Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et, 2022

Cumming, Royce T. & Le Tirant, Ste ́ phane, 2022, Three new genera and one new species of leaf insect from Melanesia (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae), ZooKeys 1110, pp. 151-200 : 151

Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 3B , 12

Material examined.

Holotype ♂: " Papua New Guinea: Western Highlands Province (Highlands Region). Mt. Hagen Dist. (New Guinea Island) Mt. Hagen , along Highlands Hwy. (5 51'46.20"S, 144 13'30.75"E) Elev. 1730 m 23-VI-1989 Coll. L D. Munsey. (Coll RC 19-106)". Deposited in the Montreal Insectarium (IMQC).

Remarks.

This mainland New Guinea species is presently only known from the singular holotype male (Fig. 12 ). This species is tentatively placed within Vaabonbonphyllium gen. nov. due to the protibial exterior being bilobed (a feature only known from Vaabonbonphyllium gen. nov. and Rakaphyllium gen. nov.) but the wing venation of this male differs notably from Rakaphyllium gen. nov. and therefore, this species appears to be related to Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. based upon our poor knowledge of male morphology within that species. Unfortunately, for the Vaabonbonphyllium gen. nov. only three males are known (two Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. and this herein described species) so our knowledge on the intrageneric variability is severely limited and until specimens of both species can be sequenced a confident placement cannot be made beyond this initial morphology-based review.

Differentiation.

Females unknown. Male Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov. can be differentiated from Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. based upon the abdominal shape as Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov. has an abdomen with all segments relatively even in width giving it a smooth margined appearance (Fig. 12B ), versus Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. which have notably differing abdominal segment widths, with the middle segments many times wider than the anterior and distal segments (Fig. 11A, D ). The lobes of the femora allow differentiation as Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov. has a profemoral exterior lobe which is slightly wider than the profemoral shaft width (Fig. 12C ) and mesofemoral interior and exterior lobes which are approximately the same width (Fig. 12D ) versus Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. which has the profemoral exterior lobe highly reduced (Fig. 11B ) and the interior mesofemoral lobe notably broader than the mesofemoral exterior lobe. Additionally, the prosternum allows for differentiation as in Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov. there is a distinct protrusion (Fig. 12H ), and in Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. the prosternum is relatively smooth, lacking a distinct protrusion (Fig. 11E ).

Distribution.

Currently only known from the type locality of Mt. Hagen, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea (Fig. 5 ).

Male. Coloration. The coloration description is based on the single dried holotype specimen which appears to have been collected in alcohol which turns phylliids yellow (Fig. 12 ). In life the specimen likely was green, but color variation is known within phylliids so a definitive coloration description cannot be given at this time for possible living coloration. The overall coloration of the holotype specimen is straw yellow throughout with the only feature which is distinctly different in color being the compound eyes which are a dark red (Fig. 12G ). Abdominal segment V has a set of eye spots which are ovular and slightly darker in color than the remainder of the abdomen.

Morphology. Head. Head capsule approximately as long as wide, with a vertex that is marked throughout by nodes which are relatively evenly spaced and of uniform size (Fig. 12G ). The posteromedial tubercle is singularly pointed, large, and notably raised above the head capsule, many times larger than any of the capsule granules (Fig. 12H ). Frontal convexity stout and bluntly pointed with several short setae on the apex. Compound eyes large and bulbous, occupying ca. ⅖ of the head capsule lateral margins (Fig. 12G ). Between and slightly posterior to the compound eyes are three ocelli that are well-developed (Fig. 12G ). Antennal fields are slightly wider than and approximately as long as the scapus.

Antennae. Antennae (including the scapus and pedicellus) consist of 22 segments. The scapus and pedicellus are bare, segments III through XIX have dark setae which are mostly around two times longer than the segments are wide and are not densely packed, the terminal three segments are covered by fine, densely packed, transparent setae (Fig. 12F ).

