Phantasca amabile, Hennemann & Conle & Bellanger & Lelong & Jourdan, 2018

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 : 12-14

Phantasca amabile sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8CD3A681-8A46-42EF-A54C-44244424D20A

Figs 14–15

Material examined

Holotype

ECUADOR: ♂, “ jungle vegetation; Ecuador: Napo Province, Coca , iv-ix.1982, G. Onore, B.M. 1985- 61 ” (NHMUK).

Diagnosis

Males of this new species (the only sex known) are well characterized by the distinctive colouration and large poculum, which is very bulgy for the genus, larger than sternum VIII and IX combined and almost reaches to the apex of the abdomen. They are similar to those of P. ruboligata sp. nov. from French Guiana but differ from this species by the somewhat shorter and straight cerci, more slender and deeply incised anal segment, much larger poculum, broad black longitudinal stripe on the head and pronotum, fine dark longitudinal median line along the mesonotum and abdominal tergites II–VI, brown mesosternum, two dark brown stripes on the costal region of the alae and differently shaped black markings on abdominal tergites VIII and IX.

Etymology

The name of this new species ( amabilis Lat. = lovely) refers to the pretty colouration of males, which includes bright red bases of all tibiae and basitarsi, black apices of all femora and tibiae as well as black markings and stripes on the head, thorax, three terminal abdominal segments and costal region of the alae.

Description

Male ( Figs 14–15 )

BODY. Size medium (body length 58.0 mm, Table 2); form fairly slender for the genus.

COLOUR. General colour of the holotype dull yellow, with a greenish wash (most certainly green when alive). Head and pronotum, with a broad black longitudinal median streak, which is considerably narrowed on frons between the eyes. Mesonotum, with a very fine, longitudinal median sepia stripe which is somewhat broadened and becomes black anteriorly and posteriorly; mesosternum brown. Metanotum mostly blackish brown and metasternum, with a faint brownish longitudinal median stripe on posterior half. Tegmina, with a washed brown posteromedian marking. The costal region of the alae, with fairly broad sepia stripe near interior margin, the anal region hyaline. Abdominal tergites II–VI, with a fine longitudinal dark brown line, VII–IX each, with two black longitudinal stripes (faint and only in posterior portion on VII) and VIII, with an additional roughly semicircular black marking posterolaterally. Anal segment, with two elongate black markings at anterior margin. Antennae dull greyish brown basally and becoming paler brown towards the apex. Apex of all femora and tibiae as well as base of all tibiae and basitarsi red, the red apical portions each preceded by a broad blackish brown annulus. Cerci red.

HEAD. Roundly rectangular, about 1.2× as long as wide and flattened dorsally, with a very fine longitudinal median sulcus. Eyes large, projecting hemispherically and their length contained almost 1.5× in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment IX. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, rectangular and about 1.2× as long as wide. Pedicellus globose and antennomere III somewhat longer than pedicellus.

THORAX. Pronotum rectangular and considerably narrower and shorter than head, transverse median sulcus fairly decided, curved and expanding over entire width of segment. Mesothorax almost 2.7× as long as head and pronotum combined; smooth. Tegmina roundly spatulate in shape,, with the anterior portion considerably narrowed and the posterior half broadened and obtusely angular. Alae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment V.

ABDOMEN. Segments II–VI somewhat unequal in length and on average 5× as long as wide. VII about 3/5 the length of VI and decidedly constricted medially. Tergum VIII swollen and broadest of all segments, the lateral margins well separated from sternum VIII; the latter strongly swollen and rounded in all aspects. IX somewhat longer than VIII, constricted medially, the lateral margins straight and well separated. Anal segment less than half the length of IX, hardly longer than wide, rectangular and with a very deep and narrow incision posteromedially; the outer posterior portions obtusely angular. Cerci straight,, with the apex somewhat club–shaped, a little longer than anal segment and projecting beyond apex of abdomen by about ⅔ the length of anal segment. Vomer small, triangular and with a single terminal hook. Poculum large, tub-shaped and reaching about half way along anal segment; the apex, with a faint median indention.

LEGS. Profemora longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora longer than mesothorax and metatibiae, projecting considerably beyond apex of abdomen. Basitarsi more than 1.5× the length of remaining tarsomeres combined.

Remarks

This distinctive species is so far only known from the single male holotype in NHMUK. The specimen is obviously discoloured by provisional storage in spirits. Females and eggs are unknown.

Distribution

East Ecuador: Oriente, Prov. Napo, Coca ( NHMUK).

Figures

Figs 14–15. Phantasca amabilis sp. nov. Holotype, ♂. 14. Habitus, dorsolateral view. 15. Habitus, dorsal view.