Stephanacris laeviceps, Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2006, Stephanacridini Günther, 1953, with the descriptions of a new genus and three new species of Stephanacris Redtenbacher, 1908 (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”), Zootaxa 1283, pp. 1-24 : 19-22

Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp.

Figs. 9–11 , 16 , 21

Stephanacris sp.? Günther 1936: 339, fig. 14 (Ψ). Herwaarden, 1998: 88.

HT, Ψ: N. N. Guinea, Doormanpaad 1410 m, W. C. van Heurn October 1920 (RMNH). PT, 1 egg (removed from the ovipositor of the HT): N. N. Guinea, Doormanpaad 1410 m, W. C. van Heurn October 1920 (RMNH).

Differentiation

Related to S. globiceps Redtenbacher, 1908 but differing in: the slightly smaller size; unarmed vertex; pre­medially broadened and relatively shorter mesothorax; lack of a rounded dorsal lobe of the metabasitarsus; slightly longer basitarsi and different leg armature. Furthermore, it is characterized by the dark brown general colouration.

Concerning the shape and armature of the head and shape of the mesothorax this new species represents an intermediate between S. brevipes Redtenbacher and S. globiceps Redtenbacher on one side, and S. draconius n. sp. and S. multilobatus n. sp. on the other.

Description

Females ( Fig. 16 ) Moderately sized (body length 133.5 mm, incl. subgenital plate 140.0 mm), rather slender and elongate species for the genus (body width at abdominal tergite V 5.0 mm) with a broadened mesothorax (maximum width 7.5 mm), short alae (9.5 mm) and comparably short subgenital plate (16.8 mm). General colouration of body and legs plain dark brown. Abdominal tergite and sternite V with an irregular pale brown posterior marking. Tergite VI with two prominent, longitudinal pale brown markings. Points of the thoracic armature pale brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae plain blackish brown, anal region of alae black with slightly paler veins. Bases of all femora dark orange, all femora and tibiae with a few irregular whitish markings (indistinct on metafemora). Antennae, except for the basal ten antennomeres, grey with the base of each antennomere black. Eyes dark brown.

Head: Globose and indistinctly longer than wide, broadest at eyes. These circular, strongly convex and hemispherical. Vertex rounded and unarmed, except for five slightly impressed longitudinal lines. Between the eyes with a broad, roughly trapezoidal impression. Antennae reaching at least half way along mesonotum (broken in the HT). Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, almost 2x longer than wide and slightly narrowing towards the base. Pedicellus cylindrical and about half the length of scapus. Third antennomere about as long as pedicellus, IV distinctly shortened and following increasing in length.

Thorax: Pronotum slightly shorter and distinctly narrower than head, about 1.2x longer than wide and slightly narrowed medially. Anterior margin raised, the transverse median depression distinct but short and not reaching the lateral margins of the segment. Complete segment with an impressed longitudinal median line, in posterior half with two impressed lateral lines. Mesothorax about 5x longer than pronotum, constricted at the anterior, gently swollen pre­medially and gradually narrowing in the posterior half. Mesonotum with a very faint median line and with three rounded granules on each side, which are roughly placed in a longitudinal row. Metanotum transverse. Mesopleurae with a longitudinal row of blunt spines; a row of five similar spines on metapleurae. Meso­ and metasternum with several irregularly set with blunt spines. Tegmina reaching ¼ the way along metanotum, strongly broadened apically and distinctly constricted towards the base; central hump indistinct. Alae slightly longer than tegmina and reaching ¾ the way along the median segment.

Abdomen: Median segment 1.3x longer than metanotum, about 2x longer than wide and rectangular; unarmed. All segments unarmed, except for a transverse, scale­like swelling on posterior margin of tergite V. Segment II about as long as median segment. III–VI increasing in length (III = 11.2 mm, VI = 14.2 mm). III–V of uniform width, VI slightly broader; in average 2.8x longer than wide. VII as long as V but considerably narrower, parallel­sided and 3x longer than wide. Praeopercular organ formed by two minute swellings at the posterior margin of sternite VII. Tergite VIII about half the length of VII, slightly longer than wide and gently broadened posteriorly. IX shorter than VIII, transverse. Anal segment with a median keel, slightly shorter than VIII, posterior margin rounded and with a concave lateral indention. Supraanal plate rounded and slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci cylindrical and tapered towards the pointed tip, finely bristled. Gonapophyses elongate and filiform, projecting over the apex of the abdomen by more than the length of the anal segment; pale brown. Apices upcurving and broadened. Subgenital plate strongly keeled and projecting over the apex of abdomen by about 1.5x the length of anal segment; apex rounded.

