Phryganistria tamdaoensis, Bresseel & Constant, 2014

Bresseel, Joachim & Constant, Jérôme, 2014, Giant Sticks from Vietnam and China, with three new taxa including the second longest insect known to date (Phasmatodea, Phasmatidae, Clitumninae, Pharnaciini), European Journal of Taxonomy 104, pp. 1-38 : 15-21

Phryganistria tamdaoensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:C4297AF4-F327-49A5-B8C1-716FCD500C8C

Figs 5A–N , 6A–M , 7A–J , 10E–H

Diagnosis

This species can be this distinguished from other representatives of the genus by the flattened cerci. In females these are also conspicuously enlarged.

Etymology

This species is named after the beautiful Tam Dao National Park. Specimens were firstly collected from this locality where the species is common.

Type material

Holotype

VIETNAM: ♂, Tam Dao N.P. 21°31’ N, 105°33’ E, 25–30 Jul. 2011, leg. J Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 31.933 ( RBINS).

Paratypes (22 ♂♂, 22 ♀♀, 50 eggs)

VIETNAM: 1 ♀, Tam Dao, 25–28 Aug. 2010, I.G. 31.668, leg J. Constant & P. Limbourg ( RBINS); 9 ♀♀, 17 ♂♂, Tam Dao N.P., 21°31’ N, 105°33’ E, 25–30 Jul. 2011, leg. J Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 31.933 ( RBINS; 1 ♀, 1 ♂ at VNMN); 5 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, Tay Yen Tu Nat. Res., 21°11’10” N, 106°43’25” E, 7–11 Jul. 2013, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 32.454 ( RBINS). 3 ♀♀, 50 eggs, ex breeding J. Bresseel 2012, origin: Vietnam, Tam Dao N. P., 21°11’ N, 106°43’ E, Jul. 2011, I.G. 32.248 ( RBINS).

Additional material examined (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀)

VIETNAM: 1♀, Da Krong Nat. R., Quang Tri Prov. 16°37’ N, 106°47’ E, 5–10 Jul. 2011, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 31.933 ( RBINS); 2 ♂♂, 40 eggs, ex breeding B. Kneubühler, origin: Vietnam, Da Krong Nat. R., Quang Tri Prov. 16°37’ N, 106°47’ E, 5–10 Jul. 2011, leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, I.G. 32.387 ( RBINS).

Differentiation

Most closely related to Phryganistria heusii heusii ( Hennemann & Conle, 1997) and Phryganistria grandis Rehn, 1906 . Males share the broadened meso- and metafemora. The enlarged subapical spine on the outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora is present, but not as pronounced as in the other two species. Males can also easily be distinguished by their body colouration: mesonotum bluish green and anterior legs not black. Females can be distinguished from all other species in the genus by the enlarged, flattened and lanceolate cerci.

Description

The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens. Measurements, see Table 2 .

Male ( Figs 5I–N , 6D , 7C, I–J )

BODY. Medium sized and robust for the genus, widest part of the body up to 9.3 mm. Body surface smooth and shiny, colouration very distinct.

COLOURATION. Head and pronotum golden brown. Genae with brown line reaching from occiput to eyes. Anterior and posterior portion of mesonotum and mesosternum golden brown, central areas clear blue. Mesonotum with lateral black line. Posterior part of mesopleura black, anterior part golden brown. Metanotum and metasternum coloured as previous. Metapleura black. Median segment and abdominal

terga coloured golden brown. First sterna with some blue markings, others golden brown. Femora with carinae blue, area between carinae pink, spines black. Tibiae and tarsomeres pinkish-brown.

HEAD. Smooth, 1.5x longer than wide. Eyes relatively large and strongly projecting. Two shallow crescent-shaped impressions between eyes and a transverse impression between antennae. Antennae reaching posterior margin of median segment. Scapus and pedicellus coloured as head, remaining antennomeres black.

THORAX. Pronotum shorter and narrower than head, with slight longitudinal depression and deeper, central transverse depression. Narrowest part in centre, widest part posteriorly. Anterior margin incurving, posterior margin convex. Mesonotum elongated and smooth. Mesothorax with posterior portion as widest part of body. Metanotum as mesonotum, about 3.5x length of median segment.

ABDOMEN. Median segment trapezoidal and smooth. Terga II–VI slightly increasing in length and cylindrical in cross section. Segment VII about as long as segment II. Tergum VIII about 2/3 of segment VII and wider posteriorly. Tergum IX about half of abdominal segment VII but more compressed laterally, lateral margins with pale marking. Anal segment laterally compressed with distinct carina dorsally, splitting halfway into two semi-tergites. Semi-tergites roughly triangular in lateral aspect, broad anteriorly and tapered apically. Apices narrow and rounded. Interior surface apically swollen with small black teeth. Cerci elongated and flattened, broadening towards apex; these rounded and not reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Poculum with distinct longitudinal carina, reaching about 2/3 along tergum IX.

