Sipyloidea tuberculata, Ho, 2017

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea V: New taxa and new nomenclatures of the subfamilies Necrosciinae (Diapheromeridae) and Lonchodinae (Phasmatidae) from the Phasmatodea of China, Zootaxa 4368 (1), pp. 1-72 : 43

Sipyloidea tuberculata sp. nov.

(Figs. 152–155, 195–198)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 2100m, Motuo, Xizang, China, 11.VIII.2013, Bi Wen-Xuan (SEM); Paratypes: 18 eggs (extracted from abdomen of holotype ♀), 2100m, Motuo, Xizang, China, 11.VIII.2013, Bi Wen-Xuan (SEM).

Diagnosis. Sipyloidea tuberculata sp. nov. [ China (Xizang)] is similar to S. sipylus ( Westwood, 1859) [widely distributed species], but can be easily separated by distinctly tuberculate mesonotum, maculated legs and maculated anal region of alae.

Description. Female (Figs. 152–153, 195–198). Medium-sized. General colour of body and legs yellowish brown with black markings. Body slender, sparsely covered with short bristles.

Head: Oval, as long as pronotum, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex flat. Occiput gently convex, with four indistinct swellings on posterior margin. Median and lateral longitudinal furrows indistinct. Compound eyes oval, about two times length of genae. Antennae long and filiform, surpassing apices of forelegs, sparsely covered with short bristles; scapus flattened at base, shorter than third segment; pedicellus shorter than scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum sparsely covered with small granules, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle area. Mesonotum parallel-sided, longer than combined length of pronotum, metanotum and median segment, sparsely covered with small granules and short spine-like tubercles, median longitudinal carina indistinct. Mesopleurae, mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum densely covered small granules.

Abdomen: Cylindrical, tapering posteriorly. Second to fourth tergites lacking bristles, fifth tergum to anal segment with sparse short bristles. Second to seventh sternites with indistinct granulations and sparsely covered with short bristles. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum. Anal segment as long as eighth tergum, gently tapering posteriorly, posterior margin rounded. Supra-anal plate indistinct. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, wrinkled, posterior apex reaching middle area of anal segment, posterior margin rounded. Cerci long, straight, apices rounded and surpassing posterior end of abdomen.

Legs: Slender and long. Unarmed. Profemora incurved basally, as long as metafemora, longer than mesofemora, shorter than corresponding tibiae. Mesofemora as long as mesotibiae, shorter than mesonotum. Metafemora shorter than corresponding tibiae.

Wings: Tegmina oval, longer than head. Alae short, reaching anterior margin of fifth abdominal tergum, costal region brown with black markings, anal region pale white with gray spots.

Male. Unknown.

Measurements in Table 19.

Eggs (Figs. 154–155). Capsule yellowish brown, with black markings, cylindrical, posterior pole rounded, ventral surface flat and smooth. Micropylar plate brown, oblong, anterior apex reaching margin of operculum, posterior apex pointed. Micropylar cup placed at middle point of capsule. Median line short, about one-fifth length of micropylar plate, placed after micropylar cup. Operculum brown, lacking capitulum, gently convex medially.

Measurements. Length 3.6 mm, width 1.4 mm, height 1.2 mm.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Notes. The description, illustrations and measurements of eggs are based on extracted eggs which were removed from the abdomen of the holotypic female and most probably in an immature stage.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the tubercles on the mesonotum.