Phyllium (Phyllium) ericoriai Hennemann, Conle, Gottardo & Bresseel, 2009

Hennemann, Frank H., Conle, Oskar V., Gottardo, Marco & Bresseel, Joachim, 2009, On certain species of the genus Phyllium Illiger, 1798, with proposals for an intra-generic systematization and the descriptions of five new species from the Philippines and Palawan (Phasmatodea: Phylliidae: Phylliinae: Phylliini) 2322, Zootaxa 2322 (1), pp. 1-83 : 21-25

Phyllium (Phyllium) ericoriai Hennemann, Conle, Gottardo & Bresseel n. sp.

( Figs. 11–12 , 18–19 , 87 , 99–100, 115, 134–136)

Phyllium celebicum, Gray, 1843: 121 , fig. e (left profemur of ♀). [Misidentification]

Westwood, 1859: 173, pl. 40: 6 (♂). [Misidentification]

Kirby, 1904: 423 (in part – only record from Philippines).

Redtenbacher, 1906: 176 (in part – only record from Philippines).

Rehn & Rehn, 1933: 413, pl. 17: 5 (♀). [Misidentification]

Klante, 1976: 63 (in part – only ♂ from Luzon). [Misidentification]

Phyllium (Phyllium) sp., Zompro & Grösser, 2003: 139, fig. 12: 6 (egg).

HT, ♂: Manilla; Phyllium Celebicum de Haan, Westw. Cat. p. 173 ( OXUM) .

PT, ♀: Manilla; Celebicum GRG , long wings; head + middle right leg aliena? ( OXUM) .

PT, ♀: Philippines, Marinduque Island , VII.1993 ( BMNH, ex coll. PB) .

PT, ♂: 3196. Luzon, Jagor; Phyllium siccifolium ♂ L. Brunner det. (8). (MNHU).

PT, ♀: 42.72, Phil Isl; Phyllium celebicum, Westw Celebes, Manilla ( BMNH) .

PT, ♂: 42.72, Phil Isl; Phillipine Islands H. Cuming, Esq. ( BMNH) .

PT, ♀: Philippines, Ledyard ( ANSP) .

PT, ♀: Philippines, Batan Island , Leguan, 15.III.1905, W. D. Smith ( ANSP) .

PT, 2 ♀, 10 eggs: Philippines, Marinduque Island, Boac District , Cawit (sea-level), on cultivated guava-tree ( Psidium guajava , Myrtaceae ), leg. Eric Oria XI.2008 (coll. FH, No’s 0672-1, 2 & E) .

PT, 1 ♂, 2 ♀: Ex Zucht: I. Morisse X.2009, F1-Gen., Herkunft: Philippines, Marinduque Id., Boac, Cawit , leg. E. Oria 2008 (coll. FH, No’s 0672-4 to 6) .

PT, ♂: Ex Zucht: F. Hennemann XI.2009, F1-Gen., Herkunft: Philippines, Marinduque Id., Boac, Cawit , leg. E. Oria 2008 (coll. FH, No 0672-7) .

PT, ♂: Philippines, Marinduque Island, Boac District, Cawit, sea-level, on cultivated guava-tree ( Psidium guajava , Myrtaceae ), leg. Eric Oria II.2009 (coll. FH, No’s 0672-3).

PT, 15 eggs: Philippines, Marinduque Island, leg. Eric Oria (coll. MG) .

PT, 10 eggs: Philippines, Marinduque Island, leg. Eric Oria (coll. JB) .

