Hirtuleiodes peruanus, Hennemann & Conle, 2024

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2024, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXVI: Taxonomic review of Cladomorformia tax. n., a lineage of Diapheromerinae stick insects, with the descriptions of seven new genera and 41 new species (Phasmatodea: Occidophasmata: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 5444 (1), pp. 1-454 : 76-79

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5444.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5DE4A9DD-99F7-4E23-AD50-58DC491BB75E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FD87D9-FFEB-D82B-FF55-F1F9284FE683
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Hirtuleiodes peruanus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Hirtuleiodes peruanus sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:08C109D6-BFCD-41B1-AEB4-FEEC00A237C5

( Figs. 27F, 27J View FIGURE 27 , 28A–E View FIGURE 28 , 83F View FIGURE 83 , 90D View FIGURE 90 )

HT, ♀: 82; Río Ucayali, Genaro Herrera , - XI–1981; Museum Paris, Pérou: Loreto, S. Poulain rec. [ MNHN] .

Diagnosis. Females of this new species can be separated from all other known members of the genus by the elongate and flattened head. They resemble H. caudatus Chopard, 1911 from French Guiana but readily differ by the much larger size, slenderer habitus, lack of enlarged pre-median tubercles on the mesonotum, presence of two prominent posterior swellings on abdominal tergum VI, lack of posterolateral lobes of abdominal tergum VII and differently shaped anal segment, which has the lateral margins noticeably deflexed and protruded into an oval lobe.

Etymology. Named after the distribution in Northeast Peru.

Description. ♀♀ ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ): Large (body length incl. subgenital plate 152.5 mm) and slender for the genus with a flattened head and a very long subgenital plate (31.0 mm). Colour of the holotype basically greyish to ochreous brown and slightly lichenose with irregular greyish mottling; ventral surface of body and legs with more grey and slightly whitish tones. Protibiae, apex of meso- and metatibiae and tarsi dark brown. Antennae reddish mid brown and gradually darkening towards the apex. Eyes reddish brown. All granules of the head and thorax olive green, those of the abdomen and extremities dark brown. Medio-longitudinal carina of the mesonotum yellowish ochre.

Head ( Fig. 27F View FIGURE 27 ): Elongate, sub-cylindrical with vertex flattened and genae almost parallel-sided; almost 1.4x longer than wide. Frons with two small impressions and vertex with several small node-like granules that are roughly arranged in five longitudinal rows; genae with a few scattered granules. Eyes, circular and their diameter contained 2x in length of genae. Antennae reaching about half way along metanotum. Scapus rectangular and longer than wide, pedicellus globose and a little more than half the length of scapus. Antennomere III about as long as pedicellus, IV less than half that long and the following antennomeres gradually increasing in length.

Thorax: Pronotum about as long but slightly narrower than head with lateral margins gently concave; 1.6x longer than width in median portion. Transverse median sulcus somewhat displaced towards the anterior, distinctly impressed, gently curved and expanding over entire width of segment. Surface irregularly and sparsely set with small, node-like granules; one pair just in front of transverse sulcus, one just behind it and a further pair near posterior margin somewhat enlarged. Mesothorax fairly elongate and slender, uniform in diameter except for being slightly widened at the posterior; 3.7x longer than pronotum. Mesonotum with a very fine medio-longitudinal carina, the surface otherwise unevenly set with the same nose-like granules seen on the vertex and pronotum; posterior margin distinctly bulging and raised. Metanotum sculptured like mesonotum, 1.7x longer than wide and gently constricted medially; the posterior margin also bulging and with an obtuse wart-like swelling medially ( Fig. 28B View FIGURE 28 ). Meso- and metapleurae and sterna granulose, the granules of the pleurae however more pronounced and some of them slightly tuberculiform ( Fig. 83F View FIGURE 83 ).

Abdomen: Median segment very slightly longer than metanotum but of similar dimensions, gently narrowed medially and granulose. Surface of all terga sparsely granulose and very weakly rugose. Abdominal segment II as long as median segment and very indistinctly narrowed towards the posterior, 1.6x longer than wide. III–V equal in length and width, slightly longer than II and on average 2.4x longer than wide. VI and Vii slightly decreasing in length with VII narrower than all preceding ones. Tergum VI with two prominent and obtusely rounded swellings near posterior margin ( Figs. 28C–D View FIGURE 28 ); VII with posterior margin slightly bulging. Sterna II–VII sparsely granulose, praeopercular organ formed by two closely placed, wart like and laterally compressed protuberances near posterior margin of VII ( Fig. 90D View FIGURE 90 ). Terga VIII–X combined slightly longer than VII, VIII slightly longer than wide and rectangular, IX transverse.Anal segment longer than IX, wider than long and wider than the two preceding segments with lateral margins prominently deflexed into a basically oval lobe Fig. 28D View FIGURE 28 ); dorsal surface obtusely carinate medio-longitudinally and the posterior margin with a widely triangular excavation. Epiproct shield shaped, transverse and with a distinct median keel. Cerci small, conical and tapered towards a blunt tip; very slightly projecting beyond posterior margin of anal segment. Gonapophyses strongly elongated, filiform, tri-carinate in cross-section and with the apical portion somewhat expanded and gently upcurved; projecting over anal segment by slightly more than combined length of terga VIII–X. Subgenital plate very long, distinctly keeled medio-longitudinally, broadly rounded at the apex and with the lateral margins trilobate ( Figs. 28C–E View FIGURE 28 ).

