Andeocalynda densegranulosa, Hennemann & Conle, 2020

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2020, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXIV: Andeocalynda n. gen., a new genus of Andean stick insects, with the descriptions of nine new species from Colombia and Ecuador (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 4896 (3), pp. 301-341 : 318-320

Andeocalynda densegranulosa n. gen., n. sp.

( Fig. 10 )

HT, ♀: Ecuador: Prov. Azuay, El Cajas NP, Rio Mazán , 3100 m, cloud forest, leg. H. van Heerwarden 1989; HVH-98 [ ZSMC, ex coll. FH, No. 0930-1] .

PT, ♂: Ecuador: Prov. Azuay, El Cajas NP, Rio Mazán , 3100 m, cloud forest, leg. H. van Heerwarden 1989; HVH-99 [ ZSMC, ex coll. FH, No. 0930-2] .

Diagnosis: Females are very similar to A. putumayoense n. sp. but apart from being considerably smaller, they differ by being somewhat more stocky in shape, having the head relatively shorter and with a distinctive longitudinal coronal ridge, the entire granulations of the body much more dense and the epiproct more acutely triangular ( Fig. 10G ). In having the mesonotum and mesopleurae granulose, ♂♂ strongly resemble those of A. aspericollis n. sp., with which they share a poculum that lacks a central node or protuberance ( Fig. 10J ). However, ♂♂ of this species can be differentiated from those of A. aspericollis n. sp. by having the mesothoracic granules notably less pronounced and the anal segment somewhat more ascendant towards the posterior with the apex of the cerci considerably more swollen and obtuse ( Fig. 10J ).

Etymology: The name emphasizes on the main distinctive feature of this new species, the all over densely granulose body of ♀♀, which distinguishes them from all other ♀♀ so far known from the genus.

♀♀ ( Fig. 10 ): Moderately sized (body length incl. subgenital plate 100.0 mm) and fairly stocky for the genus with an all over densely granulose head and body. Colouration ochraceous mid brown with faint and irregular darker brown mottling along the lateral body surfaces and on the legs. The thoracic granules ochre. Genae washed greyish brown. Eyes ochre. Antennae mid brown with an orange hue (not scapus and pedicellus) and gradually becoming paler towards the apex.

Head: Elongate, sub-cylindrical, flattened dorsoventrally and about 1.8x longer than wide, genae very slightly narrowing towards the posterior. Vertex flat, with a slightly impressed coronal line and six irregular longitudinal rows of granules ( Fig. 10D ). Between the bases of the antennae there are two small impressions and between the eyes there is a pair of shallow swellings that are minutely and irregularly granulose. A few small granules in lower portion of genae. Eyes small, moderately projecting and slightly oval in outline; their diameter contained about 3.9x in length of genae ( Fig. 10C ). Antennae reaching to anterior margin of abdominal segment II. Scapus flattened towards the base, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and about 1.5x longer than wide. Pedicellus ovoid, round in cross-section and almost ¾ the length of scapus ( Fig. 10C ).

Thorax: Pronotum of similar dimensions as head, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect with the median portion somewhat widened ( Fig. 10D ). Entire surface irregularly set with small but acute granules, the transverse median sulcus distinct, strongly impressed, moderately curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment: longitudinal median fissure slightly impressed. Mesothorax parallel-sided and just slightly widened in posterior portion; about 3x longer than head and prothorax combined. Mesothorax densely and all over covered with acute, tuberculiform granules ( Figs. 10 C–D); granules somewhat less numerous on mesosternum however. Metanotum sculptured like mesothorax, but with the granules more pronounced and roughly arranged in two longitudinal rows on the sternum.

Abdomen: All segments all around densely granulose, the granules smaller but more numerous than on thorax. Median segment about 1/3 the length of metanotum, granulation alike and the fissure between median segment and metanotum hardly visible. Segment II slightly longer than median segment. Segments II–V somewhat increasing and VI–VII decreasing length; V longest segment and about 2.25x longer than wide, VII only about ¾ the length of V. II very slightly narrowing, III–IV widening, V rectangular and V–VII gradually decreasing in width. Praeopercular organ formed by a median impression and a pair of lateral scale-like swellings at posterior margin of sternum VII; a small but acute wart-like swelling in the centre of the median impression ( Fig. 10H ). Segments VIII–X roughly uniform in width and notably narrower than all preceding segments. Tergum VIII a little more than half the length of VII, rectangular. IX about 2/5 the length of VIII. Anal segment indistinctly shorter than IX, carinate longitudinally and somewhat narrowed in posterior portion, the posterior margin obtusely angular and with a very shallow median indention. Epiproct small, acutely triangular and with a very prominent median keel; notably projecting over apex of anal segment. Cerci elongate, slender, straight, round in cross-section and tapered towards an acute tip; strongly projecting over apex of anal segment ( Fig. 10G ). Gonoplacs, laterally compressed, lobiform but not conspicuously enlarged and hidden under anal segment. Subgenital plate very long, slender, lanceolate, gradually tapered towards a narrow and acutely pointed apex, carinate longitudinally and weakly downcurved in lateral aspect; the lateral margins somewhat raised and lamellate in the median portion; projecting over apex of abdomen by about the combined length of terga VII–X ( Figs. 10 F–H).

