Cnipsomorpha erinacea, Hennemann, Frank H., Conle, Oskar V., Zhang, Weiwei & Liu, Ye, 2008

Hennemann, Frank H., Conle, Oskar V., Zhang, Weiwei & Liu, Ye, 2008, Descriptions of a new genus and three new species of Phasmatodea from Southwest China (Insecta: Phasmatodea), Zootaxa 1701, pp. 40-62 : 58-61

Cnipsomorpha erinacea n. sp.

( Figs. 12–17 )

HT, Ψ: SW-China, Yunnan Province, Gongshan County, Bingzhongluo Village, Mt. Niwalo, 1500–2000 m, 18.VIII.2006, leg. Liu Ye [in alcohol] (IZCAS).

PT, 1 egg (removed from the abdomen of the HT) [in alcohol]: same data as HT (IZCAS)

Etymology. The name (lat. erinaceus = hedgehog) refers to the strongly spinose head and body of this new species. Feminine.

Differentiation. This new species is easily distinguished from the two other members of the genus by: the considerably larger size; gently broadened and sub-basally swollen abdomen; 16-jointed antennae and tapered, apically pointed anal segment. From C. apteris (Liu & Cai) it furthermore differs by: the much broader and robust body; relatively shorter body segment; relatively longer legs; six instead of four prominent spines and more prominent posterolateral lobes of the abdominal tergites II–VII. In addition to the characters mentioned it is distinguished from C. colorantis (Chen & He) by: presence of a small anterior pair of spines on the pronotum; less numerous spines of the mesothorax; lack of a sub-basal lateral spine-like appendage on the subgenital plate, and the unarmed tibiae.

Description. The colouration is described from photos of the live HT taken by Liu Ye. Provisional conservation in alcohol has discoloured all green parts of the body to pale yellow.

Ψ ( Figs. 12 & 13 ). Large (body length 42.0 mm) rather broad and robust for the genus; abdomen gently swollen sub-basally with segments III and IV broadest. Entire dorsal surface of head and body armed with tubercles and spines of variable sizes. General colouration of head, body and legs reddish mid brown, although a little darker on the abdomen. Pronotum with two faint dark brown, longitudinal median markings and greenish in between. Mesonotum laterally with two rather short, strongly winded green lines; one in anterior half and one in posterior half. The anterior line broader and both interiorly accompanied by a broad weakly defined black marking. Two similar structure on lateral surfaces of metanotum, one at anterior margin and one one sub-posteriorly; one such structure on lateral surfaces of abdominal tergite II. Tergites III–VII each with a conspicuous, semi-circular bright green marking, interiorly bordered by a broad but rather undecided black line. Tergite VIII with the lateral green marking less defined but considerably larger. Lateral surfaces of tergites IX–X slightly greenish. Meso- and metapleurae pale yellowish green, pro-, meso- and metasternum mid brown, the two latter with a greenish line along lateral margins. Metasternum with a weakly defined greenish median marking near posterior margin. Abdominal sternites brown with some very faint, irregular pale green markings and speckles; the more lateral spines white. All femora and tibiae with indistinct and irregular darker brown markings and annulations.

Head: Globose, 1.3x longer than wide, vertex strongly convex and rounded. Between the eyes with a pair of rather prominent, blunt supra-antennal spines, these slightly directed towards the posterior. Vertex armed with eight prominent spines. Six paired median occipitals roughly arranged in two parallel longitudinal rows, the anterior pair largest. A further prominent supra-orbital spine positioned anterolaterally of the occipital spines ( Fig. 15 ). Eyes small, circular and projecting hemispherically; length contained 3.5x in that of cheek. Antennae moderately broad, about as long as head and pronotum combined and consisting of 16 segments; all minutely setose. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed and dilated with the lateral margins gently rounded. Pedicelus cylindrical, much narrower and its length contained 3x in that of scapus. III strongly constricted basally. Apical antennomere longest and slightly club-like ( Fig. 15 ).

Thorax: Pronotum about as long and slightly narrower than head; roughly rectangular with the lateral margins weakly convex. Transverse median depression indistinct and short, not reaching to lateral margins of segment. Longitudinal median line decidedly impressed. Two small antero-median tubercles present, two even smaller medial-pronotals, just before transverse median depression, and close to posterior margin armed with two moderately distinct inter-posterior pronotal spines. Mesothorax more than 3x longer than pronotum, anterior 1/3 constricted, medial portion considerably broadened and swollen, lateral margins of posterior 1/3 roughly parallel-sided; posterior margin almost 2x broader than anterior margin. Convex and swollen median portion of mesonotum armed with twelve prominent median-mesonotal spines, three pairs dorsally and two slightly smaller spines on each lateral surface. A pair of distinct and pointed post-median spines present and followed by a pair of much smaller, blunt inter-posterior spines at posterior margin. Lateral margins with a row of several small spines and two considerably larger medio-lateral spines in the median portion, the anterior one larger. Otherwise set with several minute spines or tubercles. Mesopleurae with a longitudinal row of 6–7 small, blunt spines. Metanotum slightly more than half the length of mesonotum, rectangular and about 1.3x longer than wide. Dorsally armed with three prominent pairs of spines, one small anterior pair, a slightly more decided pair close to posterior margin and a considerably more prominent pair medially; another distinct spine close to posterolateral angles of metanotum. Lateral margins with two moderately sized, conical spines in anterior half. Surface otherwise set with several small tubercles or spines. Metapleurae structured like mesopleurae. Meso- and metasternum set with some flat tubercles, the lateral margins slightly raised. Both with a conspicuous conical and strongly shiny median hump just before coxae, which may represent a sensorial area or similar.

