Cnipsomorpha viridis, Ho, 2021

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea X: Eight new species of Cnipsomorpha from China (Phasmatidae: Clitumninae: Medaurini), Zootaxa 5026 (1), pp. 102-126 : 115-117

Cnipsomorpha viridis sp. nov.

(Figs. 25–29, 41–42, 52–53, 74–77, 83, 94–95)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 2400m, Primitive broad-leaved forests near Jiasazhen , Xinping West , Yuxi, Yunnan, China, 24.VI.2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 13♀, 5♂, 87 eggs (naturally laid by paratypes ♀), same data as holotype ♀ ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Cnipsomorpha viridis sp. nov. is similar to C. inflexa sp. nov., but can be separated by the absence of triangularly expanded posterolateral angles on seventh abdominal sternum and the Y-shaped praeopercular organ on the posteromedian area of seventh abdominal sternum in the female and the short anal abdominal segment in the male.

Description. Female (Figs. 25–27, 41, 52, 74–75, 83). Small size. Body robust. General colouration of body and legs green, with blackish markings.

Head: Covered with very few small granules. Oblong, longer than wide, gently tapering posteriorly behind compound eyes. Vertex convex, with paired supra-antennal spines. Occiput distinctly convex, with paired supraorbital spines; also with three pairs of occipital medial spines along median longitudinal furrow, anterior pair largest and longest than other pairs. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about four times that of genae. Antennae with 14 segments, surpassing middle area of profemora; scapus flattened basally, as long as combined length of pedicellus and third segment; and pedicellus shorter than third segment.

Thorax: Sparsely covered with a few small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, anterior margin weakly incurved, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point, with a pair of posterior medial spines. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, swollen medially, about three times length of pronotum, with one to two pairs of pre-median medial, three to four pairs of median medial and one pair of posterior medial spines; also with paired pre-median and median spines, lateral margins with a few spines, median one longest. Metanotum longer than wide, about three to four times length of median segment, with paired anterior medial, pre-median medial, post-median medial and pre-median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a supra-coxal spine. Mesosternum and metasternum with a few acute granules.

Abdomen: Cylindrical and tapering posteriorly, with a few small granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with paired anterior medial and posterior spines. Second to fifth tergites with paired anterior medial (absent or reduced as tubercles in some individuals), pre-median medial, post-median medial, posterior medial and posterior spines. Sixth and seventh tergites with paired median medial and posterior medial spines. Posteromedian area of seventh sternum with a flattened praeopercular organ, Y-shaped, posterior margin broadly emarginated, posterolateral apices blunt. Eighth tergum with a pair of small tooth-like crests posteromedially. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum, with a pair of tooth-like crests posteromedially. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, posterior margin triangularly emarginated, mediolongitudinal carina elevated. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, posterior apex pointed and reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci short, flattened, tapering posteriorly, apices pointed and reaching posterior apices of anal segment.

Legs: Slender. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, with blackish markings. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora with three to four small serrations, serrations on anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae comparatively indistinct. Profemora weakly curved basally. Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with small serrations, serrations on anteroventral and posteroventral carinae comparatively indistinct.

Male (Figs. 28–29, 42, 53, 76–77). Body slender and slim, distinctly more slender than female. General colouration of body and legs green.

Head: Oblong, with very few small granules. Vertex weakly convex, with paired supra-antennal spines. Occiput moderately convex, median longitudinal furrow distinct; with a pair of supra-orbital spines, also with three pairs of occipital medial spines. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about two-and-a-half-times that of genae. Antennae with 18 segments, apices reaching subapical area of profemora; scapus weakly flattened basally, roughly as long as third segment; and third segment longer than pedicellus.

Thorax: Sparsely covered with small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, expanded posteriorly, anterior margin gently incurved, posterior margin truncate, with a pair of posterior medial spines, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, with paired medial spines along median longitudinal line pre-medially, medially and posteriorly, anterior pair as large as posterior pair, median pair largest. Metanotum longer than wide, with paired posterior medial and pre-median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a short supra-coxal spine.

Abdomen: Slender and cylindrical, with sparse and small granules. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with a few acute granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles. Second to sixth tergites with a pair of posterior medial spines. Eighth tergum gently expanded posteriorly, roughly as long as ninth tergum. Anal segment longer than eighth tergum, tapering posteriorly, dilated into two distinct semi-tergites; semitergites medially curved, apices distinctly curved inwards and blunt, with minute dentations. Poculum cup-shaped, with distinct median elevation, posterior margin rounded and reaching anterior area of anal segment. Cerci long, incurved, medially broadened posteriorly, apical portion flattened, apices truncate and exceeding posterior apices of anal segment.

Legs: Slender and long. Sparsely covered with short bristles. Femora shorter than corresponding tibiae, anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae with indistinct serrations, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with three to four serrations. Profemora weakly curved basally. Anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae of tibiae with indistinct serration, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae lacking noticeable armature, medioventral carina weakly raised basally.

Measurements in Table 7 .

Eggs (Figs. 94–95). Capsule brown, oval, posterior pole notched in lateral view, surface reticulate-foveate; depressions dark brown, more or less rounded, with dense and small granulations. Micropylar plate brown, oval, anteriorly pointed, posteriorly rounded. Micropylar cup placed at posterior margin of micropylar plate. Median line short, placed behind micropylar cup, about one-third length of micropylar plate. Operculum centrally depressed and lacking capitulum.

Measurements. Length 1.6 mm, width 1.0 mm, height 1.4 mm.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the green colouration of the body and legs in the both sexes.

Suggested common name (Chinese). ·華¬'.