Medauroidea Zompro, 2000

Bresseel, Joachim, Constant, Jérôme & Constant, 1835, The stick insect genus Medauroidea Zompro, 2000: Taxonomic note and extension to Laos and Cambodia with one new species, M. romantica sp. nov. (Phasmida: Phasmatidae: Clitumninae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 73, pp. 1-19 : 1-19

Genus Medauroidea Zompro, 2000

Medauroidea ZOMPRO, 2000: 68 [described; compared with Medaura and Ramulus ].

Type species: Clitumnus extradentatus Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907 , by original designation.

The definition of the genus given by ZOMPRO (2000) with the additional characters provided by BRESSEEL & CONSTANT (2017a) is here followed.

DISTRIBUTION. China, Vietnam, Cambodia *, Laos * and Thailand (* = new country records).

Species included (8) and distribution

M. chenshuchuni Ho, 2017 [ China, Guanxi] M. brongniarti ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov. [ Laos *]

= Ramulus imperialis ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) syn. nov.

M. dolichocercata (Bi & Wang, 1998) [ China, Henan] M. extradentata ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) [ Vietnam, Phuc-Son]

= Cuniculina annamensis ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907)

M. nyamalensis (Chen, Shang & Pei, 2000) [ China, Xizang]

M. polita (Chen & He, 1997) [ China, Sichuan] M. regula ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) [ Vietnam, Than-Moi] M. romantica sp. nov. [ Cambodia *, Preah Vihear]

Medauroidea brongniarti ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov.

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Figs 1–3

Clitumnus brongniarti BRUNNER VON WATTENWYL, 1907: 193 [described].

Cuniculina imperialis BRUNNER VON WATTENWYL, 1907: 204 [described] syn. nov.

Baculum imperialis – BROCK, 1998: 34 [transferred to Baculum ].

Ramulus brogniarti – OTTE & BROCK, 2005: 193 [misspelling of brongniarti , catalogued and transferred to Ramulus ].

Ramulus imperialis – OTTE & BROCK, 2005: 303 [catalogued and transferred to Ramulus ].

MATERIAL EXAMINED

TYPE MATERIAL. LAOS: holotype ♂ of Clitumnus brongniarti ( Fig. 1 ): [Museum Paris, Lakhon, Harmand 1878] [53] [900, 78] [53. Clitumnus Brongniarti Br. ] [Syntype] [ MNHN- EO-PHAS407] ( MNHN).

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7 LAOS: lectotype ♀ of Cuniculina imperialis ( Fig. 2 – here designated in order to provide a stable reference for the species): [Museum Paris, Lakhon, Harmand 1878] [991, 78] [Type]

[77. Medaura imperialis Br. Type] [recte! Cuniculina imper . Br.] [Syntype] [MNHN-EO- PHAS413] ( MNHN); paralectotype ♀ of Cuniculina imperialis (examined from photographs

– BROCK et al., 2018): [Museum Paris, Lakhon, Harmand 1878] [23.335] [Collectio Br.v.W.] [det. Br.v.W. Cuniculina imperialis ] ( NHMW).

NOTES:

(1) the species is here transferred to the genus Medauroidea based on the following characters: body elongate and slender; head elongate, dorsally flattened and vertex split by a shallow median groove; subgenital plate convex, not reaching end of abdomen, anal segment notched. The species can easily be distinguished from other species in the genus. The dorsal carinae of the mesofemora are armed with saw-like spines, in females they are lobe-like

8 posteriorly ( Fig. 2 E ). The medioventral carina of the mesofemora is raised posteriorly and armed with several small spines.

(2) Brunner von Wattenwyl originally placed a label on the two female syntypes with the manuscript name Medaura imperialis . A second label was later added to correct the name to Cuniculina imperialis .

(3) Male and female of this species were described by Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907 as two separate species, attributed to two different genera. However, the type specimens of Clitumnus brongniarti and Cuniculina imperialis share the same collection data. This, combined with the typical sexual dimorphism pattern as observed in the other Medauroidea species, leads us to consider the taxa as representing the two sexes of the same species.

(4) The locality Lakhon is situated in Laos, in the vicinity of Tha Khaek, Khammuane Province ( GEISER & NAGEL, 2013).

DISTRIBUTION. Laos: Khammuane Province ( Fig. 3 ).

