Exocnophila hastata ( Burmeister, 1838 ) Ghirotto & Conle & Hennemann & Valero & Cancello, 2024

Ghirotto, Victor Morais, Conle, Oskar, Hennemann, Frank, Valero, Pablo & Cancello, Eliana M., 2024, On the Brazilian Exocnophila stick insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 59-98 : 69-80

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.2
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:47C8D2C3-7FA9-4E5E-8167-97016ABBECD5
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14042091
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DE0CC76F-E162-FF92-FF4E-F885FD45F8B2
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Exocnophila hastata ( Burmeister, 1838 )
status	comb. nov.

Treatment

Exocnophila hastata ( Burmeister, 1838) comb. nov.

( Figs 8–18 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 View FIGURE 11 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 View FIGURE 14 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 View FIGURE 17 View FIGURE 18 )

Bacteria hastata Burmeister, 1838: 567 View in CoL ; Westwood 1859: 348; Redtenbacher 1908: 423; Otte & Brock 2005: 64; Brock & Büscher 2022: 510.

Heteronemia hastata, Kirby 1904: 348 .

Dyme hastata, Zompro 2005: 265 View in CoL [without expression of new combination].

>> Lectotype (here designated), ♂ ( MfN): hastata, Burm. View in CoL * ♂ ♀, Brasil. Sello. v. Lgsdf.; 756 ; Bacunculus hastata ♂ Burmeister, 1838 View in CoL , LECTOTYPUS det. O. Zompro III.2001 ( Fig. 8–10 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 ) . Paralectotype (here designated), ♀, not found, most likely lost ( MfN): Sello .

Further material examined

1♀ ( MZUSP 2055), eggs: Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Trajano de Moraes. Visconde de Imbé, Mata Atlântica, 22°05’23.9”S 42°10’13.6”W, on Mimosoideae. i.2021. VM Ghirotto col. Died 12.v.2021; 3♂ ( MZUSP 2056, 1686, 2632), 3♀ ( MZUSP V 0608, 1998, V 0739), eggs: Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Magé. Vila Mimosa, próx. Camping da Paz, 22°34’03.7”S 43°10’23.8”W, 300m a.s.l. 29.xi.2021. VM Ghirotto & RP Indicatti col.; 4♀ juvenile ( MZUSP V 0610, V 0759, V 0767, V 0786), 4♀ ( MZUSP V 0611, V 0653, V 0785): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Angra dos Reis. Pontal, próx. a Camping Recanto do Pontal, 22°56’28.6”S 44°18’58.6”W, on Bambusoideae . VM Ghirotto & RP Indicatti col. 28.xi.2021; 1♀ ( MZUSP 2631), eggs: Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Magé. Trilha para Pico da Coruja, Santo Aleixo, 22°30’32.5”S 43°02’10.4”W. 23.vii.2022. VM Ghirotto, EB Crispino, PW Engelking, B Ferraz, EA Ribeiro col.; 1♀ ( MZUSP 0564): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Teresópolis. Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos, Núcleo Teresópolis. 22º27’14”S 42º59’32”W. 5–6.xii.2015. P.I.Chiquetto-Machado & A.Z.Ramin col.; 1♂ ( MZUSP 1997): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Niterói. Parque da Cidade, 22°55’44.9”S 43°05’10.1”W. 19.vii.2022. P.W. Engelking col.; 2♀ ( MNRJ-ENT 15-11, MNRJ-ENT 15-16), 2♂ ( MNRJ-ENT 15-12, MNRJ-ENT 15-13): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Rio das Ostras. REBIO União, 22°25’31”S 42°02’21”W. 21–25.ii.2022. P. Souza Dias et al. col.; 2♀ ( MNRJ-ENT 15- 14, MNRJ-ENT 15-15): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Nova Iguaçu. REBIO do Tinguá. 14–16.ii.2020. P. Souza Dias, A.M. Siqueira col.; 1♀ ( MNRJ-ENT 15-44): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Teresópolis. 2022; 1♀ ( MZUSP 1218): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro, 22°58’10”S 43°13’37”W. 18.i.2019. L. Lanna, E.B. Crispino, P.W. Engelking, S.K. Harumi col.