Abdomen: Slightly longer than head and complete thorax combined. Median segment less than ¼ the length of metanotum, wider than long, the anterior margin gently rounded; armed with two prominent spines medially and a further, much smaller spine on each lateral surface. Segments II–VII roughly of equal length; III slightly longer. II and III very slightly widening towards the posterior, IV–VII slightly tapering; III and IV widest. Tergite VIII almost 1.5x longer than VII. Tergites II–VII each with the posterolateral angle strongly elevated to form a prominent triangular, apically pointed lobe, which laterally extends by almost as much as 1/ 3 the width of the corresponding segment; indistinct on II and most prominent on III and IV. II–VIII each armed with six prominent spines; four spines posteromedially which roughly form a quadrangle and a further, strong posterior pair close to posterior margin; these most prominent on III and IV. The posteriors towards the anterior terminating in a decreasing and diverging blunt carina. Close to anterior margin with a further pair of small spines or tubercles. Sternites II–VII each with an irregular longitudinal carina close to lateral margins, which is set with 2–3 ± distinct, blunt spine-like expansions. Praeopercular organ formed by a blunt median tubercle close to posterior margin of VII. Posterior median spines on VIII strongly enlarged to form a distinct triangular tooth. On IX these form two very large, triangular lobes, which dorsally extend by more than half the height of segment ( Fig. 14 ). IX about 3/45 the length of VIII. Anal segment slightly longer than IX, distinctly carinate and tapered towards a pointed apex; roughly triangular in dorsal aspect. Anterolaterally with a prominent, flat tubercle. Supraanal plate very small and entirely hidden underneath apical extension of anal segment. Cerci about ¾ the length of anal segment and projecting over its apex; slightly lanceolate, triangular in cross-section and finely setose. Lower gonapophyses filiform and slightly projecting over posterior margin of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate rather small, scoop-shaped, flat in the basal portion and gently convex in apical portion; lateral surfaces in basal half with a prominent, ledge-like longitudinal keel. Apex rounded with a very minute median incision and reaching about half way along anal segment.

Legs: All long and moderately slender, profemora slightly longer than combined length of head, pro- and mesonotum, mesofemora reaching half way along abdominal tergite III, and metafemora reaching to posterior margin of tergite VII. All femora and tibiae trapezoidal in cross-section, femora decidedly carinate. Antero- and posteroventral carinae of profemora each armed with 7–9 blunt triangular teeth which increase in size towards apex of femur; remaining carinae unarmed. Both ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora set with three triangular teeth which increase in size towards the apex of femur. Dorsal carinae with a faint, tooth-like sub-basal elevation, otherwise unarmed. Medioventral carina of all femora fine and set with a longitudinal row of minute, white granules. Tibiae unarmed. Tarsi elongate, protarsi slightly more than 1/3 the length, meso- and metatarsi almost half the length of corresponding tibia. Probasitarsus longer than remaining tarsomeres combined, mesobasitarsus slightly shorter, metabasitarsus about equal to combined length remaining tarsomeres.

Measurements in table 2.

Eggs ( Figs. 16 & 17 ). One egg was removed from the abdomen of the HT and is briefly described below. However, care must be taken due to certain structures may not be fully developed although the egg appears to have been close to being laid.

Very small, capsule slightly longer than high and slightly oval in cross-section. Polar-area gently impressed if seen in lateral aspect. Capsule surface covered with a bold, slightly raised and net-like and structure, otherwise very minutely granulose. Micropylar plate oval and being slightly less than half of the capsule length; outer margin conspicuously raised. Interior portion of micropylar plate low with a raised, longitudinal ridge, posterior end with a very short median-line, externally formed by an elevation of the outer margin. Micropylar cup placed close to posterior end of plate. Operculum oval, shallowly concave, outer margin with a rim of minute hair-like structures; otherwise smooth. General colouration of capsule orange mid brown, all raised structures, including those of the micropylar plate, straw to pale greyish. Operculum mid grey.

Measurements [mm]: length 1.60, width 1.44, height 1.50, length of micropylar plate. 0.70.

Comments. Only known from the unique ΨHT.

* after Liu & Cai (1992)

** after Chen & He (1996)

Figures

FIGURES 12 – 17. Cnipsomorpha erinacea n. gen. n. sp. 12. Habitus of ΨHT, lateral view. 13. Habitus of ΨHT, dorsal view. 14. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. 15. Head, lateral view. 16. Egg, dorsal view. 17. Egg, lateral view.