* excluding cerci

LEGS. Profemora slightly longer than combined length of head, pro- and mesonotum, incurving basally and with anterodorsal carinae showing 8–12 black saw-like teeth. Some specimens have one or two black teeth on posteroventral carinae. Protibiae carinate but unarmed, roughly 1.3x the length of profemora. Mesofemora distinctly swollen, about as wide as centre of mesonotum and as long as mesonotum. Outer ventral carinae armed with 10–16 black saw-like teeth, last two teeth prominently enlarged. Medioventral carinae with 6–11 smaller spines. Dorsal carinae unarmed or with few minute teeth. Mesotibiae about as long as metafemora. Dorsal carinae unarmed or with few minute teeth. Outer ventral carinae strongly armed with saw like teeth. Medioventral carinae with minute incurving spines starting at about 1/3 from base, spines more numerous towards apex. Metafemora and metatibiae as mesofemora and mesotibiae. All tarsomeres with distinct dorsal carina. Probasitarsus about as long as head and pronotum combined. Meso- and metabasitarsus about as long as following tarsomeres combined. Claws prominent.

Female ( Figs 5 A–F, 6A–B, 7A–B)

BODY. Medium sized and quite broad for the genus.

COLOURATION. Overall colour of female light brown to dull green with brown mottling. Profemora pinkish in curved basal portion. Carinae of other femora with bluish hue and with some pinkish markings between carinae.

HEAD. Oval, about 1.6x longer than wide, vertex rounded. Transverse impression between bases of antennae, and two very faint impressions between eyes. Eyes quite large, circular and convex. Antennae with scapus dorsoventrally flattened and rectangular. Pedicellus short, 1/3 the length of scapus and

cylindrical. Antennomere III about as long as pedicellus, III–XVIII gradually increasing in length, the following decreasing in length, the terminal antennomeres very short.

THORAX. Pronotum narrower and shorter than head, anterior margin slightly narrower than posterior margin, 1.3x longer than wide. Anterior margin raised and followed by transverse depression. Second transverse depression at about half length of pronotum, not reaching lateral margins. Faint longitudinal depression not reaching anterior or posterior margin. Mesothorax 5–5.5x length of pronotum. Mesonotum

smooth, parallel-sided, slightly broadening posteriorly. Metanotum slightly more than half length of mesonotum, parallel-sided. Pleurae and sterna simple.

ABDOMEN. Median segment transverse, about 1/3 as long as metanotum, rectangular. Segments II–VI slightly increasing in length and very slightly, gradually narrowing (II–IV broadest), II 1.3x, VI almost 2.5–3x longer than wide. Tergum VII about 4/5 as long as VI, with small, rounded lobe posterolaterally. Sternum VII with distinct praeopercular organ at posterior margin. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of definite spines, slightly projecting, surpassing margin of sternum VIII. Tergum VIII distinctly narrower than previous one, about 4/5 as long as VII. IX half as long as VIII. Anal segment hardly longer than IX, somewhat broader apically, with faint median carina and almost semi-circular median incision at posterior margin. Posterolateral angles narrowed and rounded apically. Supra-anal plate small, semicircular and with fine median carina, reaching apex of anal segment. Cerci flattened, strongly lanceolate and rounded at apex, almost 1.5x as long as anal segment. Gonapophyses elongated, up-curving and slightly surpassing apex of subgenital plate. Subgenital plate keeled, boat-shaped, almost reaching apex of anal segment

LEGS. All moderately long and fairly robust. Profemora longer, mesofemora as long as mesonotum, metafemora almost reaching apex of abdominal segment V. Anterodorsal and posteroventral carina of profemora armed with 8–13 prominent, triangular serrations. Other leg armature as in male but last two teeth on outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora not prominently enlarged.

Egg ( Figs 5G–H , 6G–J , 7E–H )

Large, capsule oval in lateral aspect, slightly impressed at polar-area, slightly compressed laterally and oval in cross-section. Capsule with distinct keel beginning at medium line of micropylar plate, crossing polar area and ventral surface, and ending at operculum. Capsule surface smooth and dull. General colouration of capsule and micropylar plate light brown, operculum blackish. Micropylar plate elongated, tapering towards anterior end and with distinct gap posteromedially. Outer margin dark. Micropylar cup small and dark brown, placed in posteromedian gap of plate. Median line present and distinctly projecting over posterior margin of plate. Operculum oval and slightly concave, outer margin raised. Capitulum brownish, strongly concave and relatively large. Stalk obvious, whitish.

Measurements (mm): length including capitulum 6, length 5.2, width 2.7, height 3.7.

Nymph ( Figs 6E–F , 7D )

Newly hatched 20 to 25 mm long, general body colouration green. Meso- and metanotum slightly darker with some minute white spots. Central portion of profemora and bases of meso- and metafemora coloured reddish brown. Antennae brown, very short, not reaching halfway along profemora. Apical tarsi and claws brown.

Remarks

The typical egg, the length of the median segment (about 1/3 of the metanotum in females and ¼ in males) and the presence of a praeopercular organ place this species in Phryganistria Stål, 1875 .