Legs: All rather short and stock with most carinae ± lamellate and minutely granulose. Anterodorsal carina of profemora with about six very obtuse and rounded teeth, the same carina of the protibiae irregularly undulate. Posteroventral carina of protibiae notably deflexed but fairly uniform in width. Meso- and metafemora with an obtusely triangular tooth about one-quarter off the base on anteroventral carina (left mesofemur has the same tooth also on posteroventral carina) and both outer ventral carinae with a more acutely triangular and somewhat more prominent sub-apical tooth ( Fig. 27J View FIGURE 27 ). Both dorsal carinae with a fairly distinct tooth sub-apically, that of the anterodorsal carina larger. Posterodorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae with a prominent, almost semi-circular apical lobe and the ventral carinae terminating in an acute and posteriad directed apical tooth. Tarsi moderately robust, the basitarsi equal in length to following three tarsomeres combined and with a rounded (probasitarsus) or triangular dorsal lobe.

Remarks: Males and eggs unknown. Measurements in table 10.

Table 10: Measurements [mm] of Hirtuleiodes spp.

* Tip of subgenital plate broken off

5.11. Genus Hirtuleius Stål, 1875

( Figs. 29–30 View FIGURE 29 View FIGURE 30 , 83D–E View FIGURE 83 , 90C View FIGURE 90 , 94C View FIGURE 94 , 102D View FIGURE 102 )

Type-species: Hirtuleius laeviceps Stål, 1875: 81 , by monotypy.

Hirtuleius Stål, 1875: 28 , 81.

Kirby, 1904: 361.

Redtenbacher, 1908: 425.

Chopard, 1911: 346.

Bradley & Galil, 1977: 190.

Bragg, 2001: 634.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 161 (in part).

Hennemann & Conle, 2010: 103 (in part).

Conle, Hennemann, Bellanger, Lelong, Jourdan & Valero, 2020: 21, figs. 7–8; 125 (in part). Brock & Büscher, 2022: 546 (in part).

Cladomorphus, Otte & Brock, 2005: 94 View in CoL (in part).

Phibalosoma, Westwood, 1859: 76 , pl. 21: 3 (♂) (in part).

Chopard, 1911: 347.

[Not: Conle, Hennemann & Gutiérrez, 2011: 63, 167. → This is Hirtuleiodes gen. n.]