Notes on designation of lectotype. A red label accompanying the lectotype states “ LECTOTYPUS det O. Zompro” but such designation is not valid as it was not published, so it is being designated herein.

Notes on the paralectotype. The female paralectotype was not found in the MfN collection and is very likely lost. This paralectotype is certainly not conspecific nor congeneric with the male as its description states it has a very long, acute subgenital plate, which does not correspond to Exocnophila and even to any closely related genera. Therefore, until now, the female of E. hastata comb. nov. was unknown.

Notes on the locality of the lectotype. A large expedition was organised a few years prior to the description of the species by its collector, von Langsdorf, which started in his own farm in Teresópolis in Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil, so there is a reasonable possibility that the lectotype was collected at or near Teresópolis, where some of the recently collected material comes from.

Diagnosis. Differs from Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov. by the more elongate head and tergum VIII, the stockier thorax and the slightly thicker cerci with straight inner margins in males, and the less globose head, longer tergum VIII and undulated margin of tergum X forming three round lobes (almost straight in E. brevitarsata ) in females. Differs from Exocnophila ovifuscum sp. nov. by the thicker cerci in both sexes, by the absence of tubercles in the mesothorax and the less compressed and wider head with a more convex vertex and the roundly undulated margin of tergum X (irregularly and roundly serrate in E. ovifuscum sp. nov.) in females. Further differs from females of Exocnophila cornuta and Exocnophila tuberculata by the less globose head with less prominent vertex and the undulated margin of tergum X forming three round lobes.

Redescription

Male lectotype ( Figs 8–10 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 ).

Colour ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ). Irregularly dark brown. Head with a dark longitudinal band bordered by two dark beige bands behind the eye.

Head ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ). Subrectangular, ca. 1.6–1.7x longer than wide, vertex flat; with irregular granules dorsally mainly in two paramedial rows; very slightly widening towards anterior. Frontal convexity developed, frontal suture deep and angulated. Eyes large, slightly more than hemispherical. Labial palp segments wide, maxillary palp segments slightly wide. Clypeus wide, short, sinuous with ventral margin slightly emarginate. Antennae filiform, reaching tergum VII. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, large, wide, longer than wider in dorsolateral view. Scapus with a dorsolateral carina separating dorsal and lateral surfaces, internal margin narrower at posterior edge, posteriorly very slightly round and then straight, external margin wide and round through all its length. Pedicel more than half the length of scapus, longer than wide. Antennae with around 38 articles.

Thorax ( Figs 8–10A View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 View FIGURE 10 ). Surface smooth with sparse minute setae. Pronotum longer than wide, slightly constricted premedially, slightly narrower anteriorly; smooth ( Fig. 9A–B View FIGURE 9 ). Probasisternum with longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly narrow, posterolateral margins round; with short stiff setae mainly near lateral edges ( Fig. 9C View FIGURE 9 ). Profurcasternum trapezoid to sudquadrate, covered with short stiff setae ( Fig. 9C View FIGURE 9 ). Mesothorax 7.2x longer than prothorax. Meso and metafurcae in “Y” shape. Mesothorax 1.5x longer than metathorax. Meso and metanotum with faint longitudinal medial carina. Metanotum 7.9x the length of median segment.

Legs ( Fig. 8 View FIGURE 8 ). Hind legs slighty longer than anterior legs;mid legs shortest. Coxae smooth.Profemur considerably longer than mesothorax. Mesofemur around 0.8x the length of profemur. Profemur with distinct basal curvature occupying around one sixth of the segment. Metafemur with a basal swelling occupying around one eightieth to one seventh of the length of the segment. Carinae of femora and tibiae with sparse setae between them and bearing row of porrect spiniform setae larger in the tibiae, longer than those of the female. Carinae of tibiae presenting small short spines at the apex, one in dorsal carinae, four to seven in lateroventral carinae and five to 10 in the ventral carina, with more spines in mid and hind tibiae. Basitarsi short, around the same size than the respective following three tarsomeres combined; ventrally with dense tuft of stiff, porrect setae. Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.

