Papuacocelus papuanus, Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006, Papuacocelus papuanus n. gen., n. sp. a new Eurycanthinae from Papua New Guinea, with notes on the genus Dryococelus Gurney, 1947 and description of the egg (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae: Eurycanthinae), Zootaxa 1375, pp. 31-49 : 35-39

Papuacocelus papuanus n. sp.

Figs. 5 -6, 10 & 15-18

HT, ♂: Papua New Guinea: Morobe Province, Wau, Kaiserik Road , 1950 m, 4.V.1981, A. Harman, B. M. 1982-387 ( BMNH) .

PT, ♀: Papua Neuguinea: Morobe Prov., Jerri Mumeng , via IFTA, X. 2000 (coll. FH, No. 0379-1 ) .

Description

♂ ( Fig. 5): Medium-sized (body length 68.1 mm), very colourful Eurycanthinae with a moderately broadened body (maximum body width measured at metathorax 11.5 mm); abdomen narrower than thorax. Body surface entirely smooth and strongly shining. General colouration reddish mid brown, fore and hind legs as well as metatibiae and all tarsi sepia. Pro- and mesonotum with a blackish tinge. Anterior margins of all body segments with a transverse yellow stripe. Metanotum, median segment and tergites II–IX with a bold transverse black marking in anterior half, which is divided medially on V–IX. Tergites II– IX posteriorly with an even broader bright red transverse marking. Mesopleurae becoming reddish towards the posterior, metapleurae plain red. Prosternum dark red with two black markings at posterior margin. Meso- and metasternum blackish in anterior 2/3 and becoming dark red towards posterior margin. Abdominal sternites II–VII red with two bold black markings at anterior margin. Poculum dark brown. Posterior surface of coxae black, membranous coxal areas pale yellow. Bases of tibiae slightly greenish. Enlarged spines of hind legs black. Antennae, except scapus and pedicellus, pale greenish brown.

Head: Slightly longer than wide and distinctly widened towards the posterior. Vertex flat and with a very faint, slightly impressed longitudinal median line. Between the eyes with an impressed V-shaped marking and a further, distinctly smaller C-shaped impression between the bases of the antennae. Eyes large and slightly convex. Antennae thickened, reaching at least half way along mesonotum and consisting of at least 18 segments (broken in the unique HT). Scapus slightly compressed dorsoventrally, oval in cross-section, parallel-sided and about 1.5x longer than wide. Pedicellus half the length of scapus, cylindrical. Antennomeres 3–14 slightly increasing, following decresing in length. All thickened apically.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly longer and wider than head and trapezoidal, being gradually widened towards the posterior. Dorsally with a distinctly impressed, longitudinal median line. Transverse median depression slightly displaced towards anterior of segments, curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax slightly longer than head and pronotum combined, 2x longer than wide and parallel-sided. Mesonotum with an impressed longitudinal median line and minutely punctured laterally. Metanotum less than 1/3 the length of mesonotum but slightly broader and transverse. Lateral margins gently rounded, posterior margin concave. Meso- and metapleurae minutely rugulose. Sterna smooth with lateral margins minutely punctured. Metasternum distinctly separated from 1st abdominal sternite by a deeply impressed sulcus.

Abdomen: Median segment shorter than metanotum, slightly transverse and anterior margin prominently rounded. Segments II–VI of equal width, parallel-sided and distinctly wider than long. II–V slightly increasing in length, VI–IX shorter than V. Tergite VIII with lateral margins gently rounded and slightly broader than previous. IX slightly constricted towards posterior margin and strongly convex. Anal segment slightly longer than IX and tectiform with a distinct median keel, posterior margin elevated into a blunt spine at lateral angles (Fig. 18). Posterior margin of sternites II–VII raised. Supraanal plate small and roughly triangular. Vomer well developed and sclerotized with a single point. Cerci small and cylindrical, finely bristled. Poculum scoop-like, truncate apically and reaching half way along anal segment.

