Mycovartes vietnamensis ( Ho, 2018 ) Bresseel & Constant, 2024

Bresseel, Joachim & Constant, Jérôme, 2024, Stick insects from Vietnam: The new genus Mycovartes gen. nov., with two new species and two new species of Neooxyartes Ho, 2018 (Phasmida: Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 965, pp. 1-50 : 24-27

Mycovartes vietnamensis ( Ho, 2018) gen. et comb. nov.

Figs 1 , 15–18

Oxyartes vietnamensis Ho, 2018: 4 [described].

Diagnosis

The species is easily recognised by the bright yellow anal fan of the micropterous alae.

Notes

Ho (2018) attributed this species to the genus Oxyartes , mainly because of the general body shape and the small and colourful alae. The species is here transferred to the new genus Mycovartes gen. nov. because of the egg and genital morphology: the egg operculum lacks raised capitular structure, males have the poculum shallow and not bulgy as in Oxyartes , females have the anal segment arrowhead-shaped in dorsal view with a medially split apex and a comparatively shorter, spoon-shaped subgenital plate.

The egg and newly hatched nymph are described for the first time. Dried and live specimens of both sexes are here figured for comparison ( Figs 15–16 ).

Material examined

Holotype

VIETNAM • ♀ (examined from photographs); Gia Lai Province, Kon Chu Rang N.R. , ca 40 km N of K’ Bang Town ; 14°30′19″ N, 108°32′28″ E; 24 May–2 Jun. 2016; 1020 m a.s.l.; A.V. Abramov leg.; F3476.6; MMUE.

Paratypes

VIETNAM • 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀; same data as for holotype; F3476.7-8 and F3476.41-42; MMUE & HKES .

Additional material

VIETNAM – Gia Lai Province • 10 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀; Kon Chu Rang N.R. ; 14°28′28″ N, 108°32′27″ E; 600–1200 m a.s.l.; 13–20 Jul. 2018; GTI project; J. Constant, J. Bresseel and X. Vermeersch leg.; I.G.:33.769; RBINS • 5 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same data as for preceding; VNMN • 14 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, eggs; same data as for preceding; ex breeding Tim Bollens, 2019; RBINS . – Kon Tum Province • 1 ♀; Kon Plong, Mang Kanh ; 14°39′43″ N, 108°15′45″ E; 16–20 Aug. 2019; GTI Project; J. Constant and J. Bresseel leg.; I.G.: 34.048; RBINS .

Supplementary description

MALE TERMINALIA ( Fig. 17 ). Vomer well developed, body elongate, triangular, almost flat; basal portion broad, slightly narrowing toward the posterior and gently converging with the posterior portion; posterior portion strongly narrowing and elongate, posteromedially split ending into two elongate teeth.

Nymph ( Fig. 16F )

Newly hatched nymphs are slender and predominantly light brown. Head bigger than pronotum, with black postocular line. Legs pale, femora with slightly darker markings on the posterior half. Antennae blackish, tipped with white.

Egg ( Fig. 18 )

Measurements (in mm): length: 3; width: 2.1; height: 2.4.

Capsule slightly oval with the dorsal and ventral surfaces somewhat flattened medially and the polar area weakly indented, colouration cream with irregularly dispersed black markings that appear to be more or less fused with each other; cream areas on capsule surface with minute, pale, mushroom-like protuberances. Micropylar plate slightly displaced towards posterior pole; circular in outline and mid brown; surface minutely granular with distinct mediolongitudinal carina. Micropylar cup distinct, almost semicircular in dorsal view. Micropylar plate posteriorly followed by a definite mediolongitudinal, black line reaching posterior pole. Posterior polar area blackish with pale center and with a peg-like central protuberance. Operculum oval and convex; central portion distinctly more raised and with minute, pale, mushroom-like excrescences. Other portions of operculum coloured darker than center and with somewhat thickened opercular rim.

Biology

The species was collected in lower mountain tropical evergreen rainforest, at medium altitude (900– 1200 m in Kon Chu Rang N.P., 700–1000 m in Kon Plong). The specimens were observed on low vegetation and seemed to feed on a variety of plant species. The eggs are dropped to the ground. In captivity, the species accepts Rubus sp. and other Rosaceae , Corylus avellana and Carpinus betulus ( Betulaceae ), as food plants.

Distribution

This species is known from its type locality Kon Chu Rang N.R. and here also recorded from the nearby Kon Plong National Forest, both localities are situated on the Kon Tum Plateau ( Fig. 1 ).

Figures

Fig. 1. Mycovartes gen. nov., distribution map.

Fig. 15. Mycovartes vietnamensis (Ho, 2018) gen. et comb. nov. in situ. A–B. Mating pair in Kon Chu Rang N.R. C. ♀ nymph from Kon Plong.

Fig. 16. Mycovartes vietnamensis (Ho, 2018) gen. et comb. nov. A. ♂, dorsal view. B. ♀, dorsal view. C. ♂, head and thorax, dorsal view. D. ♀, head and thorax, dorsal view. E. ♂, wings. F. Newly hatched nymph. Photographs ©T. Bollens.

Fig. 17. Mycovartes vietnamensis (Ho, 2018) gen. et comb. nov., ♂ vomer. A. Ventral view. B. Lateral view.

Fig. 18. Mycovartes vietnamensis (Ho, 2018) gen. et comb. nov., eggs (RBINS).A. Lateral view.B. Dorsal view. C. Operculum. D. Ventral view. E. Dorsolateral view. F. Anterolateral view. G. Posterodorsal view. H. Polar area. I. Variation.