Phanocles saussurei ( Redtenbacher, 1908 ) Hennemann & Conle, 2024

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2024, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXVI: Taxonomic review of Cladomorformia tax. n., a lineage of Diapheromerinae stick insects, with the descriptions of seven new genera and 41 new species (Phasmatodea: Occidophasmata: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 5444 (1), pp. 1-454 : 205-208

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5444.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DE4A9DD-99F7-4E23-AD50-58DC491BB75E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FD87D9-FF6C-D8AA-FF55-F58B2A6DE375
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Phanocles saussurei ( Redtenbacher, 1908 )
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Phanocles saussurei ( Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n.

( Figs. 50C View FIGURE 50 , 55F View FIGURE 55 , 57G View FIGURE 57 , 60H View FIGURE 60 , 61Q–S View FIGURE 61 , 67D–F View FIGURE 67 , 88L View FIGURE 88 )

Bostra saussurei Redtenbacher, 1908: 411 View in CoL .

Shelford, 1909: 361.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 73.

López-Mora & Llorente-Bousquets, 2018: 48.

Brock & Büscher, 2022: 511.

Luna, 2022: 91.

Phanocles sp. , Eilmus, 2008: 4, fig. 6 (♀). [Notes on natural habitat and host plants]

Further material examined [1 ♂, 1 ♀]:

1 ♂, 1 ♀: ex Zucht. S. Eilmus (Ratingen) 2008, Herkunft: Mexico, Oaxaca nr. Puerto Escondido, 2007, F1– Generation ; Mexico: Oaxaca, Nähe Puerto Escondido , 15°52.0’ N, 97°5.3’’ W, leg. S. Eilmus 20.X.2007 [coll. FH, No’s 0650–1 & 2] .

Diagnosis. Females of this species ( Fig. 50C View FIGURE 50 ) strongly resemble the Mexican Ph. burkartii Saussure, 1868 , type-species of the genus, with which they share numerous features such as the prominently bi-cornute head, tubercular thorax and armature of the limbs. They can however be separated from ♀♀ of that species by the somewhat slenderer shape and proportionally longer body segments, anteriorly and posteriorly carinate and crenate cephalic horns ( Fig. 57G View FIGURE 57 ; conical in burkartii ), comparatively more pronounced tubercles of the thoracic segments, shorter median segment that is notably shorter than the median segment (almost equal in length in burkartii ), scale-like posteromedian projections of abdominal terga II and V, differently shaped anal segment ( Fig. 61R View FIGURE 61 ), more pronounced leg armature and more flat-angled dorsal lobe of the basitarsi. Males are similar to those of the Costa Rican Ph. costaricensis Hennemann, 2002 with which they share the white and black banded basal portion of the meso- and metafemora but can readily be distinguished from this as well as from all other known ♂♂ of the genus by the very large, triangular and laterally compressed projection of the poculum ( Fig. 67D View FIGURE 67 ). Other features that separate them from ♂♂ of Ph. costaricensis are the more elongate head and distinctively flat vertex ( Fig. 60H View FIGURE 60 ), shorter median segment (longer than the metanotum in costaricensis ), differently shaped anal segment ( Fig. 67E View FIGURE 67 ) and much shorter cerci.

Description. ♀♀ ( Fig. 50C View FIGURE 50 ): Large (body length including subgenital plate 200.0–217.0 mm) and slender species with a moderately globose, prominently bi-cornute head, an irregularly tubercular thorax, distinctly lobate legs and a subgenital plate that extends beyond the apex of the abdomen by roughly the length of the anal segment. General colour ochreous grey and irregularly flecked with pale grey and white. Abdominal terga each with four paired dark brown markings in the unique specimen available. Thoracic tubercles dark orange to reddish brown, he largest of which are tipped with dark brown. Medio-longitudinal keel of the mesosternum ochre. Medio-longitudinal line of meso- and metanotum slightly purplish. Eyes reddish mid brown and faintly flecked with dark brown. Meso- and metafemora with a faint pale transverse band in brown specimens. Legs with very faintly pinkish mottling and irregular annulae, the lobes mid brown. Antennae pale grey dorsally and greyish drab ventrally.

