Parasinophasma ledongense, Wen & Qian & Xie & Chen & Wang, 2024

Wen, Jun, Qian, Yu-Han, Xie, Chong-Xin, Chen, Rui & Wang, Chen, 2024, New species and new synonym of Necrosciini (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae) from Hainan Province, China, Zootaxa 5507 (2), pp. 371-383 : 374-377

Parasinophasma ledongense sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

Holotype. Female, China, Hainan Province, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Jianfengling District of National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest , 800 m, 30 Jul. 2023, Leg. Jun Wen . Paratype. 1 male, 1 female and 8 eggs, same data as holotype (all type specimens deposited in SWFU) .

Description. Female ( Fig. 1A–G ). General coloration of body is brown. Head. Oblong, longer than wide, smooth, with irregular dark maculation. Occiput distinctly convex, median and lateral longitudinal furrows distinct. Compound eyes rounded and prominent, lacking ocelli. Antennae filiform, densely covered with short bristles, longer than forelegs. Scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus, pedicellus about as long as third segment. Thorax. Pronotum smooth, rectangular, longer than wide, shorter than head; anterior margin incurved, posterior margin rounded, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point. Mesonotum parallel-sided, about 3.5X as long as pronotum, covered with some black granules, median longitudinal line distinct. Mesosternum densely covered with granules, with a transverse carina near anterior margin, with 2–3 short transverse rugose on each side in middle area. Metanotum is about 3/4 the length of the median segment. Wings. Tegmina squamiform, posterior margin rounded, slightly longer than metanotum. Anal region of wing gray, with transparent spots. Posterior apices of alae surpassing anterior margin of abdominal tergum VI. Abdomen. Cylindrical, smooth. Sternum VII with a distinct crest-like praeopercular organ posteromedially, posterior margin of praeopercular organ extending beyond the tergum VII posterior margin. Tergum VIII longer than tergum IX and anal segment, tergum IX shorter than anal segment. Anal segment median longitudinal ridge distinctly, with a U-shaped emargination on posterior margin. Supra-anal plate small, posterior margin almost truncate, not surpassing posterolateral angles of anal segment. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, apex pointed and surpassing anterior margin of anal segment. Gonapophyses exposed. Cerci cylindrical, distinctly surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs. Legs sparsely covered with short bristles, unarmed. Forelegs brown with black maculation, midleg and hindleg green. Hindleg shorter than foreleg, longer than midleg.

Male ( Fig. 2A–H ). Smaller than female. General coloration of body is light brown. Head. Oblong, longer than wide, longer and broader than pronotum. Vertex flat, there are two small depressions in the central position. Occiput weakly convex, median and lateral longitudinal furrows distinct. Compound eyes rounded and larger than female, lacking ocelli. Genae with two black postocular stripes. Antennae filiform, densely covered with short bristles, longer than forelegs. Scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus and third segment, pedicellus shorter than third segment. Thorax. Pronotum trapezium, anterior margin wide, posterior margin narrow, with a black herringbone stripe in the center, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point. Mesonotum gradually broader on posterior, about 4.5X as long as pronotum, sparsely covered with a few granules, median longitudinal line distinct, a black longitudinal stripe at each side of mesonotum. Mesosternum with 2–3 short transverse rugose on each side in first half part. Metanotum about 2/3 the length of the median segment. Wings. Tegmina squamiform, posterior margin rounded, shorter than metanotum. Anal region of wing gray, with transparent spots. Posterior apices of alae reaching anterior margin of abdominal tergum VI. Abdomen. Cylindrical, smooth, unarmed, with some irregular maculation. Tergum VII to anal segment shorter than other abdomen segments. Tergum VIII about as long as anal segment, shorter than tergum IX. Anal segment median longitudinal carina distinct, with a U-shaped emargination on posterior margin, the two posterolateral angles spine shaped. Vomer small and symmetric, apex rounded, with two longitudinal ridges. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin truncate and surpassing anterior margin of anal segment. Cerci cylindrical, tapering posteriorly, apices pointed and curved down, not reaching posterolateral angles of anal segment. Legs. Legs sparsely covered with short bristles, unarmed. Forelegs brown, midleg and hindleg green. Foreleg shorter than hindleg, longer than midleg.

Eggs ( Fig. 1H–K ). Capsule oval, general brown and with irregular dark maculation, covered with densely granulation and long bristles. Micropylar drop-shaped, with dense granulation, micropylar cup position is near the bottom of micropylar plate. Median line indistinct. Operculum almost rounded, convex medially, lacking capitulum.

Measurements (mm).

Distribution. China (Hainan).

Diagnosis. The females of new species are distinguished by a U-shaped emargination on the posterior margin of the anal segment, and gonapophyses are exposed. Males are distinguished by two spiny situated posterolaterally to the anal segment.

Remarks. The female of the new species is similar to P. luchunense luchunense Ho, 2017 . In the female of this new species, the sternum VII has a distinct crest-like praeopercular organ posteromedially and the gonapophyses are exposed ( Fig. 1 F and G ). In P. luchunense luchunense , the sternum VII has a dorsoventrally flattened praeopercular organ posteromedially and gonapophyses are not exposed ( Ho, 2017). The male of the new species is also similar to P. luchunense luchunense Ho, 2017 and P. luchunense xingyuei Ho, 2017 . But male of the new species has two longitudinal ridges and a rounded posterior margin of vomer ( Fig. 2 H ) and the posterior apices of the alae reach the anterior margin of tergum VI ( Fig. 2 A and E ), additionally, posterior margin of poculum slightly surpasses the anterior margin of anal segment, with a black herringbone stripe on its pronotum ( Fig. 2 C and F ). In P. luchunense luchunense , there is a weak emargination forming two indistinct lateral elevations at the apex of the vomer and the posterior apices of the alae reach only to the middle area of tergum IV; in P. luchunense xingyuei , posterior margin of poculum does not reach the anterior margin of anal segment and pronotum has two short blackish brown longitudinal stripes behind transverse sulcus ( Ho, 2017).

Etymology. This new species is named after the type locality; Ledong Li Autonomous County.

Habitat. The new species inhabits forest at an elevation of 800 m and feeds on leaves of Fagaceae ( Fig. 2 I ).

Chinese common name. 乐东副华ü䗛

Figures

FIGURE 1. Parasinophasma ledongense sp. nov., holotype, female A–G, egg H–K. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. head, dorsal view; D. head, lateral view; E. terminalia, dorsal view; F. terminalia, lateral view; G. terminalia, ventral view. H. egg, dorsal view; I. egg, lateral view; J. egg, top view; K. egg, polar view.

FIGURE 2. Parasinophasma ledongense sp. nov., paratype, male A–H, habitat I. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. head, dorsal view; D. head, lateral view; E. terminalia, dorsal view; F. terminalia, lateral view; G. terminalia, ventral view; H. vomer, ventral view; I. habitat.