Cnipsomorpha inflexa, Ho, 2021

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea X: Eight new species of Cnipsomorpha from China (Phasmatidae: Clitumninae: Medaurini), Zootaxa 5026 (1), pp. 102-126 : 104-106

Cnipsomorpha inflexa sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–5, 30–31, 43–44, 54–57, 78, 84–85)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 2000m, Primitive broad-leaved forests, Nanjian , Dali, Yunnan, China, 2.VI.2018, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 6♂, 4♀, 3 eggs (naturally laid by paratypes ♀), same data as holotype ♀ ( HKES) ; 1♂, 1♀, 15 eggs (naturally laid by paratype ♀), 2000m, Primitive broad-leaved forests, Nanjian , Dali, Yunnan, China, 26.VI.2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Cnipsomorpha inflexa sp. nov. is similar to C. viridis sp. nov., but can be separated by the triangularly expanded posterolateral angles on the seventh abdominal sternum and the distinct serrations on the anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae of femora in the female and the elongate and strongly incurved semi anal abdominal segments in the male.

Description. Female (Figs. 1–3, 30, 43, 54–55, 78). Small size. Body robust, distinctly larger than male. General colouration of body and legs yellowish green, with blackish markings.

Head: Covered with very few small granules. Oblong, longer than wide, gently tapering posteriorly behind compound eyes. Vertex convex, with paired short and small supra-antennal spines. Occiput distinctly convex, with paired supra-orbital spines; also with three pairs of medial spines along median longitudinal furrow, anterior pair largest and longest, median pair smallest. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about three times that of genae. Antennae with 14 segments, reaching middle point of profemora; scapus flattened at base, as long as combined length of pedicellus and third segment; and pedicellus shorter than third segment.

Thorax: Covered with a few small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, with paired posterior medial spines, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, swollen medially, with paired anterior medial, pre-median medial, median medial, post-median medial and posterior medial spines, post-median pairs largest; also with paired anterior and median spines; lateral margins with two to three spines, median one longest. Metanotum square, about three-and-one-half to four times length of median segment, with paired pre-median medial, median medial, post-median medial and median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a supra-coxal spine. Mesosternum and metasternum with a few acute granules.

Abdomen: Cylindrical and tapering posteriorly. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with paired anterior and posterior spines. Second to fifth tergites with two pairs of median medial and a pair of posterior spines, reduced in size on fifth tergum. Sixth and seventh tergites with paired posterior medial and posterior spines. Seventh sternum with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles, posterolateral apices strongly elongated posteriorly, forming a broad U-shaped posterior emargination, posteromedian area with a pair of short tubercle-like praeopercular organ. Eighth tergum with a pair of small, tooth-like crests posteromedially. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum, with a pair of tooth-like crests posteromedially. Anal segment almost as long as eighth tergum, gently tapering posteriorly, posterior margin triangularly emarginated, posterolateral angles rounded, median longitudinal carina distinctly elevated, with paired anterior medial spines. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, posterior apex pointed and reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci short, flattened, apices obtuse and not exceeding posterior apices of anal segment.

Legs: Slender. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, with blackish markings. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora with four to five small serrations, serrations on dorsal carinae indistinct.Profemora weakly curved basally.Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae with four to five small serrations, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with indistinct serrations.

Male (Figs. 4–5, 31, 44, 56–57). Body slender and slim, distinctly more slender than female. General colouration of body and legs green.

Head: Oblong, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex convex, with paired short supra-antennal spines. Occiput rounded and convex, median longitudinal furrow distinct; with paired supra-orbital spines, also with two paired occipital medial spines. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about three times that of genae. Antennae with 18 segments, apices reaching subapical area of profemora; scapus flattened basally, almost as long as third segment; and third segment longer than pedicellus.

Thorax: Covered with very sparse and small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, anterior margin distinctly incurved, posterior margin truncate, with a pair of weakly developed posterior medial spines, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle area. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, with paired medial spines along median longitudinal line pre-medially, medially and posteriorly, anterior pair as large as posterior pair, median pair largest; lateral margins with a small spine medially. Metanotum longer than wide, with paired posterior medial spines and median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a small supra-coxal spine.

Abdomen: Slender and cylindrical, with sparse and small granules. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with a few acute granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles. Second to fifth tergites with paired posterior spines. Eighth tergum gently expanded posteriorly, as long as ninth tergum. Anal segment longer than ninth tergum, dilated into two distinct elongate semi-tergites; semi-tergites finger-like, long, strongly incurved, tapering and elongated posteriorly, apices swollen and blunt, with minute dentations. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded and reaching anterior area of anal segment. Cerci short, flattened, incurved, apices pointed and not exceeding posterior apices of semi-tergites.

Legs: Slender and long. Sparsely covered with short bristles. Femora shorter than corresponding tibiae, anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae weakly waved, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with three to four small serrations. Profemora weakly curved basally. Anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae of tibiae with four to five small serrations, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae lacking noticeable armature, medioventral carina weakly raised basally.

Measurements in Table 1 .

Eggs (Figs. 84–85). Capsule brown, oval, posterior pole notched in lateral view, surface reticulate-foveate; depressions dark brown, more or less rounded, with dense and small granulations. Micropylar plate brown, oval, gently tapering anteriorly and posteriorly. Micropylar cup placed at posterior margin of micropylar plate. Median line short, placed behind micropylar cup, about one-half length of micropylar plate. Operculum centrally depressed and lacking capitulum.

Measurements. Length 1.6 mm, width 1.0 mm, height 1.2 mm.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the incurved semi anal abdominal segments and the incurved cerci in the male.

Suggested common name (Chinese). 彎尾華¬'.