Ceroys (Miroceroys) cancelloae sp. nov.

(Figs 1–9)

Holotype, 1♀: MZUSP V0034, Brasil, Minas Gerais, Extrema. Atlantic Forest, 22º52’42.4”S, 46º18’53.9”W. 1450m of altitude, 30.III.2018. S. H. Kamakuza, P. W. Engelking, E. B. Crispino & V. M. Ghirotto coll. [MZUSP].

Paratypes, 1♀ (MZSP 1184), 2♂ (MZSP 1183), eggs, Brasil, Minas Gerais, Extrema. Atlantic Forest, 22º52’42.4”S, 46º18’53.9”W. 1450m of altitude, 30.III.2018. S. H. Kamakuza, P. W. Engelking, E. B. Crispino & V. M. Ghirotto coll. ; 2♀ (MZSP 1186, V0035), 4♂ (MZSP 1185, 1187, 1230, V0033), 1 subadult ♀ (MZSP V0032), eggs, Brasil, Minas Gerais, Extrema. Atlantic Forest, 22º52’42.4”S, 46º18’53.9”W. 1450m of altitude, 30.III.2018. V. M. Ghirotto & P. W. Engelking coll. ; 1♀ (MZSP 376): Brasil, Minas Gerais, Camanducaia, Monte Verde district. Atlantic Forest, 22º52’08”S, 46º01’04”W. 20. IV.2015. P. I. Chiquetto-Machado & A. Z. Ramin coll. ; 1♀ (MZSP 810), 1♂ (MZSP 809), eggs: Brasil, Minas Gerais, Camanducaia, Monte Verde district. 22º52’08”S, 46º01’04”W. 7.I.2017. P. I. Chiquetto-Machado & A. Z. Ramin coll. [MZUSP] .

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of Dr. Eliana Marques Cancello, professor and curator of the entomological collection of the MZUSP and advisor of the masters of EBC and VMG, and soon probably of the upcoming master of PWE as well. Expert in termites and an excellent researcher and entomologist, she gladly advises our projects with phasmids, having already advised our colleague and friend P.I. Chiquetto-Machado on his PhD about phasmids and who also collected the new species. This comes in form of our sincerely gratefulness for supporting our goal to specialize in stick insects and of a recognition of her efforts on promoting research on Phasmatodea in Brazil.

Diagnosis. Females of Ceroys (Miroceroys) cancelloae sp. nov. can be differentiated from the females of all other Ceroys (Miroceroys) species by the absence of crest-like longitudinal lobes on tergite III-VIII (Figs 1A, 4A–B) and the more lanceolate, thinner, and shorter meso- and metathoracic dorsolateral lobes (Figs 1A, 3A). Males can be differentiated from males of all other Ceroys (Miroceroys) species by the smooth, less robust, thinner meso- and metathoracic dorsolateral spines (Figs 1B, 3B), the constricted abdominal segments, the tapering aspect of the cerci and the presence of short and conical dorsal spines, few smaller at the anterior region of mesothorax, and in pairs at the posterior region of each thoracic segment, with absence of further robust spines.