Abdomen ( Figs 8 View FIGURE 8 , 10 View FIGURE 10 ). Surface smooth, without granules but with carinae. Median segment well marked by a sulcus, around 0.13x the length of the metanotum ( Fig. 10A View FIGURE 10 ). Terga II–X longer than wide. Terga II–VII with two pairs of paramedial longitudinal carinae near lateral margins; IV–VII with further two pairs of faint carinae near centre; II–VIII with a further short longitudinal carinae near anterior margin. Tergum X with one pair of paramedial carinae and a longitudinal medial carina; posterior margin elevated and widely, roundely emarginate into two somewhat triangular lobes bearing thorn pads at the apexes ( Fig. 10B View FIGURE 10 ). Tergum X very slightly shorter than IX; both shorter than VIII. Tergum VIII widening towards posterior and IX tapering towards posterior; X wider centrally. Sterna with pair of paramedial carinae near lateral margins and IV–VII with a further, faint pair. Poculum well developed with angulated posteroventral tip forming a laterally compressed lobe pointing backwards ( Fig. 10C–D, F View FIGURE 10 ); anterior region of sternum IX short; cerci elongate and dorsoventrally compressed, with straight inner margins, ellipsoid, apex round ( Fig. 10E View FIGURE 10 ), thornpads apart, well developed with around 10 incurved teeth varying in size ( Fig. 10E–F View FIGURE 10 ). Vomer well developed, triangular, terminal hook short, thin, curved upwards.

Measurements (in mm), lectotype. Body (without cerci) 71.6, head 3.3, antennae at least 53.0, pronotum 2.6, mesonotum 20.2, metanotum and median segment 13.9, abdomen (excluding median segment) 31.2, profemur 25.2, protibia 30.5, mesofemur 20.8, mesotibia 26.5, metafemur 26.2, metatibia 35.7.

Variation in males ( Figs 11A–D View FIGURE 11 , 15–17 View FIGURE 15 View FIGURE 16 View FIGURE 17 ). Colour in different shades of brown, olive, gray, with or without whitish irregular small spots. Head slightly narrower ( Fig. 15 View FIGURE 15 ). Thorn pads with 8–11 teeth ( Fig. 17E View FIGURE 17 ). Mesonotum 7x longer than median segment which is 0.14x of mesonotum length.

Measurements (in mm), N = 2. Body (without cerci) 73.7–75.8, head 3.1–3.2, antennae 59.0–63.1, pronotum 2.8, mesonotum 20.4–21.5, metanotum 12.4–13.7, median segment 1.5–1.6, abdomen (excluding median segment) 33.1–33.4, profemur 24.7–25.6, protibia 30.8–31.6, mesofemur 20.0–21.1, mesotibia 24.6–25.4, metafemur 23.2– 24.6, metatibia 34.0–34.2.

Female ( Figs 11E–H View FIGURE 11 , 12–14 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 View FIGURE 14 ).

Colour ( Figs 11E–H View FIGURE 11 , 12–14 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 View FIGURE 14 ). Entirely beige, beige orangish, brown, reddish brown, orangish brown, gray, or dark brown, with or without irregular stains, with or without a longitudinal black line in pronotum to the end of the abdomen. Head with a dark longitudinal band bordered by two dark beige bands behind the eye.

Head ( Fig. 12 View FIGURE 12 ). Subrectangular, ca. 1.6x longer than wide, smooth, vertex gently convex; with irregular granules dorsally, the central ones the largest, in pair or irregular ( Fig. 12A–B View FIGURE 12 ); in some individuals the central pair is developed into large, irregular leaf-like lobes. Frontal convexity developed, frontal suture deep and roundly angulated. Eyes hemispherical. Labial palp segments wide, maxillary palp segments slightly wide ( Fig. 12C–D View FIGURE 12 ). Clypeus wide, short, sinuous with ventral margin slightly emarginate.Antennae filiform, reaching tergum II. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, large, very wide, longer than wider in dorsolateral view. Scapus with a dorsolateral carina separating dorsal and lateral surfaces, internal margin narrower at posterior edge, posteriorly slightly round and then straight, external margin wide and round through all its length ( Fig. 12A–B View FIGURE 12 ). Pedicel more than half the length of scapus, longer than wide. Antennae with 37 articles.

