Isagoras franciscoverai Murcia and Cadena-Castañeda, 2023

Murcia, Andres David & Cadena-Castañeda, Oscar J., 2023, The stick insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea) from the Cloud Forest of the Chicaque Natural Park, Colombia, Insecta Mundi 2023 (20), pp. 1-45 : 32-37

Isagoras franciscoverai Murcia and Cadena-Castañeda , new species

( Fig. 30–34 )

Holotype. ♂. Colombia, Cundinamarca, San Antonio de Tequendama, Chicaque Natural Park. 4°36′39″N, 74°18′34″W. 2267m. 4 October 2020 ( CAUD).

Paratypes. 3♀ Same data as holotype. 2♂. 4°36′48″N 74°18′38″W. 2202 m. 22 November 2012 ( CAUD).

Description. Male. General coloration and texture of the body brown and slightly rough ( Fig. 30A–B ). Head longer than wide, rectangular in shape, with parallel sides; vertex flattened and without spines ( Fig. 30C–D ); eyes small and dark with an oval outline; antennae reaching the tergite X ( Fig. 30A–B ); antennal scape rectangular in dorsal view, pedicel almost as long as the scape and round transversely; flagellum with 35 segments. Thorax. Pronotum rectangular, as long and wide as the head, pronotal disc with a longitudinal median suture and a deeper transverse suture ( Fig. 30–D ). Mesonotum three times longer than pronotum. Metanotum short, less than half the length of the mesonotum, with posterior margin concave ( Fig. 30–B ). Prosternum short, wider than long, but compressed laterally by the coxae; mesosternum smooth and parallel-sided, about five times longer than the prosternum; metasternum smooth, and half the mesosternum. Legs. Smooth and unarmed, fore- and metathoracic legs similar in length, mesothoracic legs slightly shorter, metathoracic legs slightly surpassing the abdomen. Femora with four edges, rectangular in cross-section, smooth, without spines or lobes. Profemur compressed basally, about as long as head, pro, and mesonotum combined. Metafemur extends to the middle of the fourth tergite. Tibiae with four edges and area apicalis present. Basitarsi as long as the next two tarsi combined, the rest of the tarsomeres progressively reduced in size. Abdomen. Smooth and slightly longer than head and thorax combined, tergites elongate. Median segment visible (only in males), as long as half of the metanotum, with the anterior margin convex. Tergite II slightly wider than median segment; tergites III–VI longer than wide but gradually narrowing, tergite VII as long as tergite VI, posterior margin moderately broaden; tergite VIII as long as tergite VII, widening distinctly from anterior to posterior margin; tergite IX slightly wider than tergite VIII and quadrangular in dorsal view; tergite X distinctively narrower than tergite IX, as wide as long, with lateral margins convex, posterior margin medially excavated and slightly raised towards the apex, with a spinous area on its inner margins. Cerci projecting slightly above the abdominal apex, slender and constricted towards its apex, round in cross-section. Median segment triangular-shaped, sternites II–IV similar in length and laterally compressed, sternites V–VII gradually widening; sternite VII with a somewhat elevated preopercular organ placed towards the posterior margin with two cuticular extensions apically; sternite VIII widening towards posterior margin. Poculum twice as long as sternum IX, slightly elevated anteriorly, but strongly convex posteriorly; posterior margin reaching anterior margin of the anal segment ( Fig. 30E–G ). Subgenital plate narrower than all the sternites, the posterior margin is compressed laterally and with a pointed apex reaching the anterior margin of the tergite IX.