Legs: All of moderate length and rather slender for the genus. All distinctly armed with pointed teeth or spine­like lobes. Profemora longer than mesonotum, metatibiae reaching posterior of abdominal segment VI. Profemora compressed and curved basally, almost triangular in cross­section, posterodorsal carina strongly reduced and lower than anterodorsal carina. Posteroventral unarmed, anteroventral with 12–13 pointed teeth. Posteroventral carina armed with 23–24 triangular teeth which decrease in size towards base of femur. Anteroventral carina unarmed. Medioventral carina distinct and armed with 6 spines. Protibiae trapezoidal in cross­section, dorsal carinae very close to another and diverging before apex of the tibia; all carinae unarmed except for 2–3 minute teeth on posteroventral carina. Medioventral carina midways on ventral surface of protibiae. Meso­ and metafemora trapezoidal in cross­section, mesofemora slightly down­curving. All carinae irregularly dentate, the ventral carinae with 3–4 prominent, triangular teeth basally and a prominent bi­dentate apical lobe (larger on anteroventral carina). Medioventral carina faint and armed with 8 distinct spines which decrease in size towards apex of femur. Metafemora slender and lacking the apical ventral lobes of the mesofemora. Ventral carinae with spines more prominent basally. Medioventral carina faint and with a longitudinal row of 10 minute spines, which decrease in size towards apex of femur. Meso­ and metatibiae triangular in cross­section, dorsal carinae almost melted with one another and diverging just before apex of tibia. All carinae dentate. Dorsal and medioventral carinae very gently rounded sub­basally. Medioventral carina distinct. Probasitarsus as long as the remaining tarsomeres combined, except claw; the dorsal carina slightly elevated; all carinae unarmed. Meso­ and metabasitarsi about as long as the following three tarsomeres combined, all carinae dentate.

S. draconius S. multilobatus S. laeviceps n. sp. n. sp. n. sp.

Ψ, HT Ψ, PT Ψ, HT Ψ, PT Ψ, HT (ZSMC) (coll. OC) (ZSMC) (coll. FH) (RMNH)

Body 158.3 160.0 161.0 176.5 133.5 Eggs ( Fig. 21 )

One fully developed egg was removed from the ovipositor of the HT.

Capsule of average size for the genus, ovoid, almost 2x longer than wide and slightly oval in cross­section; a slight constriction below anterior margin. Capsule surface minutely punctured (appearing smooth without magnification). A very faint longitudinal, dorsal keel from posterior end of micropylar plate to polar area. Micropylar plate slightly raised from capsule surface, more than half the length of capsule, lozenge­shaped and about 2.2x longer than wide. Outer margin raised. Dorsal surface with a faint longitudinal median keel. Micropylar cup slightly displaced towards posterior end of plate. Operculum slightly oval, the outer margin strongly raised, forming a uniform opercular collar. Capitulum conical, with several deep impressions.

General colouration of capsule mid brown, surface strongly shiny and light­reflecting. Lateral surfaces of capsule with two very indistinct blackish transverse markings. Outer margin of micropylar plate and anterior margin of capsule broadly sepia and polar area with a circular, sepia brown spot. Operculum pale brown, capitulum dark reddish­brown.

Measurements (mm): Length (including capitulum): 4.4, length 3.8, width 2.1, height 2.8, length of micropylar plate 2.1.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Details [scale = 1 cm]. 1. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, lateral view (ZSMC). 2. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, dorsal view (ZSMC). 3. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) left front leg (ZSMC). 4. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. (PT, Ψ) left protibia, dorsal view (ZSMC). 5. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, lateral view (coll. FH). 6. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, dorsal view (coll. FH). 7. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) left front leg (coll. FH). 8. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. (PT, Ψ) right mid leg (coll. FH). 9. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. (HT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, lateral view (RMNH). 10. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. (HT, Ψ) apex of abdomen, dorsal view (RMNH). 11. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. (HT, Ψ) right mid leg (RMNH).

FIGURES 12 – 16. 12. Macrophasma n. gen. biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908), Ψ (coll. FH). 13. Macrophasma n. gen. biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908), PLT ♂ (ZMUH). 14. Macrophasma n. gen. oreithrephes (Günther, 1929), Ψ (coll. FH). 15. Macrophasma n. gen. lyrata (Redtenbacher, 1908), Ψ (RMNH). 16. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp., HT Ψ (RMNH).

FIGURES 17 – 22. 17. Stephanacris draconius n. sp., HT Ψ (ZSMC). 18. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp., PT Ψ (Coll. FH). 19 – 22. Eggs [scale = 1 mm]. 19. Stephanacris draconius n. sp. PT, dorsolateral view (ZSMC). 20. Stephanacris multilobatus n. sp. PT, dorsolateral view (coll. FH). 21. Stephanacris laeviceps n. sp. PT, dorsolateral view (RMNH). 22. Macrophasma n. gen. biroi (Redtenbacher, 1908), dorsolateral view (coll. FH).