Lanceobostra similis ( 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 : 115-117

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-FFD2-D811-FF55-F5692BC0E6AE
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Lanceobostra similis ( Redtenbacher, 1908 )
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Lanceobostra similis ( Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n.

( Figs. 37F View FIGURE 37 , 85J View FIGURE 85 , 40N–P View FIGURE 40 )

Bostra similis Redtenbacher, 1908: 412 View in CoL .

Shelford, 1909: 361.

Brock, 1993: 21.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 73.

Brock, Marshall, Beccaloni & Harman, 2016: 195.

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

Brock & Büscher, 2022: 511.

Luna, 2022: 91.

Further material examined [1 ♂]:

♂: 5–10 mi. S. Uruapan, Mich., Mex. 5000 ft.; VIII.17.1940 (H. R. Roberts) [ ANSP] .

Diagnosis. Males are similar to those of L. torquata sp. n. but can be separated from this and all other known ♂♂ of the genus by the characteristic shape of the anal segment, which has the posterior margin basically tri-lobate with the median portion and lateral angles obtusely protuded ( Fig. 40O View FIGURE 40 ). The densely granulose thoracic segments and minutely granulose abdominal terga of ♀♀ resemble L. frustrans ( Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n., but this species differs from L. similis in many morphological aspects, such as the much slenderer shape, prominent cephalic horns and having the thoracic armature more acute. In overall appearance ♀♀ of L. similis also resemble L. tridenticulata ( Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n., but this species is smaller (body length of the holotype including the subgenital plate 116.0 mm), has an entirely smooth head, much less granules on the mesonotum, an almost smooth metanotum, smooth abdominal terga and by name three distinctive apical teeth on the medioventral carina of the meso- and metafemora.

Description. ♂♂ ( Fig. 37F View FIGURE 37 ): Medium sized (body length 97.0 mm), slender and typical for the genus with a small but pointed central protuberance of the poculum and fairly long, interiorly impressed cerci. Body surface smooth and slightly glossy. General colour buff, the meso- and metasternum with a slight orange hue, the coxae dark brown, the lower portion of the genae and lateral portions of abdominal tergum white. Frons washed greyish mid brown.All femora mid brown at the apex and all tibiae very faintly annulated with straw. Antennae dark reddish brown at the base and gradually becoming lighter with the rad fading towards the apex.

Head: Elongate, flattened, 1.7x longer than wide, broadest just behind the eyes with the posterior half notably narrowed. Frons with two shallow swellings and frons with a small but distinct C-shaped impression. Eyes circular in outline, projecting almost hemispherical and their diameter contained about 2x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment III. Scapus somewhat compressed dorsoventrally towards the base, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and about 1.3x longer than wide. Pedicellus round in cross-section and about half the length of scapus. III strongly constricted towards the apex.

Thorax: Pronotum about as long but slightly narrower than posterior portion of head, basically rectangular in dorsal aspect with a slight narrowing pre-medially; about 2x longer than wide. Transverse median sulcus shallow and indistinct, gently curved and expanding almost over entire width of segment. Mesothorax 8.3x longer than pronotum, uniform in diameter and just slightly widened at posterior margin. Mesonotum with a fine furrow parallel to lateral margins. Metanotum like mesonotum, about one-third of the length and weakly narrowed medially. Mesosternum with a slight medio-longitudinal carina, metasternum smooth and simple.

Table 21: Measurements of Lanceobostra similis ( Redtenbacher, 1908) comb. n.

* according to Redtenbacher, 1908: 412

Abdomen: Median segment scarcely shorter than metanotum. Segment II somewhat shorter than median segment, III–V slightly longer than II, uniform in length, VI and VII decreasing in length; all uniform in diameter. V 4.8x and VII only 3.3x longer than wide. Terga II–VII with a fine longitudinal carina parallel to lateral margins, otherwise smooth, sterna II–VII smooth. Tergum VIII trapezoidal, gradually widening towards the posterior, a little less than two-thirds the length of VII and with an obtuse longitudinal bulge laterally. IX widest segment and almost 2x wider than II–VII, the posterior portion narrowed and the lateral margins moderately deflexed with posterolateral angles rather truncated and inward directed. Anal segment slightly longer than IX, about 2x longer than wide, with an acute and distinct medio-longitudinal carina, the lateral margins very weakly widened medially; posterior margin basically tri-lobate with the median portion roundly protruded and the lateral angles forming and obtusely rounded, posteriad and ventrad directed lobe ( Fig. 40O View FIGURE 40 ). Intero-ventral surface of these lateral lobes set with minute denticles. Epiproct very small and concealed by anal segment. Cerci elongate, almost as long as anal segment and projecting notably beyond apex of abdomen; shape paddle-like, carinate dorsally and ventrally and gently incurved with the interior surface strongly impressed, canaliculate and concave. Vomer elongate with a bi-dentate apex and a deep longitudinal median furrow ( Fig. 40P View FIGURE 40 ). Poculum strongly convex, cup-shaped and angular in lateral aspect with a small but acute and posteriad directed central protuberance ( Fig. 40N View FIGURE 40 ); the posterior portion carinate longitudinally and the posterior margin reaching to end of tergum IX ( Fig. 40P View FIGURE 40 ).

Legs: All long, slender and entirely unarmed, profemora as long as pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora slightly shorter than mesothorax and metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment VI with metatibiae projecting considerably beyond apex of abdomen. Basitarsi elongate, slender and on average about 1.5x longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

Comments. The unique holotype ♀ in the collection of NHMUK has unfortunately suffered from damage by dermestid beetles. The terminal four abdominal segments and subgenital plate are missing. The previously unknown ♂ is here described for the first time. Eggs unknown.