Pylaemenes gulinqingensis, Gao & Xie, 2022

Gao, Hao-Ran & Xie, Chong-Xin, 2022, Pylaemenes gulinqingensis sp. nov., a new species of subfamily Dataminae (Phasmida, Heteropterygidae) from Yunnan Province, China, Journal of Orthoptera Research 31 (2), pp. 125-129 : 125

Pylaemenes gulinqingensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 , 2 , 3A, B

Material examined. -

Holotype: CHINA • ♀; Yunnan Province, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Maguan County; Gulinqing Provincial Nature Reserve ; 22.843324°N, 103.984206°E; 25 August 2020; Xiang-Jin Liu leg; SWFU . Paratype: CHINA • 1♀; Yunnan Province, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture , Maguan County; Gulinqing Provincial Nature Reserve ; 29 August 2020; Xiang-Jin Liu leg; GHR • 6 eggs (naturally laid by holotype); same information as holotype; SWFU.

Diagnosis. -

The females of the new species are very similar to P. pui. They share the same elevated structure on the back of the head and strongly widening abdominal terga II-IV, but they can be separated by the lack of x-shaped elevations on terga II-IV and different leg armature (Fig. 1A ). In the new species, the lateral margin of the abdominal terga III-IV expansions lateral, like lamellae. The new species is variegated with yellow and green; it resembles a stick covered with moss, while other species of the genus almost all resemble a brown dry stick.

Distribution. -

China, Gulinqing Provincial Nature Reserve. Only known from type locality.

Etymology. -

The new species is named after the type locality Gulingqing Provincial Nature Reserve.

Description. -

Female. Small size. Body robust and rough. General color yellow to brown with green variegation.

Head. Occiput strongly projecting posteriorly, cone-like, deep V-shaped in dorsal view, lateral surface punctulate with a shallow notch apically. Occipital spines are triangular humps, posterior supra-occipitals shorter and smaller than anterior supra-occipital spines. Supra-orbital spines strong, laterally compressed and lamellate, directed towards the central coronal spine. Central coronal spine present at the apex of the vertex. Posterior and lateral coronal spines present as conical tubercles (Fig. 1G ). Compound eyes round and small with postocular carina behind them. Antennae setose, longer than profemora but shorter than the front legs, with 25 segments. Scapus triangular, with 2 short lobes. Pedicellus shorter than scapus.

Thorax. Pronotum short, trapezoidal, with conspicuous “+” sulcus, four pair tubercles along the longitudinal sulcus, two pairs before the transverse sulcus, two pairs behind; lateral margins with two short tubercles. One cup-like organ on the propleura near the anterior margin. Mesonotum with indistinct carina, the anterior apex of carina with six tubercles irregularly arranged, another two tubercles on the carina; lateral margins widening towards anterior, with several small tubercles elevated apically with the posterior margin elevated. Metanotum median carina distinct, sparsely covered with small granules, lateral margins elevated apically. Metapleura with two crescent-shaped lobes each, widening laterally and almost covering each metacoxa.

Abdomen. Median segment rugose with three granules near posterior margin medially. Terga II-IV gradually widening towards the posterior; terga V slightly narrower than terga IV but wider than terga VI-IX (Fig. 1D ). Terga VI to anal segment almost equal in width to each other. Terga III-IV expansions lateral. Terga II-VIII armed with a pair of granules near the posterior margin medially. Terga IX hump. Anal segment shorter than tergum IX, with distinct median carina. Subgenital plate boat shaped, not surpassing the end of the anal segment, with distinct median and lateral carinae. Cerci exposed not obviously, apical round.

Legs. Profemora curved basally; antero-dorsal carina with three lobes and not equal in size; postero-dorsal carina with four lobes, the third one biggest. Protibiae armed with one to two lobes. Mesofemora with antero-dorsal carina with three lobes, increasing in size towards the apex; postero-dorsal carina armed with two lobes. Metafemora with the antero-dorsal carina with four lobes, the third being the biggest; postero-dorsal carina armed with three lobes, the last one ear shaped.

Male. Unknown.

Egg. Measurements [mm]: Length: 3.6; width: 3.3; height: 4.2. Capsule dark brown with dark spots, oval, posterior pole rounded; surface densely punctulate and sparsely covered with pale setae with a distal black structure. Operculum sub-circular, slightly convex. Micropylar plate tri-lobate with one anterior expansion and two posterior expansions like an inverse Y (Fig. 2A ). The margin of micropylar plate darker and indistinctly raised. Median line dark and indistinctly raised.

Measurements (in mm). -

♀. Body 39.2-48.5, head 4.5, antennae 15.0, pronotum 3.3-3.8, mesonotum 7.7-10.3, profemora 8.4-9.7, mesofemora 8.2-8.4, metafemora 10.2-10.5, protibiae 8.0-8.8, mesotibiae 6.3-7.0, metatibiae 8.3-9.5.

Figures

Fig. 1. Female (HT) of Pylaemenes gulinqingensis sp. nov. Habitus A. Dorsal; B. Lateral; C. Ventral, end of the abdomen; D. Dorsal; E. Lateral; F. Ventral, head and thorax G. Lateral.

Fig. 2. Egg of Pylaemenes gulinqingensis sp. nov. A. Dorsal; B. Lateral; C. Operculum; D. Pole.

Fig. 3. Living photos. A, B. Pylaemenes gulinqingensis sp. nov. (Gulinqing, Yunnan, China); C. Hainanphasma cristata Ho, 2013 (Mt. jianfengling, Hainan Island, China); D. P. pui Ho, 2013 (Mengla, Yunnan, China). Photo credit A-C. Pei-Lin Liao; D. Chao Wu.