Cnipsomorpha nigromaculata, 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 : 108-109

Cnipsomorpha nigromaculata sp. nov.

(Figs. 11–14, 34–35, 47–48, 62–65, 88–89)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 1000m, Primitive broad-leaved forests near Pingyuanzhen , Yingjiang West , Dehong, Yunnan, China, 3.VII.2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 1♂, 6 eggs (naturally laid by holotype ♀), same data as holotype ♀ ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Cnipsomorpha nigromaculata sp. nov. is similar to C. bii Ho, 2017 , but can be separated by the absence of paired anterior medial spines on the pronotum, the presence of median medial spines on the metanotum and the five to seven serrations on the anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora in the female. C. nigromaculata sp. nov. is similar to C. daliensis Ho, 2017 , but can be easily separated by the presence of a pair of posterior medial spines on the pronotum and the medially tapering and curved semi anal abdominal segments in the male.

Description. Female (Figs. 11–12, 34, 47, 62–63). Small size. Body robust. General colouration of body and legs brownish green, with blackish markings.

Head:Covered with a few small granules.Oblong, longer than wide, gently tapering posteriorly behind compound eyes. Vertex convex, with a pair of short supra-antennal spines. Occiput distinctly convex, with paired supra-orbital spines; also with three pairs of medial spines along median longitudinal furrow, anterior pair largest and longest, median pair as long as posterior pair. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about four times that of genae. Antennae with 15 segments, surpassing middle point of profemora; scapus flattened at base, longer than combined length of pedicellus and third segment; and third segment longer than pedicellus, shorter than scapus.

Thorax: Sparsely covered with a few small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin truncate; transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point of segment, with a pair of posterior medial spines. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, swollen medially, about four times length of pronotum; with three anterior medial spines and paired anterior and median spines; also with two pairs of pre-median medial and post-median medial spines and a pair of posterior medial spines; lateral margins with three spines, median one longest. Metanotum longer than wide, about four-and-one-half times length of median segment, with paired pre-median medial, median medial, post-median medial and median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a supra-coxal spine and a few small, acute granules. Mesosternum and metasternum with a few small and 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 tergum with paired median medial, posterior medial and posterior spines. Third to fifth tergites with paired anterior medial, median medial, posterior medial, posterior and lateral posterior spines. Sixth and seventh tergites with paired post-median medial and posterior spines, sizes of spines distinctly smaller than spines on preceding tergites. Posteromedian area of seventh sternum with a long knife-like praeopercular organ, elongated and tapering posteriorly, roughly as long as eighth tergum, apex pointed and reaching anterior margin of ninth tergum. Eighth and ninth tergites with a pair of tooth-like crests posteromedially. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, posterior margin with three small emarginations. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, posterior apex pointed and reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci short, flattened, apices obtuse and not exceeding posterior margin of anal segment.

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

Male (Figs. 13–14, 35, 48, 64–65). Body slender and slim, distinctly more slender than female. General colouration of body and legs brownish green.

Head: Oblong, with very sparse granules. Vertex gently convex, with paired supra-antennal spines. Occiput rounded and convex, median longitudinal furrow distinct; with paired supra-orbital and occipital medial spines. Compound eyes rounded, its length about two times that of genae. Antennae with 19 segments, apices reaching subapical area of profemora; scapus flattened basally, as long as third segment; and pedicellus shorter than third segment.

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

Abdomen: Slender and cylindrical. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with a pair of enlarged posterior granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles. Second to fifth tergites with paired posterior spines. Third to sixth tergites roughly equal in length. Eighth tergum gently expanded posteriorly, longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment longer than ninth tergum, dilated into two medially curved semi-tergites, forming a deep U-shaped emargination on posterior margin; semi-tergites medially curved and tapering posteriorly, apices pointed and weakly incurved. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded, reaching middle area of anal segment, lateral area with a small elevation. Cerci short, flattened, apices rounded and not exceeding posterior apices of anal segment.

Legs: Slender and long, with blackish markings. Sparsely covered with short bristles. Femora as long as corresponding tibiae.Profemora weakly curved basally, anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae weakly waved. Anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae of mesofemora and metafemora weakly waved, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with one small serration subapically. Tibiae lacking noticeable elevation, medioventral carina weakly raised basally.

Measurements in Table 3 .

Eggs (Figs. 88–89). Capsule brown, oval, posterior pole notched in lateral view, surface reticulate-foveate; depressions blackish brown, more or less rounded, with dense and small granulations. Micropylar plate brown, oval, gently tapering anteriorly and posteriorly. 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 1.2 mm, height 1.6 mm.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the black markings on the legs in the both sexes.

Suggested common name (Chinese). 黑斑華¬'.