Cnipsomorpha polyspina, 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 : 112-113

Cnipsomorpha polyspina sp. nov.

(Figs. 17–19, 38, 49, 68–69, 80, 90–91)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 1500m, Primitive broad-leaved forests near Gangdang , Longyang West , Baoshan, Yunnan, China, 1.VII.2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 4♀, 60 eggs (naturally laid by holotype ♀ & paratypes ♀), same data as holotype ♀ ( HKES) ; 1♀, 2000m, Primitive broad-leaved forests near Gangdang , Longyang West , Baoshan, Yunnan, China, 30.VI.2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Cnipsomorpha polyspina sp. nov. is similar to C. viridis sp. nov., but can be separated by the posteriorly emarginated praeopercular organ on the posteromedian area of seventh abdominal sternum, the presence of two emarginations on the posterior margin of anal abdominal segment and the less distinct serrations on the carinae of tibiae in the female.

Description. Female (Figs. 17–19, 38, 49, 68–69, 80). Small size. Body robust. General colouration of body and legs green with blackish markings.

Head: Sparsely covered with small granules and a few acute granules. Oblong, longer than wide, gently tapering posteriorly behind compound eyes. Vertex convex, with paired 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 than median and posterior pairs, median pair smallest. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about three times that of genae. Antennae with 14 segments, reaching subapical area of profemora; scapus flattened at base, roughly as long as combined length of pedicellus and third segment; and pedicellus shorter than third segment.

Thorax: Sparsely covered with small granules and a few acute 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 two pairs of anterior medial, two pairs of pre-median medial, one pair of median medial, one pair of post-median medial and two pairs of posterior medial spines; also with paired anterior and median spines; lateral margins with a few spines, median one longest. Metanotum square, about three 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, with a few small granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with paired anterior medial and median spines. Second to fourth tergites with paired anterior medial, median medial, posterior medial and posterior spines. Fifth and sixth tergites with paired median medial, posterior medial and posterior spines. Seventh sternum with distinct praeopercular organ on posteromedian area, dorsoventrally flattened, apically emarginated. 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 ninth tergum, posterior margin with two emarginations, posterolateral angles rounded, median longitudinal carina distinctly elevated, posterior apex elongated, with pre-median 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 and posterodorsal carinae of femora with indistinct serrations, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with three to four small serrations. Profemora weakly curved basally. Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with indistinct serrations.

Measurements in Table 5 .

Eggs (Figs. 90–91). 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).

Notes. The male is unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the plenty of spines on the thorax in the female.

Suggested common name (Chinese). •¬華¬'.