Legs: Antero- and posteroventral carinae of pro- and mesofemora with a minute subapical spine, otherwise unarmed. Pro- and mesotibiae with a few minute spines along medioventral carina, otherwise unarmed. Metafemora strongly thickened and prominently larger than pro- and mesofemora. Antero- and posteroventral carinae with a strong and prominent sub-apical spine. Medioventral carina raised and in basal half armed with a longitudinal row of small spines which slightly increase in size towards mid of femur. Submedially a very large and prominent back-curving spine. Other carinae irregularly tuberculate. Metatibiae about 2/3 the length of metafemora, slightly down-curving basally and in apical half with three prominent, blunt spines on medioventral carina (Fig. 10). Remaining carinae armed with several blunt spines of variable size, which increase towards apex of tibia. Tarsi about 2/3 the length of corresponding tibiae, basitarsus indistinctly longer than following tarsomere.

♀ (Fig. 6): Medium-sized Eurycanthinae (body length 84.4 mm) with a moderately broadened body (maximum body width at metathorax 13.5 mm), abdomen equal in width to mesothorax. Body surface entirely smooth and strongly shining. General colouration sepia dorsally, the head, abdominal tergites, all tibiae and tarsi slightly olive. Pro-, meso- and metasternum orange brown, abdominal stera dark reddish brown. Anterior margins of most body segments slightly yellowish. Pronotum with two faint, roughly triangular blackish markings in posterior half, prosternum with two black sports at posterior margin. Mesonotum with a small, transverse black lateral marking about half way on and close to lateral margins. Anterolateral margins of metanotum with a black, transverse spot, metasternum with a small, black spot close to lateral margins. Metapleurae dark red. Anterior margin of median segment and tergites II–VII with four roughly C-shaped, black markings. Sternites II–VI with a very indistinct blackish, transverse marking close to anterior margin. Subgenital plate bright red. Posterior surface of coxae black. Enlarged spines of hind legs brown with black tips.

Head: Generally as in ♂, but eyes less convex.

Thorax: Pro- and mesothorax as in ♂. Metanotum generally as in ♂, but posterior margin less distinctly concave.

Abdomen: Median segment shorter than metanotum, more than 2x wider than long, anterior margin gently rounded. Segments II–VI of uniform width, II–V increasing in length, II 3.5x, V 2x wider than long. VI as long as IV. VII slightly broader than previous with lateral margins gently rounded. Sternites II–VII with a distinct longitudinal median keel and slightly tectiform. Tergites VIII–X gradually tapered. VIII 3x wider than long, IX with posterior margin considerably narrower than anterior margin and strongly convex. Anal segment almost as long as VIII and IX combined and tapered towards the apex which is slightly elongated and notched medially ( Fig. 15). Supraanal plate very small, roughly triangular and hidden underneath apical elongation of anal segment (Fig. 17). Cerci very small and cylindrical, finely bristled. Subgenital plate short, scoop-like with posterior margin truncate and slightly projecting over posterior margin of tergite IX (Fig. 16).

Legs: Generally as in ♂, but relatively shorter and spination of hind legs less prominent. Metafemora slightly broader than pro- and mesofemora. Medioventral carina faint and with a longitudinal row of 10–12 variably sized tubercles. In apical half with a distinctly enlarged, pointed spine. Antero- and posteroventral carinae with a distinct sub-apical spine, about equal in size to the enlarged spine on median carina. Remaining carinae unarmed. Metatibiae slightly shorter than metafemora, all carinae tuberculate. Medioventral carinae with several, blunt teeth and a slightly enlarged spine some 2/3 the way along tibia. Tarsi as in male.

(personal communication with A.J.E. Harman). However, due to many habitual similarities to Dryococelus Gurney and Eurycantha Boisduval , it is likely to inherit similar habitats and hence to hide in tree holes or cavities of fallen tree trunks during the daytime. As in these genera, the strongly enlarged and heavily armed hind legs of males are presumably used for active defence against predators.

Eggs unknown.