This species violates one of the key features of Phryganistria Stål, 1875 proposed by Hennemann & Conle (2008). According to these authors, Phryganistria have a median segment that is longer than wide and at least 1/5 the length of the metanotum. However, females of this species have a transverse median segment. This nonconformity does not cause problems in any other genus of Pharnaciini except Baculonistria Hennemann & Conle, 2008 which has a transverse median segment, but has a median segment of 1/8 the length of the metanotum.

The flattened and strongly lanceolate cerci in females are characters commonly found in Phasmatinae sensu Henneman & Conle 2008 . The cerci of Clitumninae are usually small and shorter than the anal segment, cylindrical to sub-cylindrical in cross-section, but can also be laterally compressed or slightly lanceolate ( Hennemann & Conle 2008). The laterally flattened and enlarged foliacous or lanceolate cerci are one of the five apomorphic characters to support the monophyly of Bradler’s (2001) Lanceocercata. However, the presence of a praeopercular organ on sternum VII in females and the profemora with the medioventral carina strongly displaced towards the anteroventral carina place this species in Clitumninae .

The material from Da Krong Nature Reserve is excluded from the type material as there are several characters that differ from specimens from Tam Dao N.P. and Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve. Males lack the lateral black markings on meso- and metathorax ( Fig. 7I–J ) and have the semi-tergites tapering more gradually. Females have slightly more elongated lobes of the praeopercular organ and comparatively more rounded cerci. The eggs have smaller dimensions and are more strongly laterally compressed.

Also, since this locality is relatively distant from the type locality, more material from in between both localities is needed to support a possible subspecies rank.

Eggs of this species were collected by the authors in 2011 from Tam Dao National Park and Da Krong Nature Reserve. The culture stock from Da Krong Nature Reserve was cultured by Dr. Bruno Kneubühler and the culture stock from Tam Dao N. P. was reared by the first author. Bramble ( Rubus spp., Rosaceae ) and oak ( Quercus spp., Fagaceae ) were very well accepted as alternative foodplants. The species is still cultured by several enthusiasts around Europe from eggs collected by the authors from Tam Dao National Park ( Fig. 6 ) and Da Krong Nature Reserve ( Fig. 7 ).

Distribution

This species is recorded from Tay Yen Tu Nature Reserve, Tam Dao National Park and Da Krong Nature Reserve. However, it is likely that this species is more widespread considering the distance between these localities ( Fig. 12 B ).

Figures

Fig. 5. Phryganistria tamdaoensis sp. nov. — A–F. ♀. A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Mesofemur, lateral view. D. Sternum VII and praeopercular organ. E Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. F. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. — G–H. Egg. G. Dorsal view. H. Lateral view. — I–N. ♂. I. Habitus, dorsal view. J. Habitus, lateral view. K. Mesofemur, lateral view. L. Apex of abdomen, ventral view. M. Apex of abdomen, dorsal view. N. Apex of abdomen, lateral view. C–H, K–N = not to scale.

Fig. 6. Phryganistria tamdaoensis sp. nov., captive reared, from Tam Dao N.P. (photographs by Dr Bruno Kneubühler). A. ♀, dorsal view. B. ♀, lateral view. C. ♂, lateral view. D. ♂, dorsal view. — E–F. Freshly hatched nymph. E. Dorsal view. F. Lateral view. — G–J. Egg. G. Dorsal view. H. Detail of operculum and capitulum. I. Polar area. J. Ventral view

Fig. 7. Phryganistria tamdaoensis sp. nov. (photographs by Dr Bruno Kneubühler). — A–I. Captive reared, from Da Krong N.R. A. ♀, lateral view. B. ♀, ventral view. C. ♂, ventral view. D. Freshly hatched nymph. — E–H. Egg. E. Dorsal view. F. Detail of operculum and capitulum. G. Polar area. H. Ventral view. — I. ♂, head, pro- and mesothorax, lateral view. — J. Captive reared from Tam Dao N.P., ♂, head, pro- and mesothorax, lateral view.

Fig. 10. Phryganistria spp., photographs in natura by the authors. — A–B. P. bachmaensis. A. ♀, Bach Ma N.P., 13 Jul. 2011. B. ♂, Da Krong N.R., 6 Jul. 2011. — C–D. P. heusii heusii. C. ♀, Tam Dao N.P., 28 Jul. 2011. D. ♂, Tam Dao N.P., 26 Jul. 2011. — E–H. P. tamdaoensis sp. nov. E. ♀, Tam Dao N.P., 29 Jul. 2011. F. ♂, Tam Dao N.P., 29 Jul. 2011. G. ♀, Da Krong N.R., 6 Jul. 2011. H. ♂, Tay Yen Tu N.R., 7 Jul. 2013.

Fig. 12. Distribution maps. A. Phryganistria bachmaensis (Ta & Hoang, 2004) comb. nov. and P. heusii heusii (Hennemann & Conle, 1997). B. P. tamdaoensis sp. nov. and P. grandis Rehn, 1906. C. Phryganistria heusii yentuensis subsp. nov. and Phobaeticus trui sp. nov. D. Baculonistria magna (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov.