Andeocalynda putumayoense, 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 : 323-325

Andeocalynda putumayoense n. gen., n. sp.

( Figs. 2B , 12–13 )

HT, ♀: Dept. Putomayo, Santiago, 2200 m, 6-XI-1968; Muséum Paris, Colombie, M. Descamps rec. [ MNHN].

PT, ♂: Dept. Putomayo, Santiago, 2200 m, 6-XI-1968; Muséum Paris, Colombie, M. Descamps rec. [ MNHN] .

Diagnosis: In the densely tuberculose thorax ♀♀ resemble A. densegranulosa n. sp. and A. tuberculata n. sp., but differing from both species by the comparatively more slender and elongate shape and relatively longer body segments as well as the longer and more slender extremities, differently shaped anal segment ( Fig. 12D ) and more prominent sub-basal deflexion of the anterodorsal carina of the profemora ( Fig. 12B ), which in this new species forms a rounded lobe. From the first it may also be distinguished by the decidedly larger size, less numerous granules of the abdomen. From the latter it also differs by having the tubercles of the thorax smaller and much less pronounced and the abdominal terga densely granulose (just very sparsely set with granules in tuberculata n. sp.) and lacking the sub-basal tooth-like expansion of the two outer ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora. Males are well characterised by their slender form, elongate head and green longitudinal median streak along the dorsal surface of the meso- and metanotum.

Etymology: Named after the Departemento Putumayo of Colombia, where this species was found.

♀♀ ( Fig. 12A ): Large (body length incl. subgenital plate 130.0 mm) and very slender for the genus with the thorax and abdomen densely granulose; otherwise body surface slightly shiny. Colouration of unique HT fairly plain pale ochre; the granules of the thorax dull yellow. The frons and anterior portion of vertex and most of genae with a greyish brown wash. Eyes drab and marbled with darker brown. Bases of profemora faintly pink interiorly. Antennae greyish brown basally and gradually becoming dull ochraceous towards the apex.

Head: Very elongate, sub-cylindrical, flattened, about 2.3x longer than wide, broadest at the eyes and slightly narrowed towards the posterior. Vertex flat, genae somewhat sub-parallel and very sparsely and set with minute granules that are roughly arranged in longitudinal rows; coronal line weakly indented ( Fig. 12B ). Eyes small, moderately projecting and slightly oval in outline; their length contained about 3.2x in that of genae. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of median segment. Scapus strongly flattened, roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect and about 1.5x longer than wide; both lateral margins notably deflexed and roundly convex. Pedicellus round in cross-section, somewhat constricted apically and about 2/3 the length of scapus ( Fig. 12B ).

Thorax: Pronotum a little narrower and notably shorter than head, roundly rectangular in outline with the lateral margins concave and the anterior portion somewhat expanded. Entire surface irregularly set with small but acute granules; anterior half with two rows of about five somewhat enlarged granules that diverge towards the anterior; posterior half with two roughly parallel median longitudinal rows of enlarged granules ( Fig. 12B ). Transverse median sulcus fairly distinct, curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax parallel-sided and just very slightly widened in posterior portion; about 3x longer than head and prothorax combined. Mesonotum with an indistinct, fine and obtuse longitudinal median carina and all over covered with distinct node-like or acute and somewhat tuberculiform granules ( Fig. 12B ); metanotum alike but granulations less pronounced and sparser. Meso- and metapleurae unevenly set with small tubercles. Meso- and metasternum irregularly granulose.

Abdomen: All segments granulose. Median segment a little more than ½ the length of metanotum, granulose, almost 3x longer than wide and very slightly narrowed medially. Segment II slightly longer than median segment but shorter than III–VI. II–V slightly increasing in length and VI as long as V; the latter segment 3.9x longer than wide. VII narrower than previous and about 4/5 the length of VI. Praeopercular organ formed by a wart-like, black median swelling close to posterior margin of sternum VII. Granulae of sterna more pronounced than those of terga and roughly arranged in longitudinal rows. Terga VIII–X narrower than preceding and uniform in width with only X slightly narrowing towards the posterior. VIII a little less than ½ the length of VII, IX about 2/3 the length of VIII; both with a fine longitudinal median carina. Anal segment about as long as IX, carinate mediolongitudinally, narrowing towards the apex and the posterior margin rounded with a shallow median indention. Epiproct small, rounded; only slightly projecting beyond posterior angles of anal segment ( Fig. 12C ). Cerci slender, straight, round in cross-section and tapering towards a slender tip. Gonoplacs not conspicuously enlarged and hidden under anal segment ( Figs. 12 C–D). Subgenital plate very long, slender and lanceolate with the apex strongly pointed; projecting over apex of abdomen by more than the combined length of terga VII–X ( Fig. 12C ).