Comparison: This species was frequently confused with Ph. (Ph.) celebicum from Sulawesi and Ambon by previous authors, but both sexes differ from this species by the broader, less elongate and differently textured meso-praescutum, two very prominent teeth on the interior lobe of the profemora ( Figs. 18–19 ) and broader almost semi-circularly expanded interior lobe of the mesofemora. ♀ furthermore differ from those of Ph. (Ph.) celebicum by: the less acutely angular, broadly rounded exterior lobe of the profemora ( Fig. 18 ); having only 27–28 teeth on pars stridens ( Fig. 87 ); parallel-sided abdominal segments V and VI and convex outer margins of segment VIII. ♂♂ are at first glance distinguished by: the broader abdomen, which has segments IV–VI gradually widened and VI strongly expanded and lobed; lack of eye-like spots in abdominal segment VI; prominent teeth of the interior lobe of the mesofemora; smaller less angular exterior lobe of the profemora ( Fig. 19 ) and black meso-praescutum. The spectacular eggs at once distinguish it from all other species in the entire genus and differ from those of Ph. (Ph.) celebicum by the spectacular high longitudinal lamellae of the capsule and flat operculum (Figs. 99–100).

Etymology: This pretty and very characteristic new species is dedicated to Eric Oria (Cawit, Boac, Marinduque Id.), who collected it on Marinduque Islands and provided the authors with material.

Diagnosis: ♀ ( Fig. 11 , 134–135 ). Large for the subgenus (body length 87.0–98.0 mm) with a moderately broad and angulate abdomen (maximum width 36.0–39.0 mm), large and angular exterior lobes of the profemora, and developed alae which are roughly ¾ as long as the tegmina (42.0–48.0 mm). General colour usually pale apple green and to a variable degree furnished with orange-brown to mid brown speckles and markings all over the head, thorax, tegmina and legs. Abdominal segment VII mostly with a ± defined, bold brown lateral marking. Main veins of the tegmina to a variable degree highlighted with orange or pale brown. Eyes pale orange, the antennae dull orange except for a mid brown apical antennomere (IX). Basitarsi pale cream, apex of basitarsus as well as II–IV reddish pale brown, V mid brown. Interior surfaces of meso- and metacoxae with a conspicuous bright red marking. Head broad with the cheeks gently convex; vertex smooth except for a very few minute granules and a rather definite pointed posteromedian tubercle. Antennae moderately slender and elongate (5.4–5.6 mm), ± as long as postocular section of head capsule. Apical antennomere (IX) about 1.3x longer than wide, just a little longer than VIII and gradually tapered towards apex. Pars stridens on antennomere III with 27–28 teeth ( Fig. 87 ). Pronotum roundly trapezoidal with posterior margin rounded and half the width of anterior margin. In the centre with a short but decidedly impressed C-shaped transverse furrow. Meso-praescutum gently narrowing towards the posterior, elongate and about as wide as long. Lateral margins armed with a dense longitudinal row of rather small spiniform tubercles of variable sizes. Disc very slightly tectiform longitudinally and with an irregular longitudinal row of low granules. Anterior margin with a narrowed but well defined C-shaped transverse ridge, which is granulose dorsally and medially protruded into a ± definite tubercle. Mesopleurae narrow apically but soon strongly gradually diverging; the outer margin irregularly and rather minutely tuberculose. Mesosternum very slightly tectiform longitudinally and densely granulose in anterior portion; posterior half smooth. Tegmina ± reaching half way along abdominal segment VII. Alae developed, roughly ¾ the length of tegmina and reaching about half way along VI. Abdominal segments II–III gradually widened, IV acutely angulate medially and V–VII parallel-sided to very indistinctly diverging. VII widest segment and broadly rounded with an angle of roughly 90° ( Fig. 11 ). VIII considerably narrower than previous with outer margins gently convex. IX–X gradually narrowing, the latter rounded apically. Lower gonapophyses large and ± extending over apex of abdomen. Subgenital plate of moderate length, acutely triangular with a narrow, pointed apex and reaching about half way along tergite X. Profemora with a large and roundly angular exterior lobe (angle about 90°) which is considerably broader than the interior lobe; outer margin smooth. Armature of interior lobe very prominent, usually consisting of two very larger and acute triangular teeth and three much smaller intercalated teeth ( Figs. 18 ). Interior lobe of protibiae distinct and widely rounded (angle roughly 90°); outer margin very gently deflexed. Interior lobe of mesofemora> 1.3x wider than exterior lobe and ± semicircularly rounded. Protarsus about 2/3 the length of corresponding tibia, probasitarsus about 4x longer than wide.