Medauroidea romantica sp. nov.

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Figs 3–10

ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet refers to the “romantically” heart-shaped micropylar plate observable on the eggs of this species.

TYPE MATERIAL. CAMBODIA: holotype ♂ ( Figs 4 A , 5 ): [Cambodia, Preah Vihear prov., BeTreed Adventures , 16-21.X.2017, 13°29’44”N 104°42’36”E, GTI Project, Leg. J. Constant & X. Vermeersch, I.G.: 33.551] ( RBINS) .

Paratypes (20♂♂, 23♀♀): same data as holotype (18♂♂, 21♀♀: RBINS; 2♂♂, 2♀♀: RUPP) .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. 6 eggs: same data as holotype ( RBINS) .

DESCRIPTION

MALE ( Figs 4 A , 5 , 8 A )

Measurements: see table 1.

Body: relatively constant in colour. Head pale brown, dorsally with a black mediolongitudinal line in the posterior portion and with a black postocular line. Thorax and abdominal terga with a distinct black mediolongitudinal line. Mediolongitudinal line fainting towards the posterior. Pronotum light brown, meso- and metanotum orange-brown centrally, with anterior and posterior portions light brown. Granules on lateral margins of meso- and metafemora whitish. Median segment and abdomen light brown. Profemora pale basally, darker distally; protibiae pale brown. Mid and hind legs pale brown with a slight greenish tinge.

Head: distinctly longer than wide, narrowing towards the posterior; dorsally relatively flat, with a small raised area between eyes; behind raised area a mediolongitudinal line and two diverging rows of small granules reaching occiput. Eyes quite small, circular and strongly projecting. Behind eyes on genae, few small granules. Antennae short, consisting of 22 segments. Scapus elongated, strongly flattened dorsoventrally and with lateral margins rounded. Pedicellus shorter and distinctly narrower than scapus. Antennal segment III about as long as following two segments combined. Apical antennomere slightly longer than the two preceding ones combined.

9 Thorax: pronotum slightly widening towards the posterior; shorter than head and tuberculose. Anterior margin incurved, slightly raised and armed with few granules; followed by a mediolongitudinal impression in the prozona. Central transverse impression indistinct, slightly concave, not reaching lateral margins. Lateral margins armed with few granules. Prozona rugose, with two irregular longitudinal rows of granules. Mesonotum more or less parallel-sided, about seven times as long as pronotum, smooth dorsally, laterally with several conical tubercles, more concentrated anteriorly. Mesopleura smooth. Metanotum parallel-sided, slightly longer than half the mesonotum and smooth. Metapleura as mesopleura.

Legs: profemora about as long as meso- and metanotum combined; compressed and curved basally; all carinae present; anterodorsal carina with small serrations basally, other carinae unarmed. Mesofemora slightly longer than mesonotum; medioventral carina with some minute teeth posteriorly. Metafemora slightly shorter than profemora, armed as mesofemora. Protibiae carinate, slightly longer than profemora and unarmed. Mesotibiae about as long as mesofemora and distinctly carinate; medioventral carina with one to three tiny spines. Metatibiae about as long as profemora and armed as mesotibiae.

Abdomen: median segment about two thirds of metanotum in length, longer than wide and unarmed. Abdominal terga smooth; terga II–V slightly increasing in length; V–VI about the same length; VII slightly decreasing in length; VIII distinctly shorter; IX distinctly shorter than VIII; X split into two semi-tergites, its inner portion armed with minute, black, hook-like spines. Semi-tergites strongly tapering from lateral view, apically acute. Vomer small, present as elongate sclerite, slightly projecting over base of cerci, not reaching halfway of cerci; apex blunt. Cerci elongated, more or less cylindrical, slightly incurving, not reaching apex of semi-tergites.

FEMALE ( Figs 4 B , 6 , 8 B–E )

Measurements: see table 1.

Body: females are very variable in colour, but always have a dorsal mediolongitudinal stripe on thorax and abdomen. Stripe varies in colour from green to black. Body and leg colouration can range from different shades of brown or green to black. Head and legs colouration is independent from body colouration and from one another.