Description. ♀, ♂ ( Figs. 29–30 View FIGURE 29 View FIGURE 30 ): Small to medium Cladomorphini (body length ♂♂ 74.0– 100.7 mm, ♀♀ incl. subgenital plate 115.0–133.0 mm), form rather stocky, ♂♂ with well-developed alae and ♀♀ with a strongly elongated, undulate or lobate subgenital plate. Colour various shades of grey, ochre and brown, often ± lichenose. Head globose with the vertex convex to almost hemispherical and smooth ( Figs. 30C–D View FIGURE 30 ). Eyes large and strongly projecting in ♂♂, their diameter contained no more than 2x in length of genae. Antennae filiform and reaching to posterior of metanotum (♀♀) or as far back as abdominal segment IV (♂♂); scapus compressed dorsoventrally, rectangular in dorsal aspect and longer than wide. Pronotum notably narrower than head. Thoracic segments always granulose and/or tubercular in ♀♀, smooth in ♂♂. Mesothorax at least 4.5x longer than prothorax in ♀♀, 5x longer in ♂♂; in ♂♂ slender and roughly uniform in diameter, in ♀♀ ± swollen pre-medially. Mesonotum weakly tectate longitudinally in ♂♂; in ♀♀ with a ± prominent pair of conical protuberances pre-medially. Mesosternum of ♂♂ with an acute medio-longitudinal carina or keel ( Fig. 83E View FIGURE 83 ). Tegmina of ♂♂ oval and with a ± pronounced central hump; alae at least reaching to abdominal segment V. Median segment of ♀♀ slightly longer than metanotum, much longer than metanotum in ♂♂. Abdominal segments II–VII longer than wide and ± uniform in width. Tergum VI smooth dorsally. In ♀♀ tergum VII with a rounded posterolateral lobe; occasionally also a posterolateral lobe present on VI and VI. Praeopercular organ of ♀♀ moderate and represented by two swellings or lobe-like projections at posterior margin of sternum VII ( Fig. 90C View FIGURE 90 ). Terminalia of ♀♀ ( Figs. 30E–L View FIGURE 30 ): Combined length of terga VIIIX excelling length of tergum VII; VII–X roughly uniform in width and notably narrower than preceding. Anal segment longer than wide and usually wider than IX with a concave median excavation posteriorly; the basal lateral portions often ± deflexed and truncated. Epiproct small, shield-shaped, wider than long and just slightly projecting beyond posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci small, round in cross-section and ± conical. Gonapophyses VIII strongly elongated, filiform, tri-carinate in cross-section and projecting considerably beyond apex of abdomen; gonapophyses IX scarcely longer than gonoplacs. Gonoplacs moderately enlarged, compressed laterally and slightly paddle-shaped. Subgenital plate strongly keeled longitudinally and projecting beyond tip of abdomen by at least the combined length of three terminal terga; shape spatulate with lateral margins ± lamellate sub-parallel and apex truncated. Terminalia of ♂♂ ( Figs. 30M–N View FIGURE 30 , 94C View FIGURE 94 ): Three terminal abdominal segments ± club-like and broader than all preceding segments, taken together notably longer than VII. Tergum VIII distinctly trapezoidal and widened towards the posterior.Anal segment with narrowed posterior portion bi-labiate and the swollen outer angles minutely denticulate ventrally. Epiproct small scale-shaped and just scarcely projecting over posteromedian indention of anal segment. Cerci round in cross-section and ± tapered towards the tip; ± beyond apex of anal segment. Vomer large and bifid, roundly rectangular in outline with a prominent, upcurved terminal hook at each posterolateral angle ( Fig. 94C View FIGURE 94 ). Poculum bulgy and roundly cup-shaped with the posterior margin entire and somewhat labiate, ± reaching to posterior margin of tergum IX. Legs moderately stocky in ♂♂, comparatively more robust with all carinae more pronounced and ± lamellate in ♀♀. Hind legs in ♂♂ projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. All carinae of mid and hind legs minutely granulose in ♀♀ (dorsal carinae of front legs and ventral carinae of mid and hind legs in particular). Two outer ventral carinae of mesofemora often with a tooth-like projection about one-third off the base; the same carinae of meso- and metafemora apically terminating in a distinct triangular lobe ( Fig. 27J View FIGURE 27 ) and the medioventral carina sparsely set with small granules (more pronounced in ♀♀). Basitarsi at least as long as following two tarsomeres combined (relatively slenderer and elongate in ♂♂) and with a ± rounded and deflexed dorsal carina (more pronounced in ♀♀).

Differentiation. Closely related and morphologically very similar to Hirtuleiodes gen. n. but readily differing by the smooth head of both sexes (Figs, 30C, D; granulose in Hirtuleiodes ). Females furthermore differ by the somewhat more elongate shape with the mesothorax being> 4.5x longer than the prothorax, not notably inflated posterior margins of the meso- and metanotum, and in lacking the posterior pair of protuberances of abdominal tergum VI seen in Hirtuleiodes . Males can be separated by the smooth thoracic segments (granulose to nodulose in Hirtuleiodes ), acute medio-longitudinal keel of the mesosternum ( Fig. 83E View FIGURE 83 ), cerci that are round in cross-section and tapered towards a narrow apex ( Fig. 94C View FIGURE 94 ), and the large, bifid vomer which is basically rectangular in outline with one distinct terminal hook at each posterolateral angle (Fig, 94C; triangular in Hirtuleiodes ).

In various aspects Hirtuleius resembles Cladomorphus Gray, 1835 but from this genus it differs by the considerably smaller size and more robust body, smooth vertex (Figs, 30C, D; tubercular and ± bi-cornute in Cladomorphus ) and relatively shorter mesothorax of both sexes, which is <6x longer than the prothorax. Females also differ by lacking a crenulate swelling or protuberance on abdominal tergum V, less prominent praeopercular organ ( Fig. 90C View FIGURE 90 ) and straight, entire lateral margins of the subgenital plate (undulate in Cladomorphus ). Males are at once distinguished from those of Cladomorphus by the simple poculum, which lacks the conspicuous apical appendix ( Figs. 30M View FIGURE 30 , 94C View FIGURE 94 ).