Thorax ( Figs 11E–H View FIGURE 11 , 12–13 View FIGURE 12 View FIGURE 13 ). Surface smooth with very few sparse round short granules and presenting irregular carinae. Pronotum longer than wide, slightly constricted premedially, slightly narrower anteriorly; with paramedial granules larger at posterior half ( Fig. 12A–B View FIGURE 12 ). Probasisternum with longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly narrow, posterolateral margins round; with short stiff setae mainly near lateral edges ( Fig. 12C–D View FIGURE 12 ). Profurcasternum round with an anterior trapezoidal region densely covered with short stiff setae ( Fig. 12C View FIGURE 12 ). Mesothorax 5–5.2x longer than prothorax; gradually widening posteriorly. Mesonotum, metanotum, mesosternum and metasternum with distinct pair of lateral carinae ( Figs 11E–H View FIGURE 11 , 13 A–B View FIGURE 13 ). Meso and metafurcae in ‘’Y’’ shape, metafurca wider and shorter than mesofurca. Mesothorax 1.8x longer than metathorax. Metathorax with irregular sinuous paramedial carinae ( Fig. 13A–B View FIGURE 13 ). Metanotum 4.8–5.5x the length of median segment.

Legs ( Figs 11E–H View FIGURE 11 , 13C–H View FIGURE 13 ). Anterior legs only slightly shorter than hind legs; mid legs shorter than both. Hind legs considerably exceeding end of the abdomen. Coxae smooth. Profemur slightly longer than mesothorax. Mesofemur around 0.8x the length of profemur. Profemur with distinct basal curvature occupying slightly more than one third of the segment ( Fig. 11E View FIGURE 11 ). Metafemur with a basal swelling occupying slightly less than one sixth of the length of the segment ( Fig. 11E View FIGURE 11 ). Carinae of femora and tibiae with sparse setae between them and bearing row of short porrect spiniform setae larger in the tibiae ( Fig. 13C–H View FIGURE 13 ). Carinae of tibiae presenting small short spines at the apex, one to two in dorsal carinae, three to eight in lateroventral carinae and nine to 12 in the ventral carina, with more spines in mid and hind tibiae ( Fig. 13F–H View FIGURE 13 ). Basitarsi short, pro and metabasitarsi around the same size and mesobasitarsi slightly shorter than the respective following three tarsomeres combined; ventrally with dense tuft of spiniform, thick setae ( Fig. 13C–E View FIGURE 13 ). Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres ( Fig. 13C–E View FIGURE 13 ).

Abdomen ( Figs 11E–H View FIGURE 11 , 13A–B View FIGURE 13 , 14 View FIGURE 14 ). Surface slightly rugose, with granules and with several carinae ( Figs 13A–B View FIGURE 13 , 14A–F View FIGURE 14 ). Median segment well marked by a sulcus, around 0.2x the length of the metanotum, bearing two sinuous pairs of paramedial carinae ( Fig. 13A View FIGURE 13 ). Terga II–VIII and X longer than wide, IX slightly shorter than wide to as long as wide. Terga II–IX with four to five pairs of paramedial longitudinal carinae, X with two pairs and a single medial longitudinal carina. Tergum X with posterior margin undulate forming three round lobes, a medial one slightly shorter to as the same size as the others, and two aside ( Fig. 14A–B View FIGURE 14 ); laterally upcurving, shorter not covering the cerci from lateral view ( Fig. 14C–D View FIGURE 14 ). Sterna with more setae than terga, bearing two pairs of paramedial carinae. Praeopercular organ developed, swollen, rugose, slightly sclerotised ( Fig. 14E View FIGURE 14 ). Subgenital plate convex, with two strong paramedial carinae in posterior three fourths, with round apex, reaching half the length of tergum X or slightly more ( Fig. 14C–F View FIGURE 14 ). Cerci very short, centrally widened, apex round or with a wide angulation, ventrally concave, not surpassing the posterior margin of tergum X ( Fig. 14E–F View FIGURE 14 ). Paraprocts divided posteriorly, each with round posterior margin ( Fig. 14E View FIGURE 14 ). Epiproct wide. Gonapophyses and gonoplac covered by the subgenital plate, all elongate and gradually tapering to a somewhat pointy apex; gonapophyses VIII the longest, gonoplac slightly shorter, upcurving, gonapophyses IX shorter than both ( Fig. 14G View FIGURE 14 ).