Head: distinctly longer than wide, narrowing towards the posterior; dorsally relatively flat, with a small raised area between eyes; behind raised area a mediolongitudinal line and two diverging rows of blunt tubercles reaching occiput. Occiput with a higher concentration of tubercles. Eyes quite small and circular. Behind eyes on genae, two to five blunt tubercles, and two to six tubercles dorsolaterally. Antennae short, consisting of 24 segments. Scapus elongated, strongly flattened dorsoventrally and with lateral margins broadly rounded. Pedicellus shorter, narrower and flat dorsally. Antennal segment III longer than the following two combined, antennomere IV distinctly shorter than V. Apical antennomere longer than the two preceding antennomeres combined.

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12 Thorax: pronotum slightly widening towards the posterior; shorter than head and tuberculose. Anterior margin incurved, slightly raised and armed with blunt tubercles; followed by a mediolongitudinal line. Central transverse impression slightly concave, not reaching lateral margins. Lateral margins armed with some conical tubercles, the largest one anteriorly. Dorsal surface rugose, with two irregular longitudinal rows of blunt tubercles; tubercles more pronounced anteriorly. Sublaterally with few tubercles. Mesonotum more or less parallel-sided, about five times as long as pronotum, with some irregularly scattered tubercles in the anterior portion and with a fine mediolongitudinal line; laterally with several conical tubercles, more concentrated anteriorly. Mesopleura with a longitudinal row of evenly spaced tubercles. Metanotum slightly longer than half the mesonotum and more or less smooth dorsally. Lateral margins as in mesonotum. Metapleura as mesopleura.

Legs: profemora slightly shorter than meso- and metanotum combined; compressed and curved basally. All carinae present, anterodorsal and posteroventral carinae strongly flattened laterally and raised. Anterodorsal carina with distinct serrations, especially in basal half. Other carinae unarmed. Mesofemora slightly shorter than mesonotum, dorsal carinae serrated, especially in basal half. Outer ventral carinae smooth, medioventral carina with some small teeth posteriorly. Metafemora about as long as mesonotum, armed as mesofemora. Protibiae carinate, slightly longer than meso- and metanotum combined, distinctly carinate and unarmed. Mesotibiae slightly longer than mesofemora and distinctly carinate; medioventral carina laterally flattened and slightly raised; medio- and anteroventral carinae with one to three minute spines in posterior half. Metatibiae slightly shorter than meso- and metanotum combined, armed as mesotibiae.

Abdomen: median segment about one fourth of metanotum in length, transverse and unarmed. Abdominal terga smooth; terga II–V slightly increasing in length; V–VI about the same length: VII slightly shorter; VIII distinctly shorter, slightly shorter than pronotum; IX distinctly shorter than VIII; X slightly shorter than VIII, with mediolongitudinal carina, with posterior margin notched and with posterolateral angles pointed. Abdominal sterna II–VI smooth. Sternum VII with a distinct praeopercular organ shaped as an elongated black spine projecting over anterior margin of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate elongated, slightly compressed laterally, reaching about halfway of tergum X; posteriorly with a short mediolongitudinal carina; posterior margin more or less triangular from ventral view. Cerci small, laterally compressed, not reaching apex of tergum X.

EGG ( Fig. 7 )

Measurements (in mm). Length: 3.0; length without operculum: 2.5; width: 1.5; height: 1.6.

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15 Capsule surface rugose, oval in shape and broadest at centre. Micropylar plate and surrounding area light grey with a light grey band directed to the capsule and polar area. Centrally on capsule a broad, transverse, light grey band; other portions with dark mottling. Polar area rounded. Micropylar plate inverted heart-shaped, positioned more or less centrally on capsule. Micropylar cup black and distinct, followed by a distinct, elongated median line reaching polar area. Operculum almost circular with the outer margin indistinctly raised, centrally with a pseudocapitulum. Area between outer rim and pseudocapitulum flattened, black and smooth. Pseudocapitulum dark with an indistinct brown-reddish hue, centrally with a distinct hole.

NYMPH ( Fig. 9 )

Measurements (in mm). Length of first instar nymph without antennae: 14.5; length including antennae: 16.0

Newly hatched nymphs are mostly pale yellowish brown with darker mottling. Head with black eyes and a dark postocular stripe, dorsally between eyes with darker mottling. Antennae with pale scapus; pedicellus and following antennomeres black; apical antennomere knob-like with pale base. Thorax with brown mottling. Anterior legs incurved and pale basally, later with some brown mottling; median and posterior legs yellowish brown. Abdominal terga darker with pale lateral margins. Posterior half of tergum VII and following terga with a mediolongitudinal dark line ( Fig. 9 A–C ).

