Neohirasea catbaensis, Ho, 2018

Ho, Wai-Chun George, 2018, The genus Neohirasea Rehn (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae: Necrosciinae) from Vietnam, Zoological Systematics 43 (1), pp. 37-51 : 41-42

Neohirasea catbaensis sp. nov. ( Figs 13–17 , 51–54 )

Diagnosis. This new species is related to N. biserrata sp. nov., but can be separated by large size and long lateral spines on mesonotum in both sexes, two long spines on lateral margins of metanotum and a pair of posterior spines on third to fifth abdominal tergites in male and moderately expanded posteriorly mesonotum and horn-like praeopercular organ on seventh abdominal sternum in female.

Description. Male. Body slender, distinctly smaller than female. Head oval, as long as pronotum. Vertex flat. Posterior margin of occiput with 6 indistinct swellings. Median longitudinal furrow distinct, lateral longitudinal furrows indistinct. Compound eyes rounded and small. Antennae filiform and long, sparsely covered with long bristles, surpassing apices of protarsi; scapus flattened at base, about 1.5 times as long as pedicellus; third segment longer than combined length of scapus and pedicellus. Thorax rough, with sparse granules. Pronotum rectangular, longer than wide, anterior margin weakly incurved, posterior margin truncate; transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle area, with a pair of spines on anterior margin, also with another pair of spines placed before transverse sulcus. Mesonotum rough, more than 3 times as long as pronotum, gently expanded posteriorly; median longitudinal carina indistinct, with paired spines anteriorly, post-medially and posteriorly, also with paired mediolateral spines, lateral margins with long spines. Mesopleurae with a spine near posterior area and a supra-coxal spine. Metanotum with paired spines post-medially, longer than median segment, lateral margins with long spines anteriorly and pre-medially. Metapleurae with a spine medially and with 2 supra-coxal spines. Median segment square, with paired spines post-medially. Second to fifth tergites with paired spines posteriorly, gradually reduced in size posteriorly. Eighth tergum as long as ninth tergum. Anal segment longer than ninth tergum, lateral margins gently elevated medially, constricted posteriorly after middle area, with a small V-shaped emargination on posterior margin. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded and surpassing anterior margin of anal segment. Cerci flattened, weakly incurved, apices rounded and surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Vomer with posteriorly constricted apical part, apex obtuse. Legs slender and long, sparsely covered with short bristles. All femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, posteroventral and anteroventral carinae with 2 small serrations near apices. Profemora curved basally. All tibiae unarmed.

Female. Similar to male, but distinctly larger and more robust. Head oval, as long as pronotum. Vertex flat. Occiput gently convex, posterior margin of head with 8 small swellings. Median longitudinal furrow distinct. Compound eyes rounded. Antennae filiform and long, sparsely covered with short bristles; scapus flattened basally, almost as long as third segment; pedicellus shorter than scapus; third segment shorter than combined length of scapus and pedicellus. Thorax rough, with wrinkles, granules and spines. Pronotum rectangular, longer than wide, anterior margin and pre-medial area with paired spines, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle area. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, median longitudinal carina distinct, armed with paired spines anteriorly, medially and posteriorly, also with paired mediolateral and posterolateral spines, lateral margins with long spines. Mesopleurae with a spine near posterior area. Metanotum longer than median segment, median longitudinal carina distinct, with paired spines post-medially, lateral margins with 2 spines anteriorly and pre-medially. Metapleurae with a medial spine, also with 2 supra-coxal spines. Abdomen wrinkled, tapering posteriorly. Median segment to fourth tergites with paired spines posteriorly, gradually reduced in size posteriorly. Seventh sternum with a distinct horn-like praeopercular organ posteromedially, elongated and tapering posteriorly, apex pointed and surpassing anterior margin of subgenital plate. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum, with a small crest posteromedially. Anal segment longer than ninth tergum, almost as long as eighth tergum, with 2 obscure emarginations on posterior margin. Subgenital plate mediolongitudinally carinate, scoop-shaped, apex pointed and reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci small, flattened, apices rounded and not surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs slender and long, covered with short bristles. All femora thick-built, thicker than corresponding tibiae. Profemora curved basally. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of all femora with 2 small serrations near apices. All tibiae unarmed, longer than corresponding femora.

Measurements. Length. Body, ♂ 60.0 mm, ♀ 80.0 mm; antennae, ♂ 60.0 mm, ♀ 60.0 mm; head, ♂ 4.0 mm, ♀ 6.0 mm; pronotum, ♂ 4.0 mm, ♀ 6.0 mm; mesonotum, ♂ 15.0 mm, ♀ 18.0 mm; metanotum, ♂ 5.0 mm, ♀ 6.0 mm; median segment, ♂ 3.0 mm, ♀ 4.0 mm; profemora, ♂ 20.0mm, ♀ 22.0mm; mesofemora, ♂ 16.0 mm, ♀ 18.0 mm; metafemora, ♂ 22.0 mm, ♀ 25.0 mm; protibiae, ♂ 25.0 mm, ♀ 25.0 mm; mesotibiae, ♂ 18.0 mm, ♀ 20.0 mm; metatibiae, ♂ 28.0mm, ♀ 30.0mm.

Material examined. Holotype ♂, Vietnam, Hai Phong, Cat Ba National Park , 5 October 2011, Xingyue Liu ( CAU) . Paratypes. 1♀, same data as holotype ( CAU) ; 3♂, 5♀, Hai Phong, Cat Ba Island, Cat Ba National Park , c. 10km NW of Cat Ba City (20°47'56''N, 106°59'47''E; elev. 50m), October 2011, A.V. Abramov, F3417.63–68 ( MMUE & HKES) .

Distribution. Vietnam.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the type locality, Cat Ba National Park in North Vietnam.

Figures

Figures 1–37. Neohirasea spp. 1–5. N. biserrata sp. nov. 6–10. N. bispina bispina sp. nov. & subsp. nov. 11–12. N. bispina babeensis subsp. nov. 13–17. N. catbaensis sp. nov. 18–23. N. coomani sp. nov. 24–27. N. hilli hilli sp. nov. & subsp. nov. 28–29. N. hilli nahangensis subsp. nov. 30–32. N. hilli vietnamensis subsp. nov. 33–37. N. maerens pseudomaerens subsp. nov. 1, 6, 11, 13, 22, 24, 28, 30, 33. Male end of abdomen, lateral view. 2, 7, 12, 15, 23, 25, 29, 32, 34. Male end of abdomen, dorsal view. 3, 8, 14, 31, 35. Male vomer, ventral view. 4, 9, 16, 18, 26, 36. Female end of abdomen, lateral view. 5, 10, 17, 19, 27, 37. Female end of abdomen, dorsal view. 20. Female end of abdomen, ventral view. 21. Female mesonotum, dorsal view. Scale bars: 1–2, 4–7, 9–13, 15–30, 32– 34=5mm; 3, 8, 14, 31, 35=1mm.

Figures 51–56. Neohirasea spp. 51–54. N. catbaensis sp. nov. 55–56. N. coomani sp. nov. 51, 56. Male habitus. 52, 55. Female habitus. 53. Male head and thorax, dorsolateral view. 54. Female head and thorax, dorsolateral view. Scale bars=5mm.