Head ( Fig. 57G View FIGURE 57 ): Moderately globose, broadest just behind the eyes and about 1.3x longer than wide with the vertex roundly convex. Vertex with a slightly impressed coronal line and supplied with a few scattered tubercles of variable sizes. Behind the eyes with a pair of large, upright and slightly laterad directed, laterally compressed horns just behind the eyes, which have the anterior, posterior and apical margins compressed, lamellate and irregularly crenate; these dorsally extending by almost two-thirds the height of head capsule. Between these horns a narrowly placed pair of short, conical spines. Frons with two shallow impressions between the bases of the antennae and behind these with a pair of obtuse, conical swellings. Eyes rather small but strongly projecting, almost circular in outline with only the upper margin weakly angular; their diameter contained about 2.4x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of median segment. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally and increasingly flattened towards the base, almost parallel-sided and rectangular in dorsal aspect and 1.8x longer than wide. Pedicellus round in cross-section, slightly constricted towards the apex and scarcely more than half the length of scapus.Antennomere III notably longer than pedicellus.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head, 1.8x longer than wide and roundly rectangular in outline with only a slight narrowing medially. Anterior margin with four obtuse tubercles, a fairly distinct pair of tubercles just in front of transverse median sulcus and another pair close to posterior margin; anterior and posterior half each with a much more widely spaced pair of tubercles; surface otherwise supplied with a few granules. Transverse median sulcus moderately distinct, gently arched and almost expanding over entire width of segment ( Fig. 57G View FIGURE 57 ). Mesothorax 7.5x longer than prothorax and uniform in diameter with only a slight widening posteriorly. Mesonotum with a fine medio-longitudinal carina and unevenly set with differently sized conical tubercles and small granules in between. Metanotum slightly more than one-third the length of mesonotum, parallel-sided and about 4x longer than wide; surface like that of mesonotum. Meso- and metapleurae with a longitudinal marginal row of moderately sized tubercles and otherwise with irregularly dispersed granules. Meso- and metasternum sparsely granulose and tubercular, the mesosternum with an obtuse, unevenly tubercular medio-longitudinal keel ( Fig. 88L View FIGURE 88 ).

Abdomen: Median segment about three-quarters the length of metanotum, strongly constricted medially with the lateral margins concave and about 2.8x longer than width at anterior margin; surface set with a few paired tubercles of different sizes. Segment II three-quarters the length of median segment, notably shorter than III–VII and about 2.1x longer than wide; tergum supplied with about twelve small, paired tubercles and the posterior margin with an irregularly shaped scale-like transverse excrescence. The following terga only with a very few node-like tubercles that decrease in size and number towards VII. Tergum V with a prominent bidentate, transverse lobe at posterior margin. Segments III–V increasing and VI–VII decreasing in length; V longest and about 4x longer than wide; all roughly uniform in diameter. Tergum VII shorter than all preceding segments with the lateral margins slightly widening towards the posterior and deflexed posteriorly to form a rather small, obtusely rectangular lobe ( Fig. 61S View FIGURE 61 ). Sterna very weakly and sparsely granulose to almost smooth. Praeopercular organ concealed by the down-curved posterolateral lobes of tergum VII in the unique specimen at hand ( Fig. 61S View FIGURE 61 ). Tergum VIII slightly less than half the length and somewhat narrower than VII, constricted medially and about 2x longer than wide with the posterior margin broader than anterior margin. IX about three-fifth the length of VIII, almost rectangular in dorsal aspect and 1.25x longer than wide. Anal segment a little longer than IX with the posterior portion somewhat widened, carinate medio-longitudinally, flattened towards the posterior and the posterior margin distinctly notched medially with the outer angles roundly deflexed ( Fig. 61R View FIGURE 61 ). Epiproct very small, triangular and mostly concealed under anal segment. Cerci small, obtuse and with a blunt apex. Gonapophyses VIII elongate, upcurved, canaliculate interiorly, notably projecting over posterior margin anal segment and almost reaching apex of subgenital plate ( Fig. 61Q View FIGURE 61 ). Subgenital plate canaliculate and distinctly keeled medio-longitudinally in the posterior three-fifths and with a prominent, lamellate longitudinal lateral carina in basal two-fifths; the apex obtusely rounded and projecting beyond apex of abdomen by roughly the length of anal segment ( Figs. 61Q–S View FIGURE 61 ).

Legs:All moderately long and slender and with distinctive armature. Profemora notably shorter than mesothorax, mesofemora slightly longer than metathorax, metafemora slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatarsi roughly reaching apex of abdomen. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora each with a distinct, either entire and roundly triangular or multi-dentate lobe about one quarter off the base of femur. Roughly in the same position a small, obtusely triangular tooth present on the posterodorsal carina of meso and metafemora. Meso- and metatibiae on posterodorsal carina with a fairly distinct, semi-circular lobe one-quarter off the base and another but smaller lobe about one-third in front of the apex of tibia. All basitarsi with a moderately sized roundly triangular dorsal crest; all about equal in length to the corresponding following three tarsomeres taken together.

♂♂ ( Fig. 55F View FIGURE 55 ): The unique ♂ at hand lacks both mid legs.

Moderately sized (body length 116.8 mm), slender and apterous insects with a distinctively flattened head ( Fig. 60H View FIGURE 60 ) and a very large laterally compressed spiniform basal projection of the poculum ( Fig. 67D View FIGURE 67 ). Body surface entirely smooth and slightly glossy. General colour of body drab to ochracous mid brown. Head with a very faint dark brown postocular stripe and lower portion of genae light grey ( Fig. 60H View FIGURE 60 ). Terminal three abdominal segment with whitish mottling and lateral margins of tergum IX white in posterior half. Eyes reddish mid brown with faint brown mottling. Bases of metafemora (and most certainly also of mesofemora) creamy white with irregular black annulations and markings. All tibiae with very faint pale annulae. Antennae reddish drab dorsally and dark brown ventrally.