Legs: All long and slender, with all carinae setose but entirely unarmed. Profemora a little shorter than mesothorax, mesofemora somewhat longer than metathorax, metafemora reaching about halfway along abdominal segment V and metatibiae slightly projecting beyond apex of anal segment. Anterodorsal carina of profemora strongly deflexed and rounded sub-basally directly behind the basal constriction of femur, to form a rounded lobe. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora distinct, unarmed. Basitarsi slightly shorter than remaining tarsomeres combined; dorsal carina of probasitarsi very slightly but evenly deflexed.

♂♂ ( Figs. 13 A–B): Fairly large (body length 76.0 mm) and very slender for the genus with characteristic colouration. Body surface slightly shiny. General colouration plain yellowish ochre, the meso- and metanotum with a bold but washed apple green longitudinal median streak ( Fig. 13A ). Pronotum with a fine dark longitudinal median line ( Fig. 13D ). Lateral margins of mesonotum with a slight orange hue. Head greyish pale brown dorsally; eyes drab. Legs straw and slightly darker in the apical portion, profemora faintly pink intero-basally. Antennae ochre with a slight orange wash and becoming paler towards the apex, scapus and pedicellus greyish mid brown ( Figs. 13 C–D).

Head: Generally as in ♀♀ but smooth; coronal line slightly impressed ( Fig. 13D ). Eyes strongly projecting and their diameter contained almost 2.3x in length of genae. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment IV. Scapus and pedicellus as in ♀♀.

Thorax: Pronotum of same shape as in ♀♀ but smooth with the four rows of granules seen in the ♀♀ merely indicated and with a distinct, small impression near anterolateral angles; 1.3x longer than wide. Mesothorax almost 3.3x longer than head and pronotum combined; very indistinctly widened in posterior portion. Mesonotum smooth except for a few minute white granules near lateral margins.

Abdomen: Median segment a little more than ½ the length of metanotum, almost 4.5x longer than wide and weakly narrowed medially. Segment II 1.25x longer than median segment. II–V uniform in width and length and on average 4.7x longer than wide, VI–VII decreasing in length with VII only about 4/5 the length of VI. Terga VII–IX with an obtuse longitudinal carina close to lateral margins. VIII–X just indistinctly wider than preceding. Tergum VIII 0.6x the length of VII, slightly widened towards the posterior; IX slightly shorter and weakly narrowed in the posterior half, the lateral margins just indistinctly and evenly deflexed, straight ( Fig. 13E ). Anal segment about 2/3 the length of IX, declining towards the posterior ( Fig. 13E ) and with a fairly pronounced longitudinal median carina in the posterior portion and a roughly triangular posterior impression on both sides of the line; lateral margins weakly diverging towards the posterior. The posterior margin with a widely concave median excavation and the outer angles obtusely triangular ( Fig. 13F ); the ventral surface set with several small reddish brown denticles. Vomer slender, somewhat uneven and asymmetrical in outline, the ventral surface with a prominent and deeply impressed longitudinal median furrow and the outer lateral portions swollen and bulge-like; terminal hook narrow, straight in ventral aspect and with the tip slightly up-curving ( Fig. 2B ). Cerci elongate, slender and projecting beyond posterior margin of anal segment, the apical portion somewhat in-curved and the apex obtuse ( Fig. 13E ). Poculum reaching about 4/5 along tergum IX, higher than tergum IX, bulgy and right-angled in lateral aspect; the very posterior portion carinate longitudinally and the posterior margin narrowed and somewhat protruded and acuminate medially ( Fig. 13E ).

Legs: All very long and slender, all carinae minutely setose and entirely unarmed. Profemora almost as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora almost as long as mesothorax, metafemora reaching halfway along abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecting considerably beyond apex of abdomen. All basitarsi roughly equal to combined length to remaining tarsomeres.

Comments: Eggs unknown.

Distribution: Colombia, Dept. Putumayo, Santiago, 2200 m.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Terminalia of ♂♂ of Andeocalynda n. gen.. A. A. tuberculata n. sp., PT [ANSP]; B. A. putumayoense n. sp. PT [MNHN]; C. A. carrikeri (Hebard, 1919) HT [ANSP]. Explanation of abbreviations: Cer = cercus, Ep = Epiproct, Pa = paraproct, Sg (Po) = subgenital plate (poculum), T9 = tergum IX, T10 = anal segment (tergum X), TP = thorn pads, Vo = vomer. [scale = 0,5 mm]

FIGURE 12. Andeocalynda putumayoense n. sp. HT, ♀ [MNHN]. A. Habitus dorsal view; B. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of in dorsolateral view; C. Apex of abdomen in lateral view; D. Two terminal abdominal terga in dorsal view.

FIGURE 13. Andeocalynda putumayoense n. sp. PT, ♂ [MNHN]. A. Habitus dorsal view; B. Habitus dorsolateral view; C. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of in dorsolateral view; D. Head, prothorax and basal portion of mesothorax of in dorsal view; E. Apex of abdomen in lateral view; F. Apex of abdomen in dorsal view.