Litosermyle inconspicua ( Brunner, 1907 ) Ghirotto & Engelking & Crispino, 2023

Ghirotto, Victor Morais, Engelking, Phillip Watzke & Crispino, Edgar Blois, 2023, Revision of the Neotropical stick insect genus Ocnophila (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae) with a new species from Colombia, Zootaxa 5296 (2), pp. 179-209 : 201-204

Litosermyle inconspicua ( Brunner, 1907) comb. nov.

( Figs 14–19 )

>> Lectotype (here designated, in order to fix the status of this species), ♀ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Merida, Venezuela, Boucard; 18.257 ( Figs 16C , 17C , 18C, F ) [examined] . Paralectotypes, ♀ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Mus. Caes. Vind. Merida (Venez.) Br. v. W. ded; Merida (Venez) ( Figs 16A–B , 17A–B, D–E , 18A–B, D, G ) [examined] ; J with curved abdomen ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Merida, Venezuela, Boucard ( Figs 14A–B , 15C, E, H, J ) [examined]; J without front tarsi ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Merida, Venezuela, Boucard ( Figs 14C , 15A–B, D, F, I, K–L ) [examined] ; J ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Merida, Venezuela, Boucard; 18.257. ( Figs 14D , 15G ) [examined] ; J, ♀ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Merida, Venezuela, Boucard (female: Fig. 18E ) [examined]; ♀ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W., Venezuela, Thorey ded [examined]; 2 ♀ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Merida, Venezuela, Boucard [examined] ; ♀ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Coll. Br.v.W. Venezuela, Thorey ded.; 12.626 [examined] .

Further material examined:

1 egg, extracted from the paralectotype ♀ with the same labels ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila inconspicua ; Mus. Caes. Vind. Merida ( Venez.) Br. v. W. ded; Merida (Venez) ( Fig. 19 ) .

Diagnosis and Remarks. The only differences that could be observed between the females of L. inconspicua comb. nov. and those of L. ocanae , the only sex known for the latter, is the triply emarginated posterior margin of tergum X and subgenital plate of L. ocanae , against the straight tergum X and round posterior margin of subgenital plate of females of L. inconspicua comb. nov. Furthermore, both species occur between the two northernmost branches of the Andes (Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera de Mérida), around 240 km apart. At least, these two species are very closely related. Future detailed analysis of L. ocanae , including the lacking male, is needed to disregard the possibility of conspecificity. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov. females can be differentiated from those of L. submutica comb. nov. by the elongate head, less carinated thorax, not reticulated like in the latter species, and longer median segment and cerci.

Redescription.

Males.

Colour ( Fig. 14 ). Entirely beige, yellowish, brown, spotted with dark irregular small stains, legs further with dark stains forming bands or rings in femora. Head with dark band running through all lateral surface, from around the occiput, crossing the eyes and reaching inferior area of frontal convexity.

Head ( Figs 14 , 15A–C ). Subrectangular, elongate, vertex flat; with two dorsolateral paramedial rows of few small granules posteriorly. Frontal convexity developed and angulate, frontal suture curved. Eyes large, hemispherical. Maxillary palp somewhat elongate, labial slightly widened. Antennae filiform, at least reaching tergum VI. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, wide. Antennae with at least 30 articles.

Thorax ( Figs 14 , 15A–D ). Smooth surface with sparse minute setae and very few granules. Pronotum longer than wide, very slightly incurving premedially, subquadrate, smooth, with medial straight sulcus. Probasisternum with faint longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly slightly narrow, posterolateral margins straight. Profurcasternum posteriorly curving towards anterior, anteriorly round. Mesothorax 5–6x longer than prothorax. Mesothorax around 1.6x longer than metathorax. Meso and metanotum with faint longitudinal medial carina. Furcae in “Y” shape, mesofurca narrower and more elongate. Metanotum 5–6x length of median segment.

Legs ( Fig. 14 ). Forelegs slightly longer than hindlegs; midlegs shortest. Profemur slightly longer than mesothorax, with short basal curvature. Carinae of femora and tibiae well developed, keeled, and bearing row of setae longer in the tibiae. Basitarsi around the same size than the respective following three tarsomeres combined. Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.

Abdomen ( Figs 14 , 15D–L ). Surface smooth with paramedial carinae. All terga longer than wide. Tergum X elongate, with medial carina stronger posteriorly and posteriorly marking a tectiform slope ( Fig. 15E, I, K ). Posterior margin of tergum X slightly tapered, emarginated into two short lobes, posterior edge thickened ( Fig. 15E– F ). Anterior region of sternum IX short. Poculum small, ventral tip round and displaced towards anterior, posterior margin tapered, labellate (dorsoventrally compressed and continuing at an angle from the rest of the poculum, parallel to the body) bearing a medial strong carina, apex round or bilobed ( Fig. 15G–J, L ). Cerci long, cylindrical, incurved, apex internally slightly widened ( Fig. 15G–L ). Thorn pads spread from lateral edge almost until medial line, bearing more than 7 small, sclerotized spines ( Fig. 15K ). Vomer elongate, conical, regularly tapering, terminal hook small and upcurved ( Fig. 15J, L ).

Females.

Colour ( Fig. 16 ). Entirely beige, yellowish, brown, grey, with irregular stains of lighter or darker tones. Legs further with dark stains forming bands or rings in femora. May be further spotted with dark irregular small stains on head and pronotum and in all dorsal area of abdomen.

Head ( Figs 16 , 17A–C ). Subrectangular, elongate, vertex flat; with several irregular granules dorsally and dorsolaterally. Frontal convexity developed and angulate, frontal suture angulate. Eyes small, less than hemispherical. Maxillary palp somewhat elongate, labial slightly widened. Antennae filiform, at least reaching tergum III. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, wide. Antennae with ca. 36 articles.

Thorax ( Figs 16 , 17 ). Rough surface with sparse minute setae, paramedial carinae and several small granules including few slightly larger, rounder ones, mainly dorsally and laterally. Pronotum longer than wide, very slightly incurving premedially, subquadrate. Probasisternum anteriorly slightly narrow, posterolateral margins round. Profurcasternum posteriorly curving towards anterior, anteriorly gently curved. Mesothorax 4.5–5x longer than prothorax. Mesothorax around 1.8x longer than metathorax. Meso and metanotum and meso and metasternum with faint longitudinal medial carina. Furcae in “Y” shape, mesofurca narrower and more elongate. Metanotum around 4.5x length of median segment.

Legs ( Figs 16 , 17 ). Forelegs around the same size as hindlegs; midlegs shortest. Profemur slightly longer than mesothorax, with short basal curvature. Carinae of femora and tibiae well developed, keeled, and bearing row of setae longer in the tibiae. Basitarsi about the same size than the respective following three tarsomeres combined. Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.

Abdomen ( Figs 16 , 17E , 18 ). Surface rough with several carinae, ca. six paramedial mostly keeled pairs in terga (tergum IX with 5 pairs; X with a single keeled pair and a fainter pair), around three to four mostly keeled pairs in sterna (sternum VIII with a single keeled pair) and a medial one in terga and sterna which is faint except at tergum X and sternum VIII becoming keeled. Terga II–VIII and X longer than wide, IX slightly wider than long. Tergum X elongate, posterior margin very gently curved and may form a very slight round prominence medially. Subgenital plate short, not reaching half length of tergum X, posterior margin broad, roundly lanceolate, both the pair and the medial keeled carinae fading just before posterior edge ( Fig. 18B–G ). Paraprocts long each with a median single straight medial keeled carina ( Fig. 18D–G ); cerci ellipsoid to somewhat lanceolate, with lanceolate apex, centrally concave ( Fig. 18 ). Gonapophyses VIII large, wide, longer than other valves, apex acute, gonapophyses IX short and triangular, gonoplac slightly shorter than gonapophyses VIII, lanceolate, gonangulum absent or reduced ( Fig. 18D, G ).

Egg ( Fig. 19 ). Description based on a single egg, extracted from a paratype female. Entirely brown. Oval, somewhat barrel-shaped, slightly laterally compressed. Surface rough, densely reticulated with rugose sinuous keels. Micropylar plate elongate, ellipsoid, parallel-sided, slightly smoother than rest of the capsule, with lighter outer edge delimiting a slightly darker central area. Opercular collar slightly constricted. Operculum with the same surface as in the capsule. Measurements: 1.9 mm long, 1.3 mm high, 0.8 mm wide.

Distribution. Known only from Mérida, Mérida state, Venezuela, in one of the northernmost branches of the Andes, the Cordillera de Mérida.

Figures

FIGURE 14. A–D. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., male habitus: A, B. Paralectotype with curved abdomen, lateral view, habitus (A) and detail of the body (B), mirrored; C. Paralectotype without front tarsi, dorsal view; D. Paralectotype 18.257, dorsal view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 15.A–L. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., male morphology:A, B, D, F, I, K–L. Paralectotype without front tarsi; C, E, H, J. Paralectotype with curved abdomen; G. Paralectotype 18.257. A–C. Head and thorax in dorsal (A) and lateral (B–C) views; D. Metathorax in dorsal view; E–F. Terminalia in dorsal view, (E mirrored); G–I. Terminalia in lateral view (mirrored); J, L. Terminalia in ventral view; K. Tergum X in posterior view showing thorn pads. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. A–C. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., female habitus: A–B. Paralectotype, dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views (A mirrored) C. Lectotype, dorsal view (mirrored). Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 17. A–L. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., female morphology of head, thorax and legs:A–B, D–E. Paralectotype; C. Lectotype. A. Head and thorax in dorsal view; B–C. Head and thorax in lateral view (C mirrored); D. Right hind tarsus, retrolateral view; E. Metathorax, dorsal view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 18. A–G. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., female morphology of the terminalia: A–B, D, G. Paralectotype “Mus. Caes. Vind.”; C, F. Lectotype; E. Paralectotype “Boucard”. A. Dorsal view (mirrored); B–C. Lateral view (mirrored); D. Posteroventral view; E–G. Ventral view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 19. A–E. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., egg from paralectotype “Mus. Caes. Vind.”: A–B. Lateral view; C. Dorsal view; D. Dorsolateral view; E. Anterior view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.