Neomyronides, Hennemann, 2021

Hennemann, Frank H., 2021, Stick insects of Sulawesi, Peleng and the Sula Islands, Indonesia- a review including checklists of species and descriptions of new taxa (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 5073 (1), pp. 1-189 : 59-62

Genus Neomyronides n. gen.

( Figs. 23–24 )

Type-species: Pseudostheneboea aberrans emiri Hennemann, 1998: 104 , by present designation.

Pseudostheneboea, Hennemann, 1998: 102 , figs. 7–10, pl. 1: 7 –8, pl. 2: 5,6 & 8 (in part).

Zompro, 2005: 260.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 293 (in part).

Prisomera, Günther, 1935: 4 .

Staelonchodes, Günther, 1938: 77 , fig. 15.

Diagnosis: ♀, ♂. Fairly small (body length ♂♂ 51.0– 62.5 mm, ♀♀ 73.5–88.0 mm) and stocky Lonchodinae ; very similar in appearance to Myronides Stål, 1875 and Mithrenes Stål, 1877 ( Fig. 23 ). Distinct sexual dimorphism with ♂♂ much smaller, more slender and less sculptured than ♀♀. Colouration various shades of brown and ochre; intra-specifically variable in ♀♀ and ♂♂ might have green legs. Body surface of ♀♀ densely granulose and tuberculose, in ♂♂ smooth with only a few scattered granules on thorax. Head considerably longer than wide and narrowed towards the posterior; vertex flattened and between eyes with a pair of ± distinct spines ( Figs. 24G–H ). Antennae elongate, consisting of about 60 antennomeres and reaching to median segment (♀♀) or abdominal segment IV–V (♂♂); IV–XV gradually increasing in length the remaining much shortened and XIV with a small, knob-like subbasal dorsal swelling. Prothorax about equal in length to head, rectangular and with a moderate median sulcus. Mesothorax 4.5–5.0x longer than prothorax; very slender in ♂♂ and very gently widening towards the posterior in ♀♀. Mesonotum of ♀♀ usually with a variable number of enlarged, blunt tubercles. Metanotum a little more than 1/3 the length of mesonotum and about 1.8x (♀♀) to 2.2x (♂♂) longer than median segment; with a distinct tubercle posteromedially. Meso- and metasternum in ♀♀ granulose and irregularly set with conical tubercles of variable sizes. Abdomen slightly longer than head and thorax combined. Median segment slightly longer than wide and with a somewhat enlarged tubercle posteromedially. Segments II–VI in ♀♀ very indistinctly increasing in length, all longer than wide and ± parallel-sided, VI about 1.5x longer than wide. VII gently narrowed towards the posterior. Terga III–VI with a posteromedian tubercle, which increases in size towards VI where it forms a laterally compressed, rounded lobe of variable size ( Fig. 24A ). Sternum VII with a distinct Preopercular organ formed by a laterally compressed, wart-like swelling some distance before posterior margin ( Fig. 24C ). Terminalia of ♀♀: Terga VIII–X much shorter than previous and decreasing in length, IX ± swollen and raised posteromedially. Anal segment tectinate with anterolateral angles rounded and ± deflexed; posterior margin roundly excavated. Epiproct rounded, scale-shaped and slightly projecting over apex of anal segment ( Fig. 24B ). Cerci very small and hidden under anal segment. Subgenital plate strongly convex, bulgy and with a very prominent ledge-like longitudinal keel in median portion; the posterior portion irregularly tuberculose and the posterior margin slightly projecting beyond anal segment ( Fig. 24A ). Terminalia of ♂♂: Segments II–VI considerably longer than VII and roughly uniform in length; terga V and VI with a rounded posteromedian swelling. VII–X much shorter than previous. Anal segment tectiform and split over entire length to form two hemi-terga ( Fig. 24E ) that are broad and angular in lateral aspect ( Fig. 24D ); the lower apical portion minutely dentate interiorly. Cerci small, cylindrical and concealed under anal segment. Poculum of moderate size, convex, cup-shaped with posterior margin rounded and ± reaching to posterior of tergum IX. Legs of moderate length, profemora longer than mesothorax, mesofemora shorter (♀♀) or longer (♂♂) than mesothorax and hind legs slightly (♀♀) to distinctly (♂♂) projecting beyond apex of abdomen. In ♂♂ unarmed, except for minute sub-apical spines on two outer ventral carinae of femora and occasionally with a single enlarged lobes on posterodorsal and posteroventral carina of mesofemora. In ♀♀ all carinae except ventral carinae of tibiae multi-lobate (indistinct in metafemora although). Mesofemora in particular with an enlarged sub-apical lobe on posteroventral carina. Tarsi slender in ♂♂, probasitarsus with a prominently raised and rounded dorsal carina in ♀♀.

