Malacomorpha obscura, 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 : 42-45

Malacomorpha obscura n. sp.

( Figs. 56–62 , 89 )

HT, ♂: Dominican Republic, Pedernales, 9.7km NE Los Arroyos , 18-16N, 71-44W, 2070m, 15–16 July 1990, J.E. Rawlins, C.W. Young, S.A.Thompson ( CMNH) .

PT, 9 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀: Dominican Republic, Pedernales, 9.7km NE Los Arroyos , 18-16N, 71-44W, 2070m, 15– 16 July 1990, J.E. Rawlins, C.W. Young, S.A.Thompson ( CMNH) .

PT, 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀: Dominican Republic, La Independencia, 15km NE Los Arroyos (Pedernales), summit of Sierra de Bahoruco, 2260m, 19 July 1987, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins ( CMNH) .

PT, 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Dominican Republic, Independencia, 3km ESE El´Aguacate, north slope Sierra de Bahoruco, 1980m, 18-18N, 71-42W, 28.–29. September 1991, J. Rawlins, R. Davidson, C. Young, S. Thompson, Pine woodland ( CMNH) .

PT, 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀: Dominican Republic, Pedernales, 5km NE Los Arroyos , 1680m, 18-15N, 71-45W, 30.September 1991, R. Davidson, C. Young, S. Thompson, J. Rawlins ( CMNH) .

PT, 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Dominican Republic, Pedernales, 8km NE Los Arroyos , 18-16N, 71-44W, 1940m, 14 July 1990, J. Rawlins, C.W. Young, S.A.Thompson ( CMNH) .

PT, 1 ♀ (nymph): Dominican Republic, Pedernales, Cabo Rojo , 17-55N, 71-39W, 10m, 20 July 1990, C.W. Young, J.E.Rawlins, S. Thompson ( CMNH) .

PT, 1 ♀: Dominican Republic, Pedernales, La Abeja , 38km NNW Cabo Rojo, (18-09N, 71-38W, 1250m, 15 July 1987, J.Rawlins, R. Davidson ( CMNH).

PT, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 egg: Dominican Republic, Pedernales, La Abeja , 38km NNW Cabo Rojo, (18-09N, 71- 38W, 1160m, 13 July 1987, J.Rawlins, R. Davidson ( CMNH).

PT, 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 ♀ (nymph): Dominican Republic, La Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, Loma del Toro , 18-17-16N, 71-42-46W, 2310m, 7.–8. Nov. 2002, W.A. Zanol, C.W. Young, C. Staresinic, J. Rawlins, meadow in the pine woods, hand collected, Sample 40149 ( CMNH) .

PT, 4 nymphs: Dominican Republic, La Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, Loma del Toro , 5.3km SW El Aguacate, 18-17-16N, 71-42-46W, 2316m, 29.–30. Mar. 2004, C. Young, R. Davidson, J. Rawlins, Pinus, Garrya montane forest, hand collected, Sample 43243 ( CMNH) .

PT, 1 ♂, 1♀: Dominican Republic, La Independencia, Sierra de Bahoruco, north slope, 13.3km SE Puerto Escondido, 18-12-33N, 71-30-47W, 1812m, 24.–25. Nov. 2004, J. Rawlins, C.W. Young, C. Nunez, V. Verdecia, W. Zanol, Pinus , Rubus, Garrya open, hand collected, Sample 41345 ( CMNH) .

PT, 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀: Dominican Republic, La Altagracia, Parque del Este , 2.9km SW Boca de Yuma, 18-21- 51N, 68-37-05W, 11m, 28. May 2004, J. Rawlins, C. Young, C. Nunez, J. Fetzner, semihumid dry forest, limestone, UV light, Sample 52114 ( CMNH) .

PT, 7 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 ♀ (nymph): Dominican Republic, Independencia Prov., Loma del Toro, Caseta 5 of P.N. Sierra de Bahoruco, 18°19.270’N 71°40.576’W, 2357m, 12.viii.2006, D. Perez, R. Bastardo, B. Hierro ( USNM) .

Distribution: Hispaniola, Dominican Republic (Pedernales; La Independencia & La Altagracia).

Etymology: The name (obscurus lat. = dark) refers to the dark colouration of this new species.

Differentiation: Similar to Malacomorpha androsensis Rehn, 1906 , Malacomorpha bastardoae n. sp., and Malacomorpha minima n. sp.. Easily separated from all these species by the laterally constricted anal segment of ♂♂.

From the first it additionally differs by: the more slender femora, longer cerci and different colouration of body and antennae in both sexes; and the more spoon-shaped subgenital plate of ♀♀.

From Malacomorpha bastardoae n. sp. it may also be distinguished by: the more robust body, more robust and shorter legs and antennae and paler colouration of both sexes; and more slender vomer of ♂♂.

From Malacomorpha minima n. sp. it also differs by: the more robust body; more robust and shorter legs and antennae and different colouration of both sexes.

The ovoid egg capsule resembles M. bastardoae n. sp. but the very small, oval micropylar plate clearly distinguish the eggs from those of this species.

