Lobolibethra tricarinata, Hennemann & Conle, 2018

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2018, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XVIII: Four new species of Lobolibethra Hennemann & Conle, 2007 from Peru and Ecuador (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Diapheromeridae), European Journal of Taxonomy 449, pp. 1-33 : 22-26

Lobolibethra tricarinata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:36B8B5A8-CB01-4D03-8487-47777434E0AF

Figs 40–51

Diagnosis

Females of this new species resemble those of L. pozuzoae sp. nov. and L. mutica Hennemann & Conle, 2007 in the general shape and weakly developed leg armature, but readily differ from both by the very distinct and acute longitudinal carinae of the dorsal body surface (meso- and metanotum in particular), complete lack of lobules on the mesofemora and less convex subgenital plate, which has the apical portion gradually flattened and narrowed towards a fairly acute triangular apex ( Figs 41–42 ). From the former they may also be distinguished by the less deflexed and more weakly rounded lateral margins of the anal segment and from the latter by the presence of single enlarged conical to spiniform tubercles on the meso- and metanotum ( Fig. 40 ). Males resemble those of L. mutica , but differ by the somewhat more stocky general habitus, carinate abdominal tergites, more bulgy poculum ( Fig. 49 ), more prominent lateral nodes of the mesonotum and considerably longer antennomere IV.

Etymology

The name (carina Lat. = keel) refers to the acutely tricarinate meso- and metanotum of females.

Material examined

Holotype

ECUADOR: ♀, “ Ecuador: Prov. El Oro, ca 9.5 rd. km W. of Pinas , 900 m, humid forest edge, 03.41 S 79.45 W, June 1985, G.S. Glenn “ ( ANSP).

Paratypes (2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀)

ECUADOR: 1 ♀, “Ecuador: Prov. El Oro, ca 9.5 rd. km W. of Pinas, 900 m, humid forest edge, 03.41 S 79.45 W, June 1985, G.S. Glenn ” ( ANSP); 2 ♂♂, “Museum Paris, Equateur, S. Poulain rec.; Prov. El Oro, 5 km O. Pinas, 950 m, 18.IV.1990 ” ( MNHN); 1 ♀, “No 68, El Salado , Raro ” ( MNCN).

Description

Female ( Figs 40–42 )

BODY. Size medium for the genus (body length 58.0–61.0 mm, Table 3 ), form moderately slender, dorsal body surface with very distinct and acute longitudinal carinae; meso- and metanotum tricarinate.

COLOUR. General colour dull ochraceous to greyish brown. Cheeks with a very faint and weakly defined dark postocular streak.

HEAD. Oval, almost parallel-sided and about 1.3× as long as wide; vertex very gently convex with a fine longitudinal median coronal line and supplied with a few irregularly dispersed tubercles. Occassionally (paratype in ANSP) with a central pair of spiniform projections that are basaly constricted and medially swollen and with some of the coronal tubercles spiniform ( Fig. 43 ). Eyes small, circular, fairly weakly projecting from head capsule and their length contained a little more than 3× in that of cheeks ( Figs 43– 44 ). Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, oval in shape, with lateral margins convexely deflexed and about 1.5× as long as wide. Pedicellus much shorter and subcylindrical. III very elongate and almost as long as scapus and pedicellus combined. IV very short and only about ¼ length of III ( Figs 43–44 ).

THORAX. Pronotum about as long but a little narrower than head, rectangular and very gently narrowed medially; about 1.3× as long as wide. Almost over entire length with a slightly impressed longitudinal median fissure, transverse median sulcus distinct, somewhat displaced towards posterior, widely V-shaped and almost expanding over complete width of segment. Surface otherwise with a few tubercles and two slightly enlarged tubercles near posterior margin ( Figs 43–44 ). Mesothorax about 4.6× as long as prothorax, roughly parallel-sided, with only posterior portion somewhat widened. Mesonotum with three distinctly raised and acute longitudinal carinae, irregularly granulose and with several considerably enlarged, conical to bluntly spiniform tubercles; lateral surfaces with several irregular, longitudinally directed rugulae and a marginal row of somewhat less pronounced tubercles. Metanotum sculptured like mesonotum and a little more than half its length. Meso- and metapleurae rugulose and set with a median longitudinal row of blunt tubercles. Meso- and metasternum sparingly granulose and rugulose.

