Phyllium (Phyllium) antonkozlovi Cumming, 2017

Cumming, Royce T., Leong, Jing V. & Lohman, David J., 2017, Leaf insects from Luzon, Philippines, with descriptions of four new species, the new genus Pseudomicrophyllium, and redescription of Phyllium (Phyllium) geryon Gray, 1843, (Phasmida: Phylliidae), Zootaxa 4365 (2), pp. 101-131 : 115-117

Phyllium (Phyllium) antonkozlovi Cumming sp. nov.

( Figs. 12A&B & 13A,B ,&C)

HOLOTYPE: 1♂ Philippines, Luzon, Isabela Prov., Dindin (VIII-2014) [Coll. RC 16-122 ]

(Deposited in the National Museum of the Philippines. PNM)

Discussion. With the lack of exterior lobes of the tibiae and simple antennae this new species is placed within the subgenus Phyllium (Phyllium) , species-group placement however is tentative. Hennemann et al., 2009 describe the males of the siccifolium species-group as having an exterior lobe of the profemora which is always distinctly narrower than the interior lobe, a feature only weakly accurate for Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. ( Fig. 13C ). However, the interior lobe leads us to believe that Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. is closely related to Phyllium (Phyllium) philippinicum Hennemann et al., 2009 because of the teeth of the profemora that are small and evenly spaced. Phyllium (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. can immediately distinguishable from Ph. (Ph.) philippinicum Hennemann et al., 2009 by the robust antennae segments and lack of developed ocelli. Because of the male’s similarity to Phyllium (Phyllium) philippinicum , it is predicted that the female will also be morphologically similar to Ph. (Ph.) philippinicum females. It is unlikely that this male specimen is the unknown male of the other known Philippine species, which is known only from females. The large size of the male (57.4 mm) suggests a female similar in size to Ph. (Ph.) philippinicum females (77.5–88.0 mm, Hennemann et al., 2009). Phyllium (Ph.) bilobatum Gray, 1843 is known only from the female holotype with the vague locality of “ Philippines ” is much too small (65.0 mm) to be the unknown Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. female. The holotype Phyllium (Ph.) woodi Rehn & Rehn, 1933 is closest to the expected size of the unknown Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. female (76.0 mm in length), but Ph. (Ph.) woodi is currently only known from Sibuyan Island, far from the type locality of Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. and is morphologically dissimilar to Ph. (Ph.) philippinicum females. Phyllium (Ph.) geryon Gray, 1843 is also much too small to be the Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi sp. nov. female ( Ph. (Ph.) geryon holotype 62.0 mm in length and specimen [Coll RC 17-256] only 65.7 mm in length).

Description. Description is based upon the HT male as no other specimens are known to exist and the female is currently unknown. Rather average in size for known Phyllium (Phyllium) males at 57.4 mm in length. Antennae however are shorter and robust, approximately the length of the extended forelegs (most Phyllium (Phyllium) antennae are longer than the extended forelegs by 3 to 6 antennal segments).

Coloration. Despite being dried, the lime green coloration has not faded as much as most walking leaves color often does. Antennae are very deep brown color and are darker than the cherry red compound eyes. Spination is mostly of a similar color to the surface it is found on.

Morphology. Head capsule about as broad as long with rather straight cheeks creating a boxy overall shape ( Fig. 13A ). Rather large and distinct antennal fields, vertex smooth with only a slightly noticeable posteromedian tubercle. Compound eyes of medium size only slightly protruding, ocelli highly reduced to only a slight marking on the capsule indicating where they were. Antennal rather robust, and consisting of 23 segments. Basal segments are beadlike and cylindrical ( Fig. 13A ). Apical antennomere cylindrical with rounded apex, about 2x longer than wide. Pronotum relatively smooth but with a distinct furrow and slight pit along the median plane and three less notable pits along the anterior rim. Anterior margin concave, lateral and posterior margins slightly convex. Shape roughly trapezoidal with the anterior length about twice that of the posterior. Anterior and lateral margins with slight rims. Prosternum smooth except for slight granulation. Mesopraescutum approximately twice as long than wide, slightly narrower towards the posterior. Lateral margins with 6–7 tubercles of uniform size but somewhat unevenly spaced. Mesopraescutum disc only slightly raised along the median plane with a relatively smooth crest marked by a prominent tubercle on the anterior rim and another in the center, in addition to these two prominent tubercles there are 4–5 lesser nodes. Mesopleurae only slightly diverging from mesopraescutum lateral margins, with 3–4 distinct tubercles and 7–9 minor tubercles intermixed. Mesosternum rather smooth without notable granules. Tegmina (length 21.2 mm, maximum width 6.7 mm), extending about a third the way through abdominal segment IV. Alae (length 37.9 mm), well developed, oval fan configuration with exposed section slightly sclerotized. Abdominal segment II slightly tapering, segments III –V gradually widening with VI marking the widest segment, VI–X gradually tapering towards the apex. Spiracles distinctly visible on the ventral surface, located on the anterior margin of segments III–VIII near the median plane. Anal segment not tapering evenly creating a pentagonal shape with a rounded apex. Poculum rather short with a flat apex, slightly projecting over the posterior margin of abdominal segment IX and exposing the vomer, which is rather wide ( Fig. 13B ). Profemora with a narrow rounded exterior lobe and slightly thicker interior lobe, which is serrate with 5–6 distinct teeth pointing anteriorly, which are more or less evenly spaced ( Fig. 13C ). Protibiae lacking exterior lobe, interior lobe only a smooth arch, not triangular. Exterior and interior lobes of mesofemora gently rounded and slightly serrate with the exterior lobe slightly narrower. Exterior and interior lobes of metafemora gently rounded with interior lobe wider and serrate.

Measurements [mm]: Length of body 57.4, length/width of head 3.8/3.5, length of pronotum 3.5, length of mesonotum 5.0, length of tegmina 21.2, greatest width of tegmina 6.7, length of alae 37.9, greatest width of abdomen 13.3, length of profemora 13.3, length of mesofemora 11.1, length of metafemora 15.6, length of protibiae 9.4, length of mesotibiae 7.8, length of metatibiae 10.9, length of protarsi 7.2, length of antennae 27.1.

Etymology. This new species is a patronym named in honor of Anton Olegovich Kozlov, long time friend to the first author and well-known Russian field entomologist.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Phyllium (Phyllium) antOnkOzlOVi Cumming sp. nov., HT, [Coll. RC 16-122], A: dorsal view; B: ventral view.

FIGURE 13. Phyllium (Phyllium) antOnkOzlOVi Cumming sp. nov., HT [Coll. RC 16-122], A: antennae, head, and thorax; B: genitalia ventral view; C: right profemora.