Nymphs turn green relatively soon after eating, before their first moult. The eyes turn bluish. Posterior half of tergum VII and following terga with a distinct blackish, contrasting mediolongitudinal dark line ( Fig. 9 D–E ). Second instar nymphs as full grown first instar nymph, but measuring about 25 mm ( Fig. 9 E ).

Table 1. Measurements [mm] of Medauroidea romantica sp. nov. BIOLOGY. The females of M. romantica sp. nov. show an extremely high degree of variation in the colour of the body, a selection of which are illustrated from wild specimens ( Fig. 8 B– E ). The colouration of the males is less variable ( Fig. 8 A ). The specimens were found at night time only, individually or more often mating ( Fig. 10 A–D ), in disturbed habitats of dry dipterocarp forest along the trails close to BeTreed Adventures houses ( Fig. 10 E ). They were observed feeding on different, unidentified species of plants and bushes, usually not higher than 1.5m from the ground and the species was common in its habitat. Sampling in the rainforest covering the hills behind BeTreed settlements did not allow the collecting of a single specimen, hence the species seems to be restricted to the dry dipterocarp forest.

DISTRIBUTION. Cambodia, Preah Vihear Province ( Fig. 3 ).

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Discussion

The results of the present study extend the distribution of the genus Medauroidea to two additional countries, Cambodia and Laos. Furthermore with the addition of a single species for each country, the phasmid fauna of the two countries is raised by 50 and 100 percent respectively. This reflects our nearly complete ignorance of the stick insect diversity, and of the biodiversity more generally. The number of stick insects species from Cambodia is far higher than current numbers suggest and additional taxa will progressively be described (Bresseel & Constant, unpublished). We hope that this description of Medauroidea romantica sp. nov. will help the initiative for protection of nature in Phnom Tnout mountain by BeTreed and its support by local and international authorities. The necessary and urgent work of discovering and describing the species is unfortunately severely impeded by the lack of taxonomical staff worldwide.

Figures

Fig. 1. Medauroidea brongniarti (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907), holotype ♂ (photographs by E. Delfosse). A, labels. B, habitus, dorsal view. C, habitus, ventral view. D, terminalia, dorsal view. E, terminalia, lateral view. F, terminalia, ventral view. G, habitus, lateral view.

Fig. 2. Medauroidea brongniarti (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907), lectotype ♀ of Ramulus imperialis (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) (photographs by E. Delfosse). A, habitus, dorsal view. B, habitus, lateral view. C, habitus, ventral view. D, terminalia, lateral view. E, distal half of metafemur, lateral view. F, labels.

Fig. 3. Medauroidea brongniarti (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) and M. romantica sp. nov., distribution map.

Fig. 4. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov., cephalic and prothoracic armature. A, ♂. B, ♀.

Fig. 5. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov., holotype ♂. A, habitus, dorsal view. B. habitus, lateral view. C, habitus, ventral view. D, head and thorax, dorsal view. E, terminalia, dorsal view. F, terminalia ventral view. G, terminalia, lateral view. H, head and thorax, lateral view.

Fig. 8. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov., colour variation in type location (photographs by J. Constant). A, ♂. B–E, ♀♀.

Fig. 6. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov., paratype ♀. A, habitus, dorsal view. B. habitus, lateral view. C, habitus, ventral view. D, head and thorax, dorsal view. E, terminalia, dorsal view. F, terminalia ventral view. G, terminalia, lateral view. H, head and thorax, lateral view.

Fig. 7. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov., eggs. A, dorsal view. B, lateral view. C, anterodorsal view. D, colour variation, lateral and dorsal view.

Fig. 9. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov., nymphs (photographs by X. Vermeersch). A–C, newborn first instar nymph. A–B, habitus. C, detail of head. D, fully grown first instar nymph, habitus. E, second instar nymph (top) and fully grown first instar nymph (bottom).

Fig. 10. Medauroidea romantica sp. nov. (photographs by J. Constant). A–D, specimens in nature in type location. E, typical habitat of the species.