ABDOMEN. Median segment less than ¼ length of metanotum, slightly transverse and with same three acute longitudinal carinae seen on the meso- and metanotum. Segments II–VII very slightly increasing in length and roughly uniform in width; II–III quadrate and following a little longer than wide. All tergites with five distinctly raised and acute longitudinal, sub-parallel carinae, inner three of which each terminate in a blunt tubercle at posterior margin (most distinct on II and III). Tergum III in one paratype (ANSP) with a prominent foliaceous quadrilobate, posteriorly directed projection ( Fig. 42 ). VII and VIII with seven carinae, three inner ones on VII terminating in more or less distinct, rounded to foliaceous lobe. Tergum VII in one paratype (ANSP) with lateral margins convexely deflexed in posterior half to form a rounded lobe that extends width of segment by about ¼. Sternites II–VII with two slight longitudinal carinae which converge at posterior margin, which is otherwise set with two black tubercles. Praeopercular organ on sternum VII formed by a blunt black median swelling at posterior margin. Tergum VIII somewhat narrower than preceding and slightly narrowed medially, VIII–X roughly uniform in width. IX a litttle more than half length of VIII and roughly quadrate. Anal segment longer than IX, narrowed in apical portion, with posterior margin almost straight ( Fig. 45 ); longitudinal median carina of dorsal surface strongly pronounced. Cerci very small and fully hidden under anal segment. Subgenital plate tub-shaped, with apical half gradually flattened ( Fig. 46 ), keeled longitudinally and narrowed towards a fairly acute triangular apex ( Fig. 47 ), lateral surfaces with a blunt curved longitudinal carina; apex reaching about ¼ the way along anal segment.

LEGS. Moderately long and stocky, destitude of any lobes, teeth or undulations, as in other species of the genus. Profemora a little shorter than mesothorax, metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergum V and metatibia roughly reaching to apex of abdomen. Tarsi fairly short, with basitarsus a little less than combined length of following three tarsomeres.

Male ( Figs 48–49 )

BODY. Size medium (body length 55.0– 60.5 mm, Table 3 ), form moderately slender, legs entirely unarmed. Head and thorax very sparingly granulose and abdominal tergites II–VI with four fine longitudinal carinae.

COLOUR. General colouration drab to ochraceous brown, meso- and metapleurae greyish dull brown. Enlarged granules of mesonotum dark brown. Cheeks with a bold but faint dull brown longitudinal postocular streak ( Fig. 50 ). Antennae drab to dull ochraceous, with antennomeres IV–XI dull brown basally.

HEAD. Fairly elongate, subcylindrical, broadest at eyes, cheeks almost parallel-sided and vertex flattened; about 1.5× as long as wide. Frons slightly convex and with a small C-shaped impression behind bases of antennae. Entire surface irregularly set with variably sized pale granules and vertex with a fine longitudinal coronal line ( Fig. 50 ). Eyes fairly small, cylindrical and projecting hemispherically, their length contained about 2× in that of cheeks. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment VII. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, almost 2× as long as than wide and roughly rectangular, with interior margin gently convex. Pedicellus subcylindrical, about ½ length of scapus and gently constricted towards apex. Antennomere III very elongate and longer than scapus and pedicellus combined; IV less than ½ length of III.