Measurements (in mm), N = 4. Body (without cerci) 60.9–73.0, head 3.7–4.5, antennae 31.0–40.1, pronotum 3.0–3.4, mesonotum 15.7–19.0, metanotum 7.9–9.9, median segment 1.5–1.9, abdomen (excluding median segment) 29.1–34.4, profemur 16.3–19.2, protibia 18.1–22.0, mesofemur 13.4–15.6, mesotibia 13.8–16.8, metafemur 16.2– 19.8, metatibia 18.8–23.7.

Egg ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 ). Laterally flattened ( Fig. 18E View FIGURE 18 ), oval in lateral view and ellipsoid in dorsal view, opercular collar constricted on the dorsal surface from the end of the micropylar plate to the operculum ( Fig. 18A–D, I View FIGURE 18 ); 1.2–1.3x longer than tall and 1.8–1.9x longer than wide. Capsule surface densely granulated with minute wide rounded prominences. Micropylar plate ellipsoid, elongated around 1.5–2.2x longer than wide, with round, parallel or slightly constricted lateral edges ( Fig. 18E–G View FIGURE 18 ). Micropylar plate internally flat and smooth. Edge of the micropylar plate raised, prominent and divided into a rougher inner part with a foamy appearance, interrupted by the micropyle, and a narrower outer part, slightly rough, bordering the micropyle, with a smooth inner margin and a rougher outer margin with texture similar to the inner part; these two parts are interrupted by a narrow depression ( Fig. 18E–G View FIGURE 18 ). Micropyle oval, with a rounded projection between the inner edges posteriorly bordered by a rounded depression. Median line very short, truncated, thick and continuous with the outer edge of the external part of the micropylar plate ( Fig. 18E–G View FIGURE 18 ). Operculum round, with a raised and convex ring with a surface similar to the rest of the capsule in the outer half of the diameter and with a round, smooth central depression ( Fig. 18H View FIGURE 18 ). Entirely orange to orangish brown in colour with sparse irregular black dots, micropylar plate surrounded by a creamish rim very short at anterior and posterior edges; with little extension in the anterior and posterior parts; micropylar plaque internally orange darkening towards polar area, inner part of the border ice-coloured and outer part of the border beige to yellowish.

Distribution ( Fig. 31 View FIGURE 31 ). Known from the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro, recorded for Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (municipalities of Magé and Teresópolis) and Angra dos Reis, Nova Iguaçu, Rio das Ostras, Rio de Janeiro and Trajano de Moraes in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Biology. Individuals were only found at 0–180 cm above the ground, but mostly near the ground up to 40 cm. Specimens present a still behaviour, never running away, even when disturbed. If disturbed and even during handling, specimens assume camouflage position and remain motionless. A few specimens may take gradual, interrupted steps upon constant handling. Specimens may also spew stomach content or release a light minty scent from their prothoracic glands. In nature, specimens were observed eating a variety of plants, including undetermined Bambusoideae ( Poaceae ), Asteraceae and Malvaceae plants, and undetermined Mimosoidea ( Fabaceae ) trees very similar to representatives of the Anadenanthera genus. In captivity, specimens ate garden roses ( Rosa spp. , Rosaceae ), Lantana camara ( Verbenaceae ), Hibiscus spp. , Malvaviscus arboreus , Callianthe picta ( Malvaceae ), Anadenanthera sp. , Calliandra spp. , Piptadenia sp. (Mimosoideae: Fabaceae ), Psidium guajava , Eugenia uniflora ( Myrtaceae ), and Passiflora suberosa ( Passifloraceae ).