Phantasca heteronemia ( Günther, 1940 )

Hennemann, Frank H., Conle, Oskar V., Bellanger, Yannick, Lelong, Philippe & Jourdan, Toni, 2018, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XVII: Revision of Phantasca Redtenbacher, 1906, with the descriptions of six new species (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromerinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 435, pp. 1-62 : 24-26

Phantasca heteronemia ( Günther, 1940) comb. rev.

Figs 42–46

Pterolibethra heteronemia Günther, 1940: 499 .

Pterolibethra heteronemia – Zompro 2001: 225. — Otte & Brock 2005: 294.

Phantasca heteronemia – Günther 1940: 500.

Material examined

Holotype

BRAZIL: ♂, “ Sv. Amaz. Exp. Roman ; S. Gabriel; 3 jan.; Pterolibethra heteronemia n. gen. n. sp. K. Günther det.; skadad aveld; Typus; NRM-PHAS 0000229 “ ( NHRS).

Diagnosis

Males of this species (the only sex known) are well characterised by the stocky body and having the body segments relatively shorter than in all other known species of Phantasca . The long and hook-like cerci ( Fig. 45 ) are shared, with P. poeciloptera ( Günther, 1940) and the bulgy anal segment, with its almost entire posterior margin is shared, with P. ruboligata sp. nov.; however, both features show distinctive characters. The cerci are comparatively longer than in P. poeciloptera , have only the very apical portion angled inward and the apex is much more acutely pointed. Furthermore, P. heteronemia differs from P. poeciloptera by the plain overall colour and transparent anal region of the alae (dark brown, with the basal half bright orange in P. poeciloptera ) and lacking the distinct posteromedian emargination of the anal segment. From P. ruboligata sp. nov. it differs by the plain colouration as well as having the apex of the poculum constricted pre-apically and the posterior margin distinctly broadened (gently bilobate and without a pre-apical narrowing in P. ruboligata sp. nov.).

Description

Male ( Fig. 42 )

BODY. Size very small (body length 45.5 mm, Table 5); form fairly stocky for the genus.

COLOUR. General colour of the holotype drab, with a slight greenish wash dorsally (possibly green when alive). Mesosternum brown and becoming blackish brown towards the posterior, metasternum dull blackish brown. Sternites II–IV black, V–VI, with a broad longitudinal black stripe, VII dark brown anteriorly and with a black spot at posterior margin. Tergum VIII, with a small, elongate black central marking and a short and faint black streak near lateral margins; IX, with a black longitudinal median stripe on anterior half. Sternum VIII, with a faint and washed black central marking. Cerci dull reddish brown. Costal region of alae plain pale drab, the anal region hyaline. Antennae, with scapus and pedicellus drab, the following antennomeres buff dorsally and black ventrally. Coxae reddish brown, all femora and tibiae, with the apex dark brown.

HEAD. Flattened and broadest just behind the eyes; cheeks gently narrowing and vertex, with a very weakly defined longitudinal median sulcus ( Fig. 42 ). Eyes large, slightly oval in outline, projecting hemispherically and their length contained 1.4× in that of cheeks. Pedicellus rectangular, pedicellus subglobose, antennomere III slender and almost 3× as long as pedicellus.

THORAX. Pronotum decidedly shorter and narrower than head, rectangular,, with a well-defined longitudinal median sulcus, which fades considerably before the posterior margin, and a fairly distinct transverse sulcus that expands over the entire width of the segment ( Fig. 42 ). Mesothorax moderately elongate and some 2.5× as long as head and prothorax combined. Tegmina lacking in the holotype. Alae reaching about halfway along abdominal segment V.

ABDOMEN. Median segment about 3× as long as metanotum. Segments II–VI slightly subequal in length, all gently constricted medially; on average 5× as long as wide. VII considerably shorter than all preceding and very slightly thickened posteriorly. Tergum VIII strongly swollen, convex and widest of all segments, the lateral margins fully fused, with sternum VIII and fissure between these two segments scarcely indicated by a faint brown longitudinal streak ( Fig. 45 ). IX a little longer than VIII and strongly constricted medially, its lateral margins completely fused, with each other ventrally to form a closed tube ( Fig. 46 ). Anal segment strongly cucullate ( Fig. 44 ), slightly wider than long and with a shallow median indentation at posterior margin, the outer posterior portions obtusely rounded. Cerci large, hook-like, longer than anal segment, downward directed, with the apical half angled inward at an angle of 90° and slightly directed cephalad; apex acutely pointed ( Fig. 45 ). Poculum very small, slender, roundly bowl-shaped, with the dorsal margins concavely emarginated ( Fig. 45 ), constricted pre-apically and the conspicuously widened posterior margin entire and almost straight; reaching no more than halfway along tergum IX ( Fig. 46 ).

LEGS. All moderately long and slender for the genus; profemora slightly longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora about equal in length to pro- and mesothorax combined and hind legs projecting distinctly over apex of abdomen. Metabasitarsus almost 2× the length of the remaining tarsomeres combined.

Remarks

So far only known from the unique male holotype, which has suffered from considerable damage since its original description. The specimen lacks most of the antennae, both tegmina and several parts of the legs including the pro- and mesotarsi. Female and egg unknown.

Distribution

North West Brazil: Amazonas State, Rio Negro, São Gabriel de Chachoiera ( NHRS).

Figures

Figs 42–46. Phantasca heteronemia (Günther, 1940). Holotype, ♂. 42. Habitus, dorsal view. 43. Head and pronotum, dorsal view. 44. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. 45. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. 46. Apex of abdomen, ventral view.