posteriorly; posterolateral angles rounded. Terga IX–X with lateral edges more pronounced and lobe-like. Epiproct elongated, about ⅔ as long as abdominal tergum X, and with median, longitudinal carina; tectiform and with shallow apical notch. Subgenital plate elongated, slightly projecting over apex of tergum X; apical half with median longitudinal carina; apex rounded. Cerci short, not reaching apex of tergum X, cylindrical in cross-section, with apices rounded. Gonapophyses strongly elongated, reaching apex of epiproct.

LEGS. Profemora longer than head, pronotum and mesonotum combined; compressed and curved basally; anterodorsal carina with small serrations, more prominent anteriorly; posterodorsal carina indistinct; posteroventral carina sometimes with few minute serrations. Mesofemora with three lobes on posterodorsal carina; anterior one most prominent and gradually becoming smaller; anterior lobe resulting in different spines; two other lobes with one apical spine; antero-ventral carina with three small lobe-like spines; posteroventral carina with one small lobe-like spine in apical half. Metafemora with anterodorsal carina sparsely serrated; other carinae unarmed. Protibiae longer than head and thorax combined; posterodorsal carina with inconspicuous triangular lobe positioned at about basal ¼ of length; anterodorsal carina with few minute serrations. Mesotibiae slightly longer than mesofemora; posterodorsal carina with conspicuous lobe at about basal ¼ of length; dorsal carinae with minute black spine near apex; medioventral carina with conspicuous lobe mirroring the one on posterodorsal carina and with minute black serrations; postero- and anteroventral carinae with minute black serrations. Metatibiae shorter than profemora; all ventral carinae with minute black serrations; dorsal carinae sparsely armed with minute black serrations, more concentrated subapically.

Nymph ( Fig. 9N )

Newly hatched nymphs are about 17 mm long and have comparatively long legs. Antennae short, slightly longer than head. Body entirely mottled green, brown and black.

Egg ( Fig. 9 O–S)

MEASUREMENTS (in mm). Length: 4.0; width: 1.2; height: 1.5.

Elongate-oval, general colouration light brown with black markings. Capsule oval in cross section, with the surface granulose and with a net-like sculpturing. Anteriorly with short brown fringes along the anterior margin of the capsule. Dorsal side slightly concave. Micropylar plate more or less bi-lobate with a median impression anteriorly and posteriorly. Anteriorly triangular, then widening; lateral expansions axe-shaped, with posterolateral angles projecting over micropylar cup. Micropylar cup definite, blackish and followed by relatively long median line. Micropylar plate and median line coloured as capsule. Ventral side slightly convex. Polar area with shallow indention. Operculum slightly darker than capsule, with deep central impression.

Distribution

So far only known from Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve in south Vietnam ( Fig. 1 ).

Biological observations

Several eggs of this species hatched and nymphs were reared in captivity using ferns (Dryopteridacea), which seem to be their natural foodplant. Substitute plants like bramble ( Rubus L. spp., Rosaceae ), beech ( Fagus sylvatica L., Fagaceae ) and Hypericum L. spp. ( Hypericaceae ) are also well accepted in captivity in Europe. This species is easy to maintain in captivity. Females try to stick their eggs into cracks and holes. Sponges cut into slices are suitable as substrate for this ( Fig. 9T ). Only few eggs will lay on the cage floor (pers. comm. B. Kneubühler, Jan. 2015). To collect eggs from wild caught females, paper tissue was used as substrate for egg laying.

Males are capable of stridulating, but in order to do so, they have to completely open their wings. When wings are open, the alae are not flat as in most stick insects, but have the outer margin curved downwards ( Fig. 9J ). By rubbing the outer margins of the tegmina against the subcostal and radial veins of the alae they are able to produce sound. The stridulation occurs when the specimens are disturbed.

Figures

Fig. 6. Lobofemora scheirei sp. nov. ♂, holotype. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, ventral view. D. Anterior part of body, dorsal view. E. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. F. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. G. Apex of abdomen, ventral view. H. Anterior part of body, lateral view. D–H = not to scale.

Fig. 7. Lobofemora scheirei sp. nov. ♀, paratype. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, ventral view. D. Right median leg, detail. E. Anterior part of body, dorsal view. F. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. G. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. H. Apex of abdomen, ventral view. I. Anterior part of body, lateral view. D–I = not to scale.

Fig. 9. Lobofemora scheirei sp. nov., captive reared specimens (photographs by Dr B. Kneubühler). A–H. ♀. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. C. Lateral view. D. Dorsolateral view, morph whitish with head, apex of abdomen and legs chestnut brown. E. Head, lateral view. F. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. G. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. H. Apex of abdomen, ventral view. I–M. ♂. I. Dorsal. J. Wing spread, lateral view. K. Head and thorax, lateral view. L. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. M. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. N. Nymph. O. Eggs. P–S. Egg. P. Detail of micropylar plate. Q. Ventral view. R. Detail of operculum. S. Detail of polar area. T. Eggs laid in a slice of sponge.

Fig. 10. Lobofemora gen. nov. spp., photographs in natura by the authors. A–C. L. bachmaensis sp. nov., Bach Ma National Park. A–B. ♀, 11 Jul. 2011. C. ♀, 14 Jul. 2011. D–G. L. bidoupensis sp. nov., Bidoup- Nui Ba National Park. D. ♂, 22 Jul. 2014. E–F. ♀, 25 Jul. 2014. G. ♀, 23 Jul. 2014. H–J. L. scheirei sp. nov. H–I. Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, 30 Jun. 2012. H. ♂. I. ♀. J. ♀, Cat Tien National Park, 9 Jul. 2012.

Fig. 1. Distribution map of the species of Lobofemora gen. nov.