Description: ºº ( Figs. 56 & 89 ): Small (body length 33.5–49.5 mm), very robust for the genus with a rather bulgy abdomen. Legs stout and short, distinctly carinated; all carinae and tarsi covered with minute setae. Antennae slender and relatively long, reaching abdominal tergite VII. Body surface smooth but wrinkled, except mesonotum bearing several minute tubercles roughly arranged in two to four longitudinal rows. Ventral surface of thorax and abdomen densely covered with minute setae. Basic colouration of body dark brown. Only a very few specimen bearing some minute yellowish markings on the thorax. Basal quarter of antennae black, remaining parts yellowish. Eyes brown to dark brown. Yellow postocular line present within a very few specimens. Mandibles, maxillas, clypeus and labrum yellowish to reddish. Legs dark brown, indistinctly overlaid with a few paler spots and patches. Tarsi reddish-brown to yellowish-brown.

Head: Large, hardly longer than wide, oval in cross-section and slightly flattened dorsally, smooth. Minute rudiments of ocelli present. Eyes small, roughly circular, slightly projecting hemispherical, their length contained 2.5–3x in that of cheek. Antennae slender and long, reaching to abdominal tergite VII. Scapus 1.3x longer than wide, compressed dorsoventrally, roughly rectangular and slightly carinated. Pedicellus 1.5x longer than wide, distinctly narrower and about 0.7x as long as scapus, but wider than following antennomeres. Third antennomere as long as pedicellus, IV slightly shorter. Remaining antennomeres increasing in length towards apices of antennae.

Thorax: Round in cross-section. Pronotum as wide and as long as the head, 1.1–1.2x longer than wide, broadened towards the posterior. Anterolateral angles with a conspicuous, rounded excavation for the defensive glands. Transverse median depression distinct and displaced to anterior third of segment. Mesonotum wider and 1.5–1.7x longer than pronotum, 1.4–1.5x longer than wide, parallel-sided. 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 about 0.8x as long. Metanotum rectangular, almost 2.5x wider than long and longer than median segment. Transverse fissure between metanotum and median segment distinct and almost straight. Pro-, meso- and metasternum and pro-, meso- and metaepisternum simple and very gently rugulose.

Abdomen: 1.3x longer than head and complete thorax combined, bulgy and gradually tapered towards the apex. Median segment slightly shorter than metanotum, about 3x wider than long, rectangular and as long as the following segments. Tergites II–IV widest, V–VII longest, X narrowest and shortest. II–X transverse, increasing in length towards tergite VII, II–VI 4–5x, VII 4x, VIII–IX 3x, anal segment 2x wider than long. Anal segment tapered towards apex, narrower than IX, with a distinct 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. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Subgenital plate relatively large and spoon-shaped, hardly reaching to posterior margin of tergite X, smooth except for minute setae, apex pointed, ventrally with a faint longitudinal groove. Cerci small, straight, cylindrical, gradually constricted towards the apex, slightly broadened at the base and finely bristled.

Legs: Rather short and robust, distinctly carinated, unarmed and with all carinae minutely bristled. Profemora slightly longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergite IV–V, and hind legs considerably projecting over apex of abdomen. Profemora very indistinctly compressed and curved basally. Basitarsus 2.0–2.5x longer than second tarsomere.

ďď ( Figs. 57 & 89 ): Similar to ♀♀, but smaller and much more slender (body length 22.0– 29.7 mm), abdominal segments II–VII parallel-sided. General body surface and coloration as in ♀♀.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀ but antennae reaching to abdominal tergite X.

Thorax: As in ♀♀, but metanotum 2.0x wider than long.

Abdomen: Sub-cylindrical in cross section, about 1.1–1.3x longer than head and thorax combined. Surface and granulation as in ♀♀. Tergites II–VII parallel-sided, VIII and IX broadening towards the posterior and broader than previous. II–IX transverse, II–IV 3x, V–IX 2x wider than long. Anal segment broader than previous tergites, about 2x wider than long. Posterior margin rounded, laterally constricted. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Cerci as in ♀♀.

Poculum small and rather flat, slightly spoon-like and hardly projecting the posterior margin of tergite IX, posterior margin rounded. Vomer basally as wide as long, triangular and with the apex strongly constricted but rounded at the tip.

Legs: Generally as in ♀♀.

Eggs ( Figs. 61–62 ): Of moderate size for the genus. Capsule ovoid, 1.6x longer than wide and almost circular in cross-section. Polar-area very indistinctly flattened, anterior margin of capsule simple. Surface of capsule minutely granulose and covered with small humps which become more numerous towards the micropylar plate. Micropylar plate very small, oval, about 1.4x longer than wide and about 1/6 the length of capsule; almost smooth and flat. Micropylar cup very small and positioned close to the posterior margin of micropylar plate. Median line hardly visible. Operculum oval, flat and structured like capsule. General colouration pale creamish brown with a few shallow darker markings. Micropylar plate coloured like capsule.

Measurements [mm]: length 2.9, width 1.7, height 1.8, length of micropylar plate 0.6.

Figures

FIGURES 56–62. Malacomorpha obscura n. sp. 56) ♀ PT (CMNH), 57) ♂ HT (CMNH), 58) ♂ apex of abdomen in lateral view, 59) ♂ vomer, 60) ♀ apex of abdomen in lateral view, 61) egg in dorsal view, 62) egg in lateral view.

FIGURE 86–90. 86. Malacomorpha jamaicana (Redtenbacher, 1906) couple; 87. Malacomorpha macaya n. sp. several couples; 88. Malacomorpha multipunctata n. sp. couple; 89. Malacomorpha obscura n. sp. couple; 90. Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp. couple.