♁♁ ( Fig. 12 , 136 ). Medium-sized for the subgenus (body length 55.0– 59.8 mm) with a remarkably broad and lobed abdomen (maximum width 17.0– 19.8 mm), rather broad and angulate exterior lobes of the profemora, distinctly armed interior lobes of the pro- and mesofemora and distinctive colouration. General colour apple green and to a variable degree furnished with reddish to mid brown speckles and markings. Protibiae, great parts of interior lobe of the profemora, complete mid legs and basal portion of the metafemora brown; sometimes with a few faint pale cream markings and sport on the fore legs in particular. Head brown with a washed green central marking dorsally. Antennae brown basally and apically, the median section pale green and with a few indistinct brown transverse bands. Pronotum green with lateral margins broadly brown. Meso-praescutum black with the lateral margins pale to mid brown. Mesopleurae brown dorsally. Mesosternum creamish brown anteriorly and becoming green towards the posterior. All coxae brown, the meso- and metacoxae with a red marking interiorly. Tarsi mid to dark brown with the basal portion of the basitarsi straw to pale cream. Tegmina transparent green with a few brown markings along the main longitudinal veins. A few brown markings also present along the medial vein of the alae, these otherwise transparent. Head broadest at the eyes with the cheeks almost parallel-sided; vertex smooth. Eyes very prominent and their length contained less than 2x in that of cheeks. Antennae with 23–25 segments and slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV. Pronotum and mesothorax generally structured as in ♀. Mesopleurae narrow in anterior 1/3 and less distinctly diverging in posterior half than in ♀; lateral margins set with 7–9 moderately distinct tubercles. Mesosternum strongly convex anteriorly and with a well developed, rounded but gradually narrowing longitudinal median bulge posteriorly; anterior portion evenly granulose. Tegmina ± reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment III, alae reaching roughly half way along segment X. Abdominal segment II very slightly narrowing, III widening, IV roundly angulate (angle ca. 120°) and V–VII distinctly diverging. VII widest segment and strongly rounded in posterior half (angle ca. 100°). VIII distinctly narrower than previous with the outer margins roundly deflexed. Lateral margins of IX gently convex. Anal segment about 1.2x longer than wide, triangular but slightly more attenuate in the apical portion. V with a pair of indistinct, transparent eye-like spots. Vomer triangular with a single, rather long and narrow up-curving terminal hook. Poculum moderately convex, with the posterior margin broadly rounded and reaching about half way along anal segment. Exterior lobe of profemora roughly equal in width to interior lobe, rounded medially and with a variable number of small denticles in the anterior portion of the outer margin. Interior lobe as in ♀, but the two enlarged teeth even more prominent ( Fig. 19 ). Protibiae with a widely triangular interior lobe, the exterior margin very gently deflexed medially. Interior lobe of mesofemora about 1.5x wider than exterior lobe, strongly deflexed medially and with at least one conspicuously enlarged, triangular tooth some 2/3 off the base. Meso- and metatibiae very slightly rounded exteriorly near the apex. Protarsus almost equal in length to corresponding tibia, probasitarsus about 6x longer than wide.

Nymphs: Newly hatched nymphs are rather large for the subgenus (body length 15.0– 15.5 mm) with an ovate abdomen (maximum width 5.0– 5.1 mm). They are almost entirely black or very dark purple with only the basitarsi white.

Eggs (Figs. 99–100). Remarkably large for the genus and of a highly complex shape. Capsule roundly rectangular in general shape and roughly as high as wide; surface smooth and slightly glossy. Lateral surfaces each with four very prominent and high sub-parallel longitudinal lamellae (height ca. 0.7 mm), which have the dorsal margin set with a row of hairy or moss-like clusters. Ventral surface with a single longitudinal median lamella, which is structured like those on the lateral surfaces in the anterior portion, but has the posterior portion expanded into a wide and mossy, lamella-like structure. Four similarly structured prominent, hollow expansions are present at the posterior angles of the capsule. The polar-area bears a remarkable brushlike extension on a long and slender stalk. Dorsal surface of capsule raised but flattened and with moss-like texture. Micropylar plate elliptical with both end pointed and about 3/5 as long as length of capsule; slightly impressed. Surface with a longitudinal median bulge of hairy structures. Micropylar cup slightly displaced towards the posterior and marked by long hairy or moss-like structures. Operculum almost circular, flat and with a hollow crown-like, extension on the outer margin which has the dorsal margin irregularly dentate. Capsule chestnut brown, micropylar plate mid brown and lamellate extensions of the capsule straw to pale brown.