Legs: All moderately long and slender, with all carinae setose and minutely granulose but entirely unarmed. Profemora a little longer than mesothorax, mesofemora slightly longer than metathorax, metafemora slightly reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment V and metatarsi slightly projecting apex of subgenital plate. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora distinct, minutely granulose. Mesobasitarsi a little longer and the pro- and metabasitarsi notably longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

♂♂ ( Fig. 10B ): Medium-sized (body length 60.8 mm) and of typical shape for the genus. Body surface slightly dull, weakly and sparsely granulose. General colouration dull yellowish mid brown to ochre with a slight orange wash. Mesothorax with a dull greenish was and lateral margins of meso- and metanotum slightly reddish. Granules of the thorax pale cream. Genae with a very faint and weak dark postocular streak. Pronotum and anterior portion of mesonotum with a weakly indicated dark median longitudinal streak, the metanotum with a faint pale longitudinal streak. Antennae reddish mid brown and gradually becoming paler towards the apex.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀, the vertex much flattened and unarmed ( Fig. 10E ); between the eyes with a distinctly indented longitudinal median line. Eyes fairly large, strongly projecting and their diameter contained almost 2.5x in length of genae.Antennae reaching to abdominal segment V. Scapus flattened towards the base, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and about 1.5x longer than wide; lateral margins very gently rounded. Pedicellus almost round in cross-section, slightly ovoid and about 2/3 the length of scapus.

Thorax: Pronotum similar in dimensions to head, shape as in ♀♀ and about 1.7x longer than wide; surface with a few scattered obtuse and low granules ( Fig. 10E ). Mesothorax almost 3.8x longer than head and pronotum combined and very indistinctly widened in posterior portion. Mesonotum sparsely and weakly granulose all over ( Fig. 10E ) and with two rows of somewhat more pronounced, node-like granules along lateral margins. Mesopleurae and mesosternum sparsely granulose. Sculpturing of metathorax alike.

Abdomen: Smooth to the naked eyes but seen to be very minutely and sparsely granulose at strong magnification. Median segment 1/3 the length of metanotum, almost 4.5x longer than wide and gently narrowed medially; smooth. Segment II about 1.3x longer than median segment, II–VII slightly gradually decreasing in length, all roughly uniform in diameter except for being somewhat widened posteriorly. III about 5.5x longer than wide, VII only about 4x longer than wide. Tergum VIII about half the length of VII and slightly widened towards the posterior; trapezoidal in dorsal aspect. IX equal in length, rectangular in dorsal aspect with the lateral margins straight and just weakly deflexed and rounded sub-posteriorly ( Fig. 10J ). Lateral surfaces of both terga with a fairly shallow longitudinal bulge. Anal segment almost 2/3 the length of IX, weakly and obtusely tectiform, somewhat deflexed posteriorly ( Fig. 10K ), considerably longer than high and narrowing towards the posterior in lateral aspect with the anterior portion noticeably higher than the posterior portion. Posterior margin broad, bi-lobed, with a prominent, widely triangular median indention and slightly labiate ( Fig. 10K ); the outer lateral angles set with several minute denticles ventrally and only the lower portions of posterior margin downcurved and facing each other. Vomer blackish dark brown, slender and with a prominent longitudinal median furrow; the apical portion somewhat upcurving and the terminal hook short. Cerci moderately elongate, slender, gently in- and up-curving with the basal portion compressed laterally and the apex club-like; distad directed and slightly projecting beyond apex of abdomen ( Figs 10 J–K). Poculum reaching to posterior margin of tergum IX, moderately convex and roundly cup-shaped and higher than tergum IX; the ventral surface straight and flattened in lateral aspect, the angle obtusely rounded and the posterior margin distinctly labiate and somewhat angular ( Fig. 10J ).

Legs: All moderately long and slender, all carinae minutely setose; entirely unarmed. Profemora a little longer than head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora slightly longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching halfway along abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. All basitarsi considerably longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

Comments: Eggs unknown.

Distribution: S-Ecuador, Prov. Azuay, Parque Nacional Cajas (Río Mazan, 3100 m).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Andeocalynda densegranulosa n. sp.. A. HT, ♀ [ZSMC], habitus dorsolateral view; B. PT, ♂ [ZSMC], habitus dorsolateral view; C. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of ♀ HT in lateral view [ZSMC]; D. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of ♀ HT in dorsal view [ZSMC]; E. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of ♂ PT in lateral view [ZSMC]; F. Apex of abdomen of ♀ HT in lateral view [ZSMC]; G. Apex of abdomen of ♀ HT in dorsal view [ZSMC]; H. Apex of abdomen of ♀ HT in ventral view [ZSMC]; J. Apex of abdomen of ♂ PT in lateral view [ZSMC]; K. Two terminal abdominal terga of ♂ PT in dorsal view [ZSMC].