THORAX. Pronotum about as long and wide as head, rectangular and weakly constricted medially; disc with a fine, impressed longitudinal median line and sparsely granulose, transverse median sulcus prominent, very gently curved and expanding over roughly half width of segment. Near posterior margin with a pair of slightly enlarged tubercles ( Fig. 50 ). Mesothorax elongate and 5.5× as long as prothorax. Mesonotum indistinctly tricarinate with a fine longitudinal median carina and a very faint lateral carina that is marked by a longitudinal row of minute granules; lateral surfaces otherwise supplied with 5–7 small nodules. Metanotum a little more than half length of mesonotum but with carinae less defined and with only two or three very minute nodules laterally.

ABDOMEN. Median segment about 0.2× length of metanotum, gently constricted medially and roughly rectangular, with three longitudinal carinae weakly indicated. Segments II–VII uniform in width, II almost 2× as long as median segment, III–V longer than II, equal in length and some 2.4× as long as wide, V to VII decreasing in length. All quadricarinate, but carinae very indistinct on II and gardually become more defined towards VII. Tergum VIII about ½ length of VII and gradually widening towards posterior, with posterior margin some 1.5× as wide as anterior margin, IX somewhat longer than VIII and narrowed towards posterior; both acutely quadricarinate. Anal segment narrower than two previous segments, longer than wide and distinctly tricarinate, with posterior portion somewhat expanded; posterior margin gently indented medially, with outer angles broadly and bluntly angular ( Fig. 51 ), ventral surface minutely denticulate. Epiproct very small and slightly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Vomer triangular in shape, with lateral margins strongly swollen and median portion impressed; terminal hook strongly up-curving. Cerci fairly large, but much shorter than anal segment, laterally compressed at base and gently gradually constricted towards obtuse apex ( Fig. 51 ). Poculum strongly convex, bowl-shaped, with a blunt central projection ( Fig. 49 ), dorsal carinae labiate, posterior margin entire, somewhat expanded and slightly up-curving; surface rugulose.

LEGS. All moderately long, slender and completely unarmed. Profemora a little longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecing considerably beyond apex of abdomen. Tarsi fairly short, with basitarsus about as long as following three tarsomeres combined.

Remarks

The three females at hand show that this species is fairly variable in several morphological aspects. While the holotype and paratype in MCSN are plain, the paratype in ANSP has foliaceous lobes on abdominal tergites II, III and VII. Furthermore, which is unusual for the entire genus, this specimen also has the posterolateral angles of abdominal tergum VII expanded to form a moderately sized, rounded lobe. The vertex bears a central pair of small spiniform projections that are constricted at their base and swollen in the median portion. The two paratypic males at hand are different in colouration, one being drab to ochre and the other somewhat darker ochraceous brown.

The coordinates for the type locality some kilometres east of Piñas in the El Oro Province of south Ecuador are 3°41′ S, 79°45′ W according to the labels of the ANSP specimens. El Salado, the locality of the female paratype in MNCN, is a small town situated at an elevation of 1310 metres in Yacuambi, Zamora Chinchipe Province, southeast Ecuador. The coordinates are 3°38′39″ S, 78°55′25″ W. Eggs unknown.

Figures

Figs 40–47. Lobolibethra tricarinata sp. nov. 40. ♀, HT: lateral view (ANSP). 41. ♀, HT: dorsal view (ANSP). 42. ♀, PT: dorsal view (ANSP). 43. ♀, PT: head and pronotum (ANSP). 44. ♀, HT: head and pronotum (ANSP). 45. ♀, PT: apex of abdomen in dorsal view (MNCN). 46. ♀, PT: apex of abdomen in lateral view (MNCN). 47. ♀, PT: apex of abdomen in ventral view (MNCN).

Figs 48–51. Lobolibethra tricarinata sp. nov. 48. ♂, PT: dorsal view (MNHN). 49. ♂, PT: lateral view (MNHN). 50. ♂, PT: head and pronotum in lateral view (MNHN). 51. ♂, PT: apex of abdomen in dorsal view (MNHN).