Measurements including the feather-like structures and raised lamellae [mm]: length (including operculum) 7.9–8.2, length 6.0– 6.5 mm, width 4.6–4.9 mm, height 5.0– 5.2 mm, length of micropylar plate 3.0– 3.1 mm.

Comments: This new species was frequently misinterpreted as Ph. (Ph.) celebicum de Haan, 1842 by previous authors, all records from the Philippines in fact relating to Ph. (Ph.) ericoriai n. sp.. Gray (1843: 121) was the first who misidentified a ♂ and ♀ from Luzon in OXUM as “ Phyllium celebicum ”. Based on the same specimens Westwood (1859: 173) provided descriptions of both sexes and a superb illustration of the ♂ (pl. 40: 6). Gray’s and Westwood’s misidentification of Philippine specimens was not recognized by Redtenbacher (1906: 176) nor by Rehn & Rehn (1933: 413) who provided an illustration of a ♀ in ANSP. Also subsequent authors like Klante (1976) and Grösser (2001, 2008) have not been able to detect the features which distinguish these Philippine specimens from de Haan’s species whose ♀ HT, although not traced, was rather accurately illustrated by Willemse (1945: 319, fig. 3).

The spectacular eggs distinguish Ph. (Ph.) ericoriai n. sp. from all other known species in the genus. They are amongst the most beautiful and complex eggs within the whole Phasmatodea , being remarkably large, the capsule furnished with several remarkably high and lamella-like longitudinal ridges and the rest of the egg including the micropylar plate and operculum all covered with long hairy or feather-like structures and appendices (Figs. 99–100).

In addition to freshly collected dried specimens live eggs were sent to several European breeders by Eric Oria (Marinduque, Philippines) during 2008 and 2009. Specimens were first found on cultivated guava ( Psidium guajava , Myrtaceae ) and mango-trees ( Mangifera indica , Anacardiaceae ) near Cawit in the Boac District, Marinduque Island during 2006 but almost disappeared after the bad cyclone that hit Marinduque in 2007. It was again found at the same locality in October 2008 and is since being frequently recorded and reared in captivity by Eric Oria. Captive breeding is now also being attempted in Europe but so far nothing is known about the alternative foodplants accepted. In early 2009 Thierry Heitzmann (Manila) recorded several nymphs near the town of Real in the Sierra Madre Mountains, Quezon Province, Luzon. They were found on a small, freshly cut guava- tree ( Psidium guajava , Myrtaceae ) some 40 cm off the ground along the track leading to “Palakong Simbahang Mountain”, a locality some 12 metres away from abig river side (personal communication with T. Heitzmann).

Distribution ( Fig. 115 ): Philippines: Marinduque Island (Boac District, Cawit), Luzon Island (Manila &

Quezon Province: Sierra Madre Mountains nr. Real “Mt. Palakong Simbahang”) & Batan Island (Leguan).

* according to Rehn & Rehn (1933: 413) for the specimen from “ Philippines, Ledyard”

** The head appears to be alien and is glued to the specimen.

Figures

FIGURES 11–12. Phyllium (Ph.) ericoriai n. sp. [scale = 10 mm]

FIGURES 13–27. Left profemur and genitalia of members of the “celebicum-group” [scale = 2 mm].

FIGURES 85–94. Right antenna of ♀, interior view [scale = 1 mm]

FIGURES 134–136. Phyllium ericoriai n. sp., live specimens from Luzon (Quezon Province, Real)

FIGURES 113–118. Maps showing the distribution of Phyllium spp.