Thorax. Pronotum is slightly longer than the greatest width, with anterior margin concave and lateral margins that are straight and converge to a gently convex posterior margin that is ca. ⅗ the width of the anterior rim (Fig. 12G ). Anterior and lateral margins of the pronotum have distinct rims and the posterior margin lacks a rim (Fig. 12G ). Face of the pronotum is notably lumpy, marked with a distinct sagittal furrow on the anterior half, and a distinct pit in the center (Fig. 12G ). Prosternum has a notably granulose surface with a distinctly projecting area in the center and an additional smaller projection near the posterior margin, which is smaller than the central projection, both projections are marked with granulation (Fig. 12H ). Mesosternum has a notably granulose surface similarly marked as the prosternum with uniform spacing between granules which are all nearly even in size. Metasternum not as heavily marked with granulation, but instead has slightly wrinkled anterior areas and a nearly smooth central and posterior area. Prescutum on the anterior is wider than long, with lateral margins converging uniformly to the posterior which is ca. ⅗ as wide as the anterior rim width (Fig. 12G ). Lateral rims with a lumpy texture due to irregularly sized tubercles/nodes (ca. nine distinct but some weakly formed) with the largest near the anterior margin (Fig. 12G ). The surface of the prescutum is marked with a few nodes but it is mostly smooth as there is no distinct sagittal crest, instead the anterior margin is the only distinct feature as the rim is prominently formed with a granular surface and raised into a distinct sagittal point (Fig. 12G, H ). Mesopleura narrow, only slightly diverging from the anterior to the posterior giving the mesosternum a rectangular appearance when viewed ventrally. Lateral margin with one notably larger tubercle on the anterior margin with three setae protruding from it followed by four or five moderately sized tubercles which in some cases have a seta or two protruding from them, with these tubercles evenly spaced throughout the length (Fig. 12G ). Face of the mesopleura with a weakly lumpy surface (most areas are relatively smooth) and marked with two weakly formed pits near the middle of the length (Fig. 12G, H ).

Wings. Tegmina moderate length, extending ca. ⅓ of the way onto abdominal segment III (Fig. 3B ). Tegmina wing venation: the subcosta (Sc) is the first vein, it runs relatively straight and terminates slightly less than ½ of the way through the overall tegmina length. The radius (R) spans the entire length of the tegmina with the first radius (R1) branching slightly greater than ⅓ of the way through the wing length and running to the wing margin where it terminates ca. ⅗ of the way through the wing length, and then the radial sector (Rs) runs straight from the branching point to the wing apex. The media (M) spans the entire length of the tegmina, terminating at the wing apex as the media anterior (MA). The media posterior (MP) branches ca. ⅔ of the way through the wing length, immediately bends and runs parallel with the media anterior until it terminates near the wing apex. The cubitus (Cu) runs through the wing surface angled towards the margin which it meets ca. ⅓ of the way through the tegmina length at the same location where the first anal (1A) vein fuses with it and the cubitus runs along the wing margin until it fades near the point where the media posterior terminates near the wing margin. Alae well-developed in an oval fan configuration, reaching beyond the apex of the abdominal segments, instead reaching to the apex of the cerci. Alae wing venation (Fig. 3B ): the costa (C) is present along the entire forewing margin. The subcosta (Sc) runs along the costa throughout almost its entire length. The radius (R) branches ca. ¼ of the way through the wing length into the first radius (R1) and radial sector (Rs) which run for half of their length slightly diverging, then parallel/subparallel until the wing apex where thy converge and terminate very near each other at the wing apex. The media (M) branches early, ca. ⅛ of the way through the wing length into the media anterior (MA) and the media posterior (MP) which run parallel with each other until the media anterior bends towards the radial sector and fuses with it near the wing apex, and the media posterior bends towards the media anterior but fades before fusing with it. The cubitus (Cu) runs unbranched and terminates at the wing apex. Of the anterior anal veins, the first anterior anal (1AA) fuses with the cubitus near the point where the media branches into the media anterior and media posterior and then the first anterior anal branches from the cubitus ca. ¼ of the way through the wing length where it uniformly diverges from the cubitus until it terminates at the wing margin. The anterior anal veins two-seven (2AA-7AA) have a common origin and run unbranched in a folding fan pattern of relatively uniform spacing to the wing margin. The posterior anal veins (1PA-5PA) share a common origin separate from the anterior anal veins and run unbranched to the wing margin.

Abdomen. The general shape of the abdomen is long and slender with margins that are relatively parallel and segments which are nearly even in width, varying little from one to the next (Fig. 12B ). Abdominal segments II through IV diverge only slightly, segments V and VI are parallel sided, and VII through the apex converge to the apex.

Genitalia. Poculum roundly rectangular in shape with anterior and lateral margins relatively straight and the posterior margin only slightly passing onto the terminal abdominal segment as it gently arcs towards the abdomen apex. Cerci long and slender (approximately ⅖ as wide as long), with slightly more than ½ of their length extending out from under the anal abdominal segment. The cerci are relatively flat and covered in a granulose surface with numerous short setae evenly spaced throughout (Fig. 12A ). The vomer general shape is an equilateral triangle with straight sides evenly converging to the apex, which is armed with a singular upward turning hook that is broad and notably darker than the rest of the vomer (Fig. 12A ).

