Stephanacris multilobatus, Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006, Stephanacridini Günther, 1953, with the descriptions of a new genus and three new species of Stephanacris Redtenbacher, 1908 (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”), Zootaxa 1283, pp. 1-24 : 16-19

Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp.

Figs. 5–8 , 18, 20

HT, Ψ: SE­West Papua (= Irian Jaya), Tembagapura, Timika, VI.2002 (ZSMC, ex coll. FH). PT, Ψ: SE­West Papua (= Irian Jaya), Tembagapura, Timika, VI.2002 (coll. FH 0516­1). PT, 3 eggs (removed from abdomen of PT): SE­West Papua (= Irian Jaya), Tembagapura, Timika,

VI.2002 (coll. FH 0516­E).

Etymology

The specific name “ multilobatus ” (lat. = many lobes) refers to the lateral lobes of abdominal tergites II–X of ΨΨ.

Differentiation

Easily distinguished from S. brevipes Redtenbacher, 1908 and S. globiceps Redtenbacher, 1908 by the larger size and broader body; elongate head; flat and unarmed vertex; broadened mesothorax; considerably longer alae which reach as far back as the posterior margin of abdominal tergite II and much longer subgenital plate.

Very similar and closely related to S. draconius n. sp. but differing by: the slightly more elongate body; more slender mesothorax; more prominent and more numerous spines of the mesonotum; slightly shorter alae which do not project over abdominal tergite II; presence of a rounded, posterolateral lobe on abdominal tergites II–VII; less prominent armature of the legs; smaller lobes of the probasitarsus and relatively longer basitarsi. The eggs differ from those of S. draconius n. sp. by the not considerably swollen and raised operculum and relatively smaller and less broadened micropylar plate.

Description

Females ( Fig. 18 ). Very large (body length 161.0– 176.5 mm, incl. subgenital plate 198.0 mm) and rather massive species for the genus (body width at abdominal tergite IV 8.5–9.0 mm) with a distinctly broadened mesothorax (maximum width 10.5–11.0 mm), well developed alae (31.8–34.0 mm) and remarkably long, spatulate subgenital plate (41.3 mm). General colouration of body and legs dark brown (presumed pale to mid brown in life) with several lighter brown markings and speckles; legs with irregular greyish markings. Ventral surface of subgenital plate whitish with greyish markings towards the outer margins; base brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae mid to dark brown with blackish­brown veins. Ventral surface of basitarsus pale orange. Antennae black ventrally. Anal region of alae plain and shiny black, the transverse veins pale grey.

Head: Sub­oval, very gently narrowing towards the posterior and about 1.5x longer than wide. Vertex with a faint and slightly impressed coronal line and two distinct, impressed longitudinal lateral lines. Front of head with four blunt spines, two minute ones on a common base between the eyes, and a slightly larger one just behind each eye. Eyes small, circular and hemispherical; dark reddish brown. Antennae reaching about half way along mesonotum, consisting of 23 segments. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, parallelsided and about 2x longer than wide. Pedicellus cylindrical, less than half the length of scapus. Third antennomere almost 2x longer than pedicellus, IV half the length of III, the following antennomeres slightly increasing in length. All antennomeres sparingly bristled.

Thorax: Pronotum about as long as, but slightly narrower than the head, rectangular. Transverse median depression distinctly impressed, but very short, not reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax 3.7x longer than pronotum, constricted anterior, distinctly swollen pre­medially and slightly narrowed in posterior half. Mesonotum with a distinct median line and in anterior 2/3 densely armed with strong and pointed spines. Along lateral margins with a longitudinal row of about 8–10 spines of similar size. Mesopleurae with a few minute tubercles and 4–5 pointed spines posteriorly. Metapleurae with a longitudinal row of 8–9 spines close to posterior margin. Meso­ and metasternum sparingly covered with very minute spines. Metanotum roughly quadrate. Tegmina oval with a faint central hump and slightly projecting over posterior margin of metanotum. Alae slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment II.

Abdomen: Median segment 1.3x longer than metanotum, rectangular. Segments II–VI of uniform width, II–V slightly increasing in length: II 1.5x, V 1.7x longer than wide. V–VII of equal length. VII parallel­sided and slightly narrower than II–VI, about 2x longer than wide. All tergites with a prominent, rounded posterolateral lobe which extends as much as 1/3 of body width. V–X with faint and irregular longitudinal carinae (most distinct on VIII–X). Tergite V posteriorly with four prominent, parallel and irregularly dentate crest­like carinae; the two outer ones smaller. Sternites smooth. Praeopercular organ formed by a slightly glabrous median hump near posterior margin of sternite VII. Tergite VIII about half the length of VII, slightly longer than wide and gently widening towards the posterior. IX shorter than VIII and slightly transverse. Anal segment longer than IX, carinate medially, and rounded at posterior margin. Supraanal plate very small, transverse and not projecting over anal segment. Cerci cylindrical, slightly incurving and tapered towards a pointed tip. Gonapophyses very elongate, filiform, broadened at the apex and projecting over abdomen by more than the combined length of tergites VIII–X. Subgenital plate very long and projecting over apex of abdomen by almost combined length of tergites VII–IX, Basal section keeled and boat like, then gradually constricted and flattened towards a truncate apex; spatulate.

