Parapachymorpha parvicorne, Ho, 2021

Ho, Wai-Chun George, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea XI: New taxa and new nomenclature of Medaurini (Phasmatidae: Clitumninae) from China, Zoological Systematics 46 (3), pp. 234-239 : 237-238

Parapachymorpha parvicorne sp. nov. ( Figs 12–19 )

Diagnosis. This new species is related to P. granulata sp. nov., but can be separated by the presence of supra-antennal armature on the vertex of head, the 14-segmented antennae and the presence of posterolateral expansions on the seventh abdominal tergum in the female and the obtuse apices of anal abdominal semi-segments in the male.

Description. Female. Small size. Body robust. General colouration of body and legs dark brown with light brown markings. Head oval, longer than wide, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex flat, armed with a pair of small and short horns between compound eyes. Occiput gently convex, unarmed, median longitudinal furrow distinct. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about three times that of genae. Antennae sparsely covered with long bristles, with 14 segments, shorter than mesonotum, reaching subapical area of profemora; scapus oval, constricted posteriorly, dorsoventrally flattened, longer than pedicellus, lacking median longitudinal carina; pedicellus cylindrical, shorter than third segment; and third segment shorter than scapus. Thorax wrinkled and covered with sparse and small granules. Pronotum trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, shorter than head; anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing just after middle point. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, median longitudinal carina indistinct, lateral margins with a few enlarged granules. Metanotum longer than median segment, median longitudinal carina indistinct. Abdomen cylindrical, tapering posteriorly. Wrinkled and sparsely granulated. Median segment rectangular, two times wider than long. Seventh sternum with a small hump-like praeopercular organ posteromedially. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Ninth tergum longer than eighth tergum, with a small posteromedian crest. Anal segment shorter than ninth tergum, tapering posteriorly, apex rounded. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, tapering posteriorly, apex pointed and reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci short, flattened, apices pointed and not surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs sparsely covered with short bristles. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, with small dentations. Profemora distinctly curved basally. Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, with small dentations, medioventral carina raised basally.

Male. Body slender, distinctly more slender and longer than female. General colouration of body and legs brown. Head sparsely granulated. Oval, posteriorly constricted behind compound eyes. Vertex with a pair of small granule-like horns between compound eyes. Occiput convex, median and lateral longitudinal furrows indistinct. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about three times that of genae. Antennae with 15–18 segments; scapus flattened, constricted basally,

longer than pedicellus, as long as third segment. Thorax unarmed, sparsely covered with a few small granules. Pronotum rectangular, longer than wide, shorter than head, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle area. Mesonotum slender and elongate, gently expanded in second half. Metanotum more than three times length of median segment. Abdomen slender and cylindrical. Median segment longer than wide. Second to seventh tergites parallel-sided. Eighth tergum expanded posteriorly, as long as ninth tergum. Anal segment longer than ninth tergum, split into two elongate semi-tergites, tapering posteriorly, inner margins curved, apices obtuse, inner surface with minute dentations. Poculum cup-shaped, with rounded posterior margin, reaching anterior area of anal segment. Cerci cylindrical, small and short, straight, apices pointed and not surpassing posterior apices of anal segment. Legs very slender and long, sparsely covered with long bristles. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae. Profemora curved basally. Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, medioventral carina raised basally.

Measurements. Length. Body, ♀ 35.0 mm, ♂ 34.0–39.0 mm; antennae, ♀ 6.0 mm, ♂ 7.0– 8.5 mm; head, ♀ 3.0 mm, ♂ 2.5mm; pronotum, ♀ 2.5 mm, ♂ 2.0mm; mesonotum, ♀ 7.0 mm, ♂ 7.5–8.0mm; metanotum, ♀ 3.5 mm, ♂ 4.0mm; median segment, ♀ 1.0 mm, ♂ 1.0– 1.5 mm; profemora, ♀ 12.0 mm, ♂ 17.0–21.0 mm; mesofemora, ♀ 8.0 mm, ♂ 10.5–12.5 mm; metafemora, ♀ 11.0 mm, ♂ 13.0–18.0 mm; protibiae, ♀ 14.0 mm, ♂ 18.0–23.0 mm; mesotibiae, ♀ 9.0 mm, ♂ 11.5–13.5mm; metatibiae, ♀ 13.0 mm, ♂ 15.0–21.0 mm.

Material examined. Holotype ♀, China, Yunnan, Yuxi, Xinping , 2400m, 24 June 2019, George Ho Wai-Chun. Paratypes. 1♀ (immature), 6♂, same data as holotype .

Distribution. China.

Remarks. The description, illustrations and measurements of female are only given to the adult holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the small horns on the vertex of head in the female.

Figures

Figures 12–15. Parapachymorpha parvicorne gen. & sp. nov. 12. Female apex of abdomen, lateral view.13. Female apex of abdomen, dorsal view. 14. Male apex of abdomen, lateral view. 15. Male apex of abdomen, dorsal view. Scale bars=5mm.

Figures 16–19. Parapachymorpha parvicorne sp. nov. 16. Female habitus. 17. Male habitus. 18. Female head and thorax, dorsolateral view. 19. Male head and thorax, dorsolateral view. Scale bars=5mm.