Egg ( Figs. 24J–K ): Small (overall length 2.6 mm), ovoid with dorsal surface of capsule much more convex than ventral surface and almost round in cross-section; about 1.4x longer than wide. Anterior portion somewhat narrowed. Capsule surface very minutely and evenly granulose. Micropylar plate elongate, about ¾ the length of capsule with posterior half slightly widened and posterior end indented; open interiorly. Micropylar cup distinct. Operculum almost circular and strongly raised and with a small, blackish, knob-like capitulum in centre.

Differential diagnosis: Very close to the Wallacean Myronides Stål, 1875 and Sulawesian endemic Paramanduria n. gen. and morphologically similar to the Philippine Mithrenes Stål, 1877 . From Myronides it differs by the averaging smaller size and more stocky shape with relatively stouter legs and shorter tarsi as well as the lack of medioventral keel on the mesosternum. Females are readily distinguished by the lobate front and mid legs, distinct rounded dorsal lobe of the probasitarsus and tuberculate posterior portion of the subgenital plate. Also, ♀♀ oc-casionally bear a struma or lobe-like posteromedian swelling on abdominal tergum VI, which is never present in Myronides . Males differ by the broader hemi-terga of the anal segment, which lack the finger-like postero-apical protrusion typically seen in Myronides , as well as the much smaller cerci. Eggs at once differ from those of Myronides by the strongly raised operculum ( Figs. 24J–K ). From Paramanduria n. gen. ♀♀ readily differ by the lack of a beak-like ovipositor and the dorsally lobed probasitarsus. The Philippine endemic Mithrenes was revised by Hennemann & Conle (2007), who provided a new generic description. From this genus both sexes differ by the lack of a median keel on the mesosternum and averaging more stocky shape. ♀♀ can furthermore be distinguished by the much more prominent Preopercular organ on abdominal sternum VII as well as the dorsally lobed probasitarsus and ♂♂ differ by the lack of a downward-angled finger-like posteroventral appendage of the hemi-terga of the anal segment. The eggs significantly differ from those of Mithrenes by the simple ovoid shape of the capsule ( Figs. 24 J-K).

Comments: The three Sulawesian species here comprised in this new genus have previously been attributed to not particularly closely related genera of the subfamily Lonchodinae , that either are endemic in Sri Lanka ( Prisomera Gray, 1835 ; see Hennemann, 2002: 39), Assam in north-east India ( Pseudostheneboea Carl, 1913 ) or distributed throughout Sundaland ( Staelonchodes Kirby, 1904 ).

Etymology: The prefix “ Neo -” means “New Myronides ” to indicate close relation to that genus. Neuter.

Distribution: Sulawesi (endemic).

Species included:

Figures

FIGURE 23. Neomyronides emiri (Hennemann, 1998) n. gen., n. stat., n. comb. habitus: A. ♀ (PT), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0300-3]; B. ♀ (PT), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0300-2]; C. ♂ (PT), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0300-6].

FIGURE 24. Neomyronides emiri (Hennemann, 1998) n. gen., n. stat., n. comb. details and egg: A. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0300-1]; B. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0300-1]; C. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♀ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0300-1]; D. Lateral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0300-5]; E. Dorsal view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0300-5]; F. Ventral view of terminal abdominal segments of ♂ (PT) [coll. FH, No. 0300-5]; G. Head and prothorax of ♀ (PT) seen dorso-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0300-1]; H. Head and prothorax of ♂ (PT) seen dorso-laterally [coll. FH, No. 0300-5]; J. Egg (PT), dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0300-E]; K. Egg (PT), lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0300-E].