Prisopus conocephalus, Conle & Hennemann & Bellanger & Lelong & Jourdan & Valero, 2020

Conle, Oskar V., Hennemann, Frank H., Bellanger, Yannick, Lelong, Philippe, Jourdan, Toni & Valero, Pablo, 2020, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XX: A new genus and 16 new species from French Guiana, Zootaxa 4814 (1), pp. 1-136 : 104-108

Prisopus conocephalus n. sp.

( Figs. 46 j , 47 j , 50–51 )

HT, ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 05.07.2014; Ex coll. OC; OC-0284-1 [ ZSMC] .

PT, 1 ♀: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 24.01.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0284-9] .

PT, 1 ♀: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Malaise-trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 13.05.2017 [coll. OC, No. 0284-10] .

PT, 1 ♀: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., leg. Stéphane Brûlé 16.05.2011 - 11.07.2005 [coll. OC, No. 0284-12] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 15.07.2017 [coll. OC, No. 0284-11] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé [coll. OC, No. 0284-2] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 07.09.2013 [coll. OC, No. 0284-3] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 05.07.2014 [coll. OC. No. 0284-4] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 17.10.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0284-5] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 19.09.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0284-6] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 12.03.2016 [coll. OC, No. 0284-7] .

PT, 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 15.11.2014 [coll. OC, No. 0284-8] .

PT, 1 ♀: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie blue trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 27.10.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0284-09] .

PT, 1 ♀: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie pink trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 21.07.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0284-10] .

Etymology. The name refers to the posteriorly pointed head and is a combination of cono (cônus lat. = cone) and cephalus (or kephalos gr. Κέφαλο = head).

Differentiation. Similar to P. minimus Chopard, 1911 , but readily distinguished by the posteriorly raised and pointed vertex, the slender body and femora and prominent dark veins of the tegmina.

Description. ♀ ( Fig. 50 ). Slender and medium sized for the genus (body length 55.0–58.0 mm). Characterised by the swollen and posteriorly raised vertex, slender body and femora. General colour of body and legs drab greyish brown, ventral and inner side of legs mid brown and polished. Head, pro- and mesonotum bearing several granules, but no distinct spines. Mesonotum with a longitudinal dorsomedian carinae. Meso- and metasternum dark brown and sternites I–VII with a broad longitudinal black band. Tegmina of a drab greenish brown with indistinct darker speckles and lines. Costal area of alae pale reddish brown in the two basal thirds (the part which is covered by the tegmina when wings are closed) and remaining apical third of the same colour as tegmina. Anal area of alae translucent with fine brown veins. Tergum VII to anal segment bearing lateral lobes, largest in VII decreasing in size towards anal segment. Abdominal segments II–VI distinctly longer than wide, VII-anal segment distinctly broader than wide. Subgenital plate slightly constricted in apical third, posterior margin rounded, brown with two black lateral markings framing a deep longitudinal ventromedian furrow. Epiproct incised in the apical third, slightly projecting posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci long and slender, slightly broadened in apical third, about 1.5x longer than anal segment. Profemora with broad inner and outer lobes, meso- and metafemora more slender and slightly undulate. Basitarsus 1.5x longer than second tarsomere.

Measurements PT [mm]: Body 55.5–59.3, pronotum 3.4–4.4, mesonotum 4.4–5.9, metanotum 5.6–9.0, tegmina 23.4–26.4, alae 37.5–39.0, profemora 8.2–9.4, mesofemora 6.2–6.4, metafemora 10.9–12.2, antennae> 26.0.

♂ ( Figs. 46 j , 47 j , 51 ). Slender and very small for the genus (body length 37.0– 40.4 mm). Characterised by the posteriorly raised and pointed, minutely spinulose vertex, and the comparatively slender profemora. General colour of body and legs pale brown to beige. The legs might be greenish-beige in live specimens (the HT was preserved in alcohol and might have lost some colour). Ventral surface of thorax and abdomen somewhat darker in colouration. Head conically raised and pointed towards posterior margin slightly longer than wide, bearing small spines along the elevated, posterior margin and some indistinct fine longitudinal dark brown lines on vertex and behind the eyes. Pro- and mesonotum slightly longer than wide, more slender than head and bearing a few blunt granules. Metanotum slightly longer than pronotum, having a fine longitudinal dorsomedian carina. Metasternum dark brown with some indistinct mottling, no characteristic drawing present. Tegmina, beige in basal half, running into a drab olive green with dark brown to greenish veins in apical half; having a black band along the radial vein, especially along the inconspicuous sub-basal elevations. Costal area of alae translucent in basal two thirds (the part which is covered by the tegmina when wings are closed) and remaining apical third of the same colour as tegmina. Anal area of alae brownish translucent with fine brown veins. Tergum IX with a slightly more pronounced lateral lobe. Abdominal segments II–VII distinctly longer than wide, VIII-anal segment distinctly broader than wide. Poculum hardly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IX, posterior margin flat with a small median indention, Epiproct deeply incised, reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Vomer triangular with an up-curving, acute hook at posterior apex. Cerci slender, rabbit ear shaped, apex rounded, slightly longer than anal segment. Profemora with very slender inner and outer lobes, carinae unarmed and flat; meso- and metafemora more slender and bearing tiny teeth on ventral carinae. Profemora bearing a larger outer and a smaller inner lobe on apical end, framing the basis of tibiae. Basitarsus 1.8x longer than second tarsomere.

Measurements HT [mm]: Body 37.0, pronotum 2.4, mesonotum 3.0, tegmina 15.1, alae 24.2, profemora 6.9, mesofemora 4.4, metafemora 8.9, antennae>18.0.

Measurements PT [mm]: Body 36.8–39.6, pronotum 2.3–2.6, mesonotum 3.6–3.9, metanotum 5.2, median segment 2.9, tegmina 14.6–15.5, alae 23.0–25.0, profemora 6.6–7.2, mesofemora 4.6–4.8, metafemora 8.4–9.1, antennae> 20.0.

Distribution. So far only known from the type-locality in French Guiana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux [ZSMC, coll. OC].

Figures

FIGURE 46. Comparison of males of all known Prisopus spp. for French Guiana. Habitus in dorsal view. a. P. wolfgangjunki; b. P. clarus n. sp.; c. P. sacratus; d. P. horstokkii; e. P. horridus; f. P. phacellus; g. P. minimus; h. P. piperinus; i. P. ariadne; j. P. conocephalus n.sp..

FIGURE 47. Comparison of males of all known Prisopus spp. for French Guiana. Habitus in ventral view. a. P. wolfgangjunki; b. P. clarus n. sp.; c. P. sacratus; d. P. horstokkii; e. P. horridus; f. P. phacellus; g. P. minimus; h. P. piperinus; i. P. ariadne; j. P. conocephalus n.sp..

FIGURE 50. Female (PT) of Prisopus conocephalus n. sp. a–c. habitus: a. ventral; b. lateral; c. dorsal; d–f. head, prothorax and mesothorax: d. ventral; e. lateral; f. dorsal; g–i. apex of abdomen: g. ventral; h. lateral; i. dorsal.

FIGURE 51. Male (HT) of Prisopus conocephalus n. sp. a–c. habitus: a. ventral; b. lateral; c. dorsal; d–f. head, prothorax and mesothorax: d. ventral; e. lateral; f. dorsal; g–i. apex of abdomen: g. ventral; h. lateral; i. dorsal.