Parasinophasma liui, Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017, Contribution to the knowledge of Oriental Phasmatodea I: A taxonomic study of the genus Parasinophasma (Phasmatodea: Necrosciinae), Journal of Orthoptera Research 26 (2), pp. 181-194 : 184-186

Parasinophasma liui sp. n. Figs 15-18, 52-59

Type material.-

Holotype ♂, Bach Ma, Phu Loc, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, 27.IX.2011, Liu Xing-Yue (CAU); Paratypes 1♀, Bach Ma, Phu Loc, Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, 27.IX.2011, Liu Xing-Yue (CAU); 1♂, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, 6.V.2012, unknown collector (HKES).

Diagnosis.-

The general appearance of Parasinophasma liui is slightly different from other members in the genus, but the characters of grayish brown coloration, elongate body and weakly elevated occiput of the head in both sexes, indistinctly elongate ninth abdominal tergum in male and non-exposed gonapophyses in female match with Parasinophasma . P. liui sp. n. is similar to P. fanjingshanense Chen & He, 2006, but can be distinguished by more slender and elongate body and oblong head in both sexes, non-granulated mesonotum in male and weakly convex occiput of head and elongate mesonotum in female.

Description.-

Male (Figs 15-16, 52-54, 58): Medium-sized. Body very slender and slim. Head smooth, lacking granulation. Oblong, longer than wide, distinctly longer than and broader than pronotum. Vertex flat, with three distinct ocelli of equal size between compound eyes. Occiput weakly convex, median and lateral longitudinal furrows distinct. Compound eyes rounded, length about one-and-a-half times that of genae. Antennae filiform and long, sparsely covered with short bristles; scapus slightly flattened at base, longer than pedicellus, roughly as long as third segment. Pronotum lacking granulation, shorter than head, anterior margin incurved, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle area. Mesonotum slender and elongate, longer than combined length of head, pronotum, metanotum and median segment, parallel-sided, median longitudinal line indistinct, lacking granulation. Mesopleurae, mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum lacking granulation. Abdomen parallel-sided, very slender. Ninth tergum slightly longer than eighth tergum. Anal segment shorter than eighth tergum, with a small notch on posterior margin. Poculum small and short, cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded and reaching middle area of ninth tergum. Cerci cylindrical and straight, tapering posteriorly, apices pointed and surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs sparsely covered with short bristles. Unarmed. Femora roughly as long as corresponding tibiae. Profemora curved at base, longer than combined length of head, pronotum and mesonotum. Protibiae longer than mesotibiae, shorter than metatibiae. Tegmina oval, as long as pronotum, posterior margin truncate. Alae longer than profemora, posterior apices reaching anterior area of fifth abdominal tergum.

Coloration: Dull coloration, body generally light brown. Head light brown with six faint blackish or grayish-brown longitudinal bands segregated by five light brown longitudinal stripes. Genae with a black postocular stripe. Antennae light brown. Pronotum light brown. Mesonotum, mesosternum, mesopleurae, metapleurae and metasternum light brown, with pale white and blackish brown maculations. Abdomen and legs light brown. Tegmina and alae brown with blackish brown maculations.

Female (Figs 17-18, 55-57, 59): Large size. Body slender and slim, distinctly larger and more robust than male. Head oblong, longer than wide, lacking granulation. Vertex flat, with three prominent ocelli between compound eyes, anterior ocellus smaller than two posterior ocelli. Occiput weakly convex, with distinct median and lateral longitudinal furrows. Compound eyes rounded, length about two-and-one-half times that of genae. Antennae filiform, sparsely covered with short bristles; scapus slightly flattened basally, longer than pedicellus; pedicellus as long as third segment. Pronotum lacking granulation, rectangular, longer than wide, shorter than head; anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin rounded, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point. Mesonotum with very few small black granules on the lateral margins; longer than combined length of pronotum, metanotum and median segment, median longitudinal line distinct. Mesopleurae, mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum lacking granulation. Abdomen cylindrical, lacking granulation. Seventh sternum with weakly raised hump-like praeopercular organ posteromedially. Anal segment shorter than eighth tergum, longer than ninth tergum, with a small indistinct notch on posterior margin. Supra-anal plate indistinct. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, apex pointed and reaching posterior area of anal segment. Gonapophyses not exposed. Cerci short, straight, cylindrical, apices pointed and just surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs sparsely covered with short bristles. Unarmed. Femora roughly as long as corresponding tibiae. Profemora distinctly curved basally. Tegmina oval, tapering anteriorly, posterior margin rounded, longer than pronotum. Alae long, posterior apices reaching anterior area of fifth abdominal tergum.

Coloration: Dull coloration, body generally brown. Genae with blackish maculations. Antennae and pronotum brown. Mesonotum, mesosternum, mesopleurae, metapleurae, metasternum, abdomen and legs brown, with blackish brown maculations. Tegmina and alae brown with blackish brown maculations.

Measurements.-

(mm) Holotype ♂, Body length: 62, head: 2.5, antennae: 51, pronotum: 2, mesonotum: 11, metanotum including median segment: 6, profemora: 16, mesofemora: 10, metafemora: 16, protibiae: 16, mesotibiae: 10, metatibiae: 18, tegmina: 1.5, alae: 28. Paratype ♂, Body length: 69, head: 2.5, antennae: 59, pronotum: 2, mesonotum: 12, metanotum including median segment: 8, profemora: 18, mesofemora: 12, metafemora: 18.5, protibiae: 17.5, mesotibiae: 11, metatibiae: 20, tegmina: 2, alae: 32. Paratype ♀, Body length: 100, head: 5, antennae: 56, pronotum: 3, mesonotum: 17, metanotum including median segment: 12, profemora: 18, mesofemora: 13, metafemora: 19, protibiae: 17, mesotibiae: 12, metatibiae: 20, tegmina: 4.5, alae: 48.

Distribution.-

Vietnam.

Etymology.-

It is named in honor of Liu Xing-Yue (Beijing, China) for his discovery of this new species.