Legs. Profemoral exterior lobe arcing gently with a width only slightly greater than the greatest width of the profemoral shaft with the margin marked slightly with granulation (Fig. 12D ). Profemoral interior lobe roundly right angled with a greatest width ca. three times that of the exterior lobe and the distal margin is marked with three or four stout and blunted teeth with varying spacing between them (Fig. 12D ). Mesofemoral exterior lobe arcs unevenly end to end with the widest point on the distal ⅓, and the greatest width slightly wider than the mesofemoral shaft or mesofemoral exterior lobe widths (Fig. 12D ). The mesofemoral interior lobe is marked by four dulled teeth on the distal ⅓ of the lobe (Fig. 12D ). The mesofemoral exterior lobe is very similar to the interior lobe in terms of shape, size, and dentition, with the only notable difference being that at its greatest width it is slightly thinner than the interior lobe (Fig. 12D ). Metafemoral exterior lobe has a slightly granular margin but lacks dentition, and the margin is straight running along the metafemoral shaft (Fig. 12E ). Metafemoral interior lobe is unevenly weighted on the shaft with the majority occupying the distal ⅔ of the length with the distal ⅓ marked with three or four teeth, with the proximal most rather dulled and the distal most teeth more finely pointed (Fig. 12E ). Protibiae with two exterior lobes, one small lobe on the distal end and a larger lobe (ca. three times as large as the small distal lobe) slightly proximal to halfway through the length (Fig. 12D ). Protibiae with a single interior lobe which is the shape of a rounded scalene triangle which occupies the proximal ¾ of the protibial length and at its maximum width is ca. two and a half times the width of the protibial shaft width (Fig. 12D ). Mesotibiae and metatibiae lack interior lobes but both have singular small exterior lobes situated on the distal end, with the mesotibial exterior lobe only weakly formed (not as wide as the shaft width: Fig. 12D ) and the metatibial exterior lobe more distinctly formed (ca. as wide as the metatibial shaft width: Fig. 12E ).

Measurements of holotype male [mm].

Length of body (including cerci and head, excluding antennae) 52.8, length/width of head 3.1/3.0, antennae 21.5, pronotum 2.5, mesonotum 2.3, length of tegmina 17.2, length of alae 45.6, greatest width of abdomen 10.5, profemora 7.7, mesofemora 7.4, metafemora 7.4, protibiae 4.8, mesotibiae 4.8, metatibiae 6.8.

Etymology.

The specific epithet of the new species is selected to honor the wife of Larry D. Munsey, the individual who collected the specimen upon which the new species description is based. Rafidah, a native of West Malaysia, and Larry, a native Californian, live in Borneo where they jointly have been studying the megadiverse cerambycid fauna of the island for the past 17 years.

Figures

Figure 3. Male tegmina venation for two of the herein described genera A Rakaphyllium schultzei comb. nov. (MNHU) B Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae (IMQC) (Coll RC 19 - 106). Abbreviations: Sc (subcosta); R (radius); R 1 (radius 1); Rs (radial sector); Rs + MA (fused radial sector and media anterior); M (media); MA (media anterior); MP (media posterior); Cu + 1 AA (fused cubitus and first anterior anal); 1 AA- 7 AA (first through seventh anterior anal); 1 PA- 5 PA (first through fifth posterior anal); 1 A (first anal).

Figure 5. Distribution map noting all presently known records of Vaabonbonphyllium gen. nov. (denoted as star symbols) and Rakaphyllium gen. nov. (denoted as circle symbols) which were located and had data that could accurately be mapped. See Supplementary File 1 for full details for all records presented.

Figure 11. Vaabonbonphyllium groesseri comb. nov. males A-C, E, F paratype male, (ANIC (CSIRO )), photographs by Bonnie Koopmans (CSIRO) D, G non-type male (NHMUK), photographs by first author A habitus, dorsal (left front leg is physically detached, photoshopped onto the specimen for this figure) B left front leg, dorsal C details of head through thorax, dorsal D habitus, dorsal E details of head through thorax, lateral F associated data labels G genitalia, ventral. Scale bar only associated with A.

Figure 12. Holotype male Vaabonbonphyllium rafidahae gen. et sp. nov., (IMQC) (Coll RC 19 - 106) photographs by the first author A genitalia, ventral B habitus, dorsal C details of the protibial and profemoral lobes D details of the mesotibial and mesofemoral lobes E details of the metatibial and metafemoral lobes F antenna, dorsal G details of the head and thorax, dorsal H head-thorax, lateral. Scale bar only associated with B.