Head ( Fig. 60H View FIGURE 60 ): Elongate, roughly 1.4x longer than wide, broadest at the eyes and gradually narrowing towards the posterior; vertex flattened and smooth except for a slightly impressed coronal line. Posterior margin with two obtuse swellings and a pair of swellings behind the eyes just very weakly indicated. Area between the eyes gently raised and with a pair of shallow, rounded humps. Frons with two small impressions. Eyes large, circular in outline and projecting hemispherical from head capsule; their diameter contained about 1.4x in that of genae. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment III. Scapus and pedicellus basically as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum a little narrower but as long as head, roundly rectangular with the posterior margin widely rounded and 1.8x longer than wide. Surface smooth but with a decidedly impressed medio-longitudinal line and a gently arched transverse median sulcus, that almost reaches to the lateral margins of the segment. Mesothorax 9.8x longer than prothorax, very elongate, slender and uniform in diameter except for a slight widening posteriorly; a little narrower than prothorax. Mesonotum smooth except for an indistinct and rather shallow, obtuse and granulose longitudinal lateral carina. Metanotum 0.4x the length of mesonotum. Meso- and metapleurae with a weakly defined, granulose medio-longitudinal carina. Mesosternum slightly tectate longitudinally, the keel most pronounced anteriorly and gradually disappearing towards the posterior, metasternum alike but the keel less decided.

Abdomen: Median segment slightly shorter than metanotum and about 6.5x longer than wide, smooth. Abdominal segment II about four-fifth the length of median segment. Segments II–VI roughly uniform in length and width, but all notably constricted medially, on average 5x longer than wide. VII somewhat shorter than all preceding and only about 4.5x longer than wide. All sterna smooth. Tergum VIII strongly inflated, widest of all segments and trapezoidal in dorsal aspect with the posterior margin 2x wider than anterior margin ( Fig. 67E View FIGURE 67 ); scarcely less than two-thirds the length of VII. IX about 1.2x longer than VIII with the very anterior portion as broad as posterior margin of VIII, remainder however much narrower and constricted medially; the lateral margins straight except for being weakly rounded and deflexed anteriorly. Anal segment three-fifths the length of IX, 1.2x longer than wide, narrowed at anterior margin but the remainder notably broader than IX and almost parallel-sided; gently tectate longitudinally and with a fairly acute medio-longitudinal carina dorsally, slightly downcurved in lateral aspect ( Fig. 67D View FIGURE 67 ) and the posterior margin with a deep roundly triangular median excavation and the posterolateral angles narrowly rounded ( Fig. 67E View FIGURE 67 ). Ventral surfaces of posterior margin and posterior portion of lateral margins densely set with minute black teeth ( Fig. 67F View FIGURE 67 ). Cerci very short, almost round in cross-section, gently incurved and slightly club-shaped. Vomer slender, elongate, spatulate and almost parallel-sided with a single, fairly short terminal hook; lateral margins strongly inflated and over almost entire length with a broad medio-longitudinal furrow. Poculum strongly convex, cup-shaped, basically rectangular in lateral aspect and reaching to posterior margin of tergum IX; at the angle with a very large, triangular and laterally compressed central projection ( Fig. 67D View FIGURE 67 ).

Legs: All long, slender and entirely unarmed. Profemora equal in length to pro- and mesonotum combined, metafemora reaching to abdominal segment VIII and metatibiae projecting considerably over the apex of the abdomen. Pro- and metabasitarsus slender and noticeably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

Comments. Since the original description of the ♀ by Redtenbacher (1908: 411) is very brief and the holotype is believed to be destroyed, a re-description is here presented along with the first description of the very distinctive and previously unknown ♂. Eilmus (2008: 4) provided information on the habitat and host plants of Ph. saussurei near Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca in southern Mexico and referred to “ Phanocles (Stål, 1875) sp. ”. Specimens found at two different localities were collected on an unidentified liana of the family Combretaceae , Sida acuata ( Malvaceae ), Malvaviscus arboreus ( Malvaceae ) and an unidentified AcaciA – species ( Fabaceae ) of which Sida acuata was accepted in captivity in Mexico in order to obtain eggs for breeding purposes in Europe. In total 15 eggs were obtained from which one ♂ and one ♀ could be raised to maturity in Germany using bramble ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ) as a substitutional food plant. Unfortunately, the adult ♀ could not be maintained long enough to give raise to a culture and died without producing eggs. These two captive reared specimens are the one now at hand for providing the above descriptions.

Table 46: Measurements of Phanocles saussurei ( Redtenbacher, 1908)

* Eilmus (2008: 4) recorded 217.0 mm for the ♀ that gave rise to the two F1 captive reared specimens here examined ** Redtenbacher (1908: 411) cited 222.0 mm for the ♀ holotype