Legs: All rather short, strong and heavily armed with prominent teeth. Profemora slightly longer than mesonotum, metatibiae reaching ¾ the way along abdominal segment V. Profemora compressed and curved basally, almost triangular in cross­section, posterodorsal carina strongly reduced and lower than anterodorsal carina. Posteroventral carina with 13–16 distinct teeth, anteroventral with 8–9 large, triangular serrations. Posteroventral carina slightly rounded sub­apically, otherwise armed with 20–22 long and pointed teeth which decrease in size towards base of femur ( Fig. 7 ). Anteroventral carina unarmed. Medioventral carina distinct and armed with a longitudinal row of 8–11 straight spines. Protibiae triangular in cross­section, dorsal carinae almost melted with one another and diverging just before apex of tibia; all carinae elevated. Medioventral carina strongly displaced towards anteroventral carina, both unarmed. Dorsal carinae very slightly rounded sub­basally and armed with several prominent serrations. Posteroventral carina dentate and slightly elevated apically. Meso­ and metafemora trapezoidal in cross­section and irregularly dentate; posterodorsal carina as well as antero­ and posteroventral carinae with a prominent, dentate sub­apical lobe. Ventral carinae with two slightly larger teeth about 1/3 off the base of femur. Medioventral carina distinct and armed with 4–5 prominent, straight spines in basal half; rest of carina unarmed. Meso­ and metatibiae triangular in cross­section, dorsal carinae almost melted with one another and diverging just before apex of tibia. All carinae elevated. The dorsal carinae rounded and dentate subbasally and with one or two triangular apical teeth. Ventral carinae rounded sub­basally; the elevated section and apical half of carinae dentate. Medioventral carina blunt and armed with 5–7 minute spines in basal half. Probasitarsus slightly longer than following three tarsomeres combined; the dorsal and posteroventral carinae prominently elevated and rounded; both dentate. Anteroventral carina unarmed. Meso­ and metabasitarsi about as long as the following three tarsomeres combined. Ventral carinae with some minute teeth, dorsal carina rounded apically.

Eggs ( Fig. 20 )

Three eggs (PT) were extracted from the abdomen of the PT and are hence not fully developed. Therefore, caution must be taken when using the following description, which is based on an egg removed from close of the ovipositor. This appears to be however in a rather late stage of development and allows providing a description and illustration sufficient enough to distinguish the egg from those of other species in the genus.

Large for the genus, capsule ovoid, slightly more than 1.5x longer than wide and slightly oval in cross­section. Capsule surface very minutely pitted and irregularly covered with several raised, mostly longitudinal carinae and wrinkles. Micropylar plate about 2/5 the length of capsule, generally lozenge­shaped with posterior end constricted. Surface with a slight longitudinal median ridge. Micropylar cup distinct and slightly displaced towards posterior end of plate. Operculum circular, outer margin slightly raised and with a prominent, conical capitulum in the centre. Peak of capitulum tuberculose.

Capsule plain mid brown, the raised areas darker brown. Outer margin of micropyar plate pale orange. Operculum black, capitulum very dark brown.

Measurements (mm): Length (including capitulum) 5.0, length 4.3, width 2.7, height 3.0, length of micropylar plate 2.1.

Comments

The HT lacks the subgenital plate and has the right hind leg regenerated. The first author has seen photos of ΨΨ from Mapia (West Papua), which have the lateral abdominal lobes less developed and are of a slightly paler brown general colouration than the two types from Timika. ɗɗ unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Details [scale = 1 cm]. 1. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, lateral view (ZSMC). 2. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, dorsal view (ZSMC). 3. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) left front leg (ZSMC). 4. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) left protibia, dorsal view (ZSMC). 5. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, lateral view (coll. FH). 6. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, dorsal view (coll. FH). 7. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) left front leg (coll. FH). 8. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) right mid leg (coll. FH). 9. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. (HT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, lateral view (RMNH). 10. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. (HT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, dorsal view (RMNH). 11. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. (HT, Ψ) right mid leg (RMNH).

FIGURES 17 – 22. 17. Stephanacris draconius n. sp., HT Ψ (ZSMC). 18. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp., PT Ψ (Coll. FH). 19 – 22. Eggs [scale = 1 mm]. 19. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. PT, dorsolateral view (ZSMC). 20. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. PT, dorsolateral view (coll. FH). 21. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. PT, dorsolateral view (RMNH). 22. Macrophasma n. gen. biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908), dorsolateral view (coll. FH).