Malacomorpha minima, Conle & Hennemann & Perez-Gelabert, 2008

Conle, Oskar V., Hennemann, Frank H. & Perez-Gelabert, Daniel E., 2008, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea II: Revision of the genus Malacomorpha Rehn, 1906, with the descriptions of seven new species (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae: Pseudophasmatinae), Zootaxa 1748 (1), pp. 1-64 : 35-38

Malacomorpha minima n. sp.

( Figs. 44–48 )

HT, ♂: Haiti, Dept. Sud-Oueste, Parc Nat’ l la Visite, depression 1km. W. park hdqtrs., 1850m, 11-V-1984, M.C. Thomas, under rocks ( CMNH) .

PT, 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀: Haiti, Dept. Sud-Oueste, Parc Nat’ l la Visite, depression 1km. W. park hdqtrs., 1850m, 11-V-1984, M.C. Thomas, under rocks ( CMNH) .

PT, 1 ♀: Haiti, Dept. Sud-Oueste, Parc National la Visite , vicinity park hdqtrs., 1880m, 9-V-1984, Coll. M.C. Thomas ( CMNH) .

Distribution: Hispaniola, Haiti (Department Sud-Oueste: Parc National la Visite). Only known from the type-locality.

Etymology: The name (minimus lat. = small) refers to the size, the smallest species in the genus.

Differentiation: Similar to the other apterous species from Hispaniola: Malacomorpha bastardoae n. sp., Malacomorpha obscura n. sp. & Malacomorpha macaya n. sp..

From Malacomorpha bastardoae n. sp. it differs by: the smaller size; and the paler colouration of both sexes. From Malacomorpha obscura n. sp. it differs by: the more slender body; more slender and longer legs and antennae and different colouration of both sexes; laterally expanded anal segment of ♂♂. From Malacomorpha macaya n. sp. it differs by: the slightly smaller size; relatively longer antennae; different colouration of body and speckled tibiae of both sexes.

Description: ºº ( Fig. 44 ): Very small (body length 33.5–37.0mm) for the genus with a rather bulgy abdomen. Legs slender and rather long, distinctly carinated; all carinae covered with minute setae. Antennae long and slender, reaching towards the posterior margin of anal segment. Body surface only very minutely rugulose, partly shiny; mesonotum bearing several tubercles roughly arranged in four irregular longitudinal rows. No rudiments of wings present. Basic colouration of body brown to dark brown, overlaid with a few pale brown speckles and patches. A prominent, dark longitudinal dorsomedian line runs along the complete dorsal surface of the head and body. Head with several indistinct, pale and dark brown longitudinal dorsolateral lines and a dark postocular line. Antennae dark brown at the base, becoming yellow with small brown annulation at the apical end of the antennomeres towards the apical half. Eyes marbled in black and brown. Legs brown to dark brown, overlaid with many small yellow speckles.

Head: Very small for the genus and in relation to the body, hardly longer than wide, oval in cross-section and slightly flattened dorsally. Vertex smooth, very small rudiments of ocelli present. Eyes oval, projecting hemispherical, their length contained 2.5–3x in that of cheek. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of anal segment. Scapus 1.5x longer than wide, compressed dorsoventrally, roughly rectangular and slightly carinated. Pedicellus hardly longer than wide, distinctly narrower and about 0.7x as long as scapus, but wider than following antennomeres. Third antennomere elongate, almost as long as scapus and pedicellus combined, IV distinctly shorter. Remaining antennomeres increasing in length towards apices of antennae.

Thorax: Oval in cross-section. Pro- and mesothorax slightly broadened towards the posterior. Pronotum 1.2x longer than wide, longer and as wide as the head, slightly broadened towards the posterior. Anterolateral angles with a conspicuous, rounded excavation for the defensive glands. Transverse median depression indistinct and displaced to anterior third of segment. Mesonotum wider and 1.7–1.8x longer than pronotum, 1.4– 1.5x longer than wide and gently broadened towards the posterior, the increase in width being continuous with that of the pronotum. Bearing several tubercles roughly arranged in two dorsolateral and two lateral longitudinal rows in the anterior half. Metanotum and median segment as wide as posterior of mesonotum and combined 0.8x as long as mesonotum. Metanotum and median segment combined hardly 1.3x longer than wide, parallel-sided. 1.8x wider than long, as long as median segment, rectangular. Transverse fissure between metanotum and median segment indistinct. No rudiments of tegmina and alae present. Pro-, meso- and metaepisternum simple and gently rugulose. Meso- and metasternum smooth. Mesosternum with blunt longitudinal median carina.

Abdomen: 1.3–1.5x longer than head and complete thorax combined, rather bulgy and gradually tapered towards the apex. Surface almost smooth and partly shiny. Segments parallel-sided; posteromedian tubercle or hump on tergites very small or even absent. Median segment as long as metanotum, about 1.8x wider than long, rectangular. Tergites II–VI are the widest and longest, VIII to X are the narrowest and shortest. II–VI 3.5–4.5x, VII 3x, VII and IX 2x wider than long. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Anal segment tapered towards apex, posterior margin rounded, narrower than IX, wider than long, and with an indistinct longitudinal median carina. Lateral margins with a faint concave excavation near the bases of the cerci. Supraanal plate very small with angulate apex, not visible from dorsal. Subgenital plate flat, at best reaching 2/3 of the way along tergite X, smooth except for minute setae, apex pointed. Cerci small, short and very slender, slightly curved, gradually constricted towards the apex, slightly broadened at the base and finely bristled.

Legs: Slender and rather long, distinctly carinated, unarmed and with all carinae minutely bristled. Profemora 1.4–1.5x longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching towards the centre of abdominal tergite V, hind legs distinctly projecting over apex of abdomen. Profemora very indistinctly compressed and curved basally. Basitarsus 2.5x longer than second tarsomere.

ďď ( Fig. 45 ): Similar to ♀♀, but smaller and much more slender (body length 21.0– 23.5 mm), abdominal segments II–VII parallel-sided.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀.

Thorax: As in ♀♀, but pro- and mesothorax more gently broadened towards the posterior. Pronotum slightly more slender but longer than head. Mesonotum 1.7x longer than wide. Metanotum and median segment combined 1.5x longer than wide. Metanotum 1.5x wider than long.

Abdomen: Sub-cylindrical in cross section, about 1.3–1.4x longer than head and thorax combined. Surface and granulation as in ♀♀. Median segment 1.5x wider than long. Tergites VIII and IX gently broadened towards the posterior. II–VII are the longest and most slender, IX is the shortest, II–VII almost rectangular, VIII and IX transverse 1.5–1.8x wider than long. Anal segment broader than previous tergites, about 1.8x wider than long. Posterior margin rounded but not laterally expanded and without median indentation. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Cerci as in ♀♀. Poculum small and flat, slightly spoon-like, reaching the anterior margin of anal segment, posterior margin rounded. Vomer as long as wide, triangular, with apex broadly rounded.

Legs: As in ♀♀, but profemora 1.6–1.7x longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching towards the centre of abdominal tergite VII.

Comments: Eggs unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 44–48. Malacomorpha minima n. sp. 44) ♀ PT (CMNH), 45) ♂ HT (CMNH), 46) ♂ apex of abdomen in lateral view, 47) ♂ vomer, 48) ♀ apex of abdomen in lateral view.