Female. Body similar to male but more robust; general coloration of the body light brown, with grains or tubercles and striations on the integument ( Fig. 31A–B ). Head with small granules arranged transversely on posterior part ( Fig. 31C–D ); the antennae extend to the posterior margin of the IV tergite ( Fig. 31A–B ). Thorax. Pronotum slightly rough with small granules arranged parallel and longitudinal to the median suture ( Fig. 31D ). Mesonotum distinctly wider than pronotum, gradually widening towards posterior margin, with two rows of conspicuous granules running longitudinally to the rear portion. Metanotum more than half the length of mesonotum, slightly wider than mesonotum and a little widened posteriorly ( Fig. 31B ). The mesosternum is smooth and distinctively broadened towards its posterior margin. Legs. Profemora curved and compressed basally, longer than wide, and with four prominent edges; tarsomeres I–IV gradually decreasing in size, pretarsi elongated. Abdomen. With striations and slightly granular, enlarged abdominal tergites. Median segment not visible; abdominal tergites II–III quadrangular; tergites IV–V distinctively wider than long, shorter than tergite III; tergite VI as long as V; constricting towards its posterior margin; tergite VII elevated, narrower and shorter than tergite VI, with slightly concave anterior margin, convex and prominent posterior margin; tergite VIII thinner than the other tergites, constricted in the middle, with a smooth longitudinal carina that crosses its entire length; tergite IX shorter than VIII; tergite X is the shortest of the abdominal tergites, parallel-sided, slightly narrow towards its anterior margin, posterior margin slightly convex. Sternites II–VI with parallel sides slightly longer than wide, sternite VII shorter than sternite VI, with slightly elevated preopercular organ and placed on the posterior margin with two cuticular prolongations apically. Subgenital plate narrower than all sternites, its posterior margin is laterally compressed with a pointed apex reaching the anterior margin of tergite IX ( Fig. 31E–G ).

Comparison. This new species is located in Isagoras as it has external-dorsal and ventral edges of the profemur conspicuously laminated or with dorsal lobes. Meso- and metafemora with distinctive ventromedial carina, males with thin elongated mesonotum no wider than head. Within Isagoras , there are only two wingless species similar to I. franciscoverai new species: Isagoras molorchus ( Westwood, 1859) and Isagoras pygmaeus ( Redtenbacher, 1906) . Isagoras molorchus differs from the new species in that it has a round dilation on each side of segment VI, IX and X segments keeled. Isagoras pygmaeus differs due to its fragile appearance, and in having a tectiform and carinate anal segment.

Measurements (mm). ♂ / ♀ TL: 40–45 / 42–43, Pr: 2–3 / 2.5–3, Ms: 9–10 / 8–8.5, Mt: 5–5.2 / 5–5.5, MSeg: 2–2.2 /—, Pf: 9–10 / 8–9, Mf: 6–8 / 6–6.5, Hf: 10–12 / 8–9, Pt: 9–10 / 8–8.5, Mt: 6–7 / 6–6.5, Ht:10–10.5 / 9–9.5, Ant: 37–40 / 27–29.

Eggs. Small, brown capsule covered with prominent carinae with granular areas ( Fig. 32 ). Oval 1.5 times longer than wide and 1.3 times longer than tall ( Fig. 32A ). Dorsal surface convex ( Fig. 32B ), operculum ovoid, and granulated with pseudocapitulum with margins projecting onto egg capsule ( Fig. 32C ). Micropylar plate located in the central part of the egg, round and compressing towards the rear, with slightly raised inner part and prominent margin, micropylar cup large, placed on the posterior margin of the micropylar plate ( Fig. 32A ). 20 eggs examined.

Measurements (mm). Length 1.8, capsule height 1.5, capsule width 1.3, operculum diameter 0.6.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Francisco Javier Vera, a Colombian climate activist, in recognition of his commitment to caring for the planet and for being the inspiration for many boys and girls around the world.

Comments. Yellow to brown specimens, with patterns of white or green spots, resemble bark ( Fig. 33A–C ). The granules on the surface of its cuticle may be significantly more prominent in some individuals ( Fig. 33A–B ). A couple was seen in copulation where the marked sexual dimorphism is observed, the female being distinctively more robust than the male ( Fig. 34 ).

Family Heteronemiidae

Subfamily Heteronemiinae

Figures

Figure 30. Isagoras franciscoverai new species. (Male) A–B) Habitus in lateral and dorsal view. C–D) Head and pronotum in lateral and dorsal view. E–G) Terminalia in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views, respectively.

Figure 31. Isagoras franciscoverai new species. (Female) A–B) Habitus in lateral and dorsal view. C–D) Head and pronotum in lateral and dorsal view. E–G) Terminalia in lateral, dorsal, and ventral views, respectively.

Figure 32. Isagoras franciscoverai new species. Eggs. A) Dorsal view. B) Ventral view. C) Anterior pole.

Figure 33. Isagoras franciscoverai new species. Live female. A) Detail of head and pronotum. B) Detail of head and thorax. C) Body complete.

Figure 34. Isagoras franciscoverai new species. In copulation.