Malacomorpha androsensis Rehn, 1906

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 : 11-14

Malacomorpha androsensis Rehn, 1906

( Figs. 1–5 )

Malacomorpha androsensis Rehn, 1906: 113 , fig. 2 & 2a (♀). HT, ♀ (penultimate instar nymph): Bahamas, Key No. 4, North Side of South Bight , Andros, May, 23, 1904, (Wheeler) (USNM—not traced)

Conle & Hennemann, 2002: 48, pl. 12: 114 (♀ genitalia).

Zompro, 2004: 147, fig. 85b (♀).

Otte & Brock, 2005: 392.

Material examined [11 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 4 ♀♀ nymphs]: 1 ♀: Bahamas Ids. , Nassau, Jan., 31, 05, A.E. Night, A. P. Morse Coll., Ansp, Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♀: Matheustown, Sr. Inagua, Bahamas, July , MCZ, ANSP, Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ nymph: Bahamas, Sr. Inagua, 27.II.99, Greenway Coll., Ansp, Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (nymph): Nassau , Bahama Islands, W.W. Worthington, Carn. Mus., Bruner Cln., Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Nassau, N.P., Bahamas, II. 1949, H.R. Roberts!, ANSP, Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂: Blue Hills , Nassau, Bahama Islands, W.W. Worthington, Dec. 28. 1908, Carn. Mus. Acc. 3744, ANSP, Ex Carn. Mus., Bruner Cln., Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♀ (nymph): Bahamas, Acklin, C.G. Maynard, Malacomorpha androsensis juv . ♀♀ Rehn , det. Hebard 1923, Hebard CLN., ANSP, Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C. F. Moxey 1972 ( ANSP) ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀: Arthus Town , Cat I., Bahamas, VII, 17, 1935, W.J. Clench, MCZ ( ANSP) ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀ (nymph): Bahamas Ids. , Nassau, May 7. 05, A.E. Night, Coll. A.P.M., Lo. 108, No. 18, A.P. Morse Coll., MCZ ( ANSP) ; 1 ♀: Simons Long I., Bahamas, V. 21, MCZ ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Bahama Islands , New Providence, Carmichael area, 25°01’N, 77°25’W, 13. February 2005, Caribbean pine forest and scrub, coll. W.E.Steiner & J.M.Swearingen ( USNM) ; 1 ♂: Bahama Islands , New Providence, pine forest area south of airport, 25°1’30”N, 77°28’40”W, 15. February 2005, Caribbean pine forest and scrub, coll. W.E.Steiner & J.M.Swearingen ( USNM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Grand Bahamas, July 25, 1960, P.S.Mills, on orchid leaf in a baggage for Fla. —at Miami, Fla., w0303, USMN, Anisomorpha androsensis (Rehn) det. C.F. Moxey 1972 ( USNM) .

Distribution: Bahamas (Andros Island: South Bight; Great Antigua Island [ Moxey, 1972: 29]; Matthew Town [ Moxey, 1972: 29]; Inagua; Acklins Island; Cat Island; Grand Bahama; New Providence Island: Nassau & Long Island).

Differentiation: The small size, rather the robust body and the lack of a posteromedian hump on the abdominal tergites of this species, the only taxon of the genus known to occur in the Bahamas, show relation to M. bastardoae n. sp., M. obscura n. sp. and M. minima n. sp. all from Hispaniola. M. androsensis can be distinguished from all these species by the short and robust, yellowish and brown annulated antennae and for the numerous yellow granules of the dorsal body surface.

M. androsensis differs further from the first species by: the smaller size; more robust body; relatively shorter and more robust legs and for a generally paler colouration of the body. From M. obscura n. sp. it may also be distinguished by: the smaller size; broader femora and shorter cerci of both sexes; as well as the laterally expanded anal segment of ♂♂ and less convex subgenital plate of ♀♀. From M. minima n. sp. it is readily distinguished by: the slightly larger size; relatively shorter and more robust legs and dull body surface.

Description: ºº ( Fig. 1 ): Small (body length 37.0–48.0 mm), very robust for the genus with a rather bulgy abdomen. Rudiments of tegmina and alae completely lacking. Legs stout and short, distinctly carinated; all carinae covered with minute setae. Antennae broad for the genus and reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergite IV. Body surface minutely tuberculose and rugulose, not shiny; mesonotum bearing several minute tubercles roughly arranged in four longitudinal rows. Basic colouration of body and legs pale to dark brown, overlaid with many minute yellowish to pale brown speckles, broken lines 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 dark postocular line. Antennae irregularly annulated, the antennomeres being yellowish drab basally and brown apically. Eyes marbled in black and mid brown. Legs pale to dark brown with indistinct yellowish mottling and minute yellow spots.

Head: Small, hardly longer than wide, oval in cross-section and slightly flattened dorsally. Vertex with six longitudinal lines of very minute granules. Minute rudiments of ocelli present. Eyes roughly circular, project- ing hemispherical, their length contained 2–2.5x in that of cheek. Antennae reaching to posterior margin of tergite IV. Scapus almost 2x longer than wide, compressed dorsoventrally, roughly rectangular and slightly carinated. Pedicellus hardly longer than wide, distinctly narrower and about half 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 as long as but broader than head, indistinctly longer than wide, and slightly broadened towards the posterior. Anterolateral angles with a conspicuous, rounded excavation for the defensive glands. Transverse median depression indistinct and slightly displaced towards anterior third of segment. Median line slightly impressed. Mesonotum wider and about 1.7x longer than pronotum, 1.3–1.5x longer than wide and gently broadening 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 about the same length. Metanotum and median segment combined hardly 1.4x longer than wide, slightly broadened towards posterior end. Metanotum transverse, almost 2x wider than long and shorter than median segment. Slightly impressed median line continued from the mesonotum. Transverse fissure between metanotum and median segment distinct and almost straight. Pro-, meso- and metasternum simple and very gently rugulose.

Abdomen: 1.3–1.5x longer than head and complete thorax combined, bulgy and gradually tapered towards the apex. Median segment slightly longer than metanotum, about 1.5x wider than long, rectangular. Tergites II widest and longest, X narrowest and shortest. II–VI transverse being 2.5–3.5x wider than long, VI sub-quadrate, and VII–IX roughly quadrate. Tergites II–IX each with a faint posteromedian tubercle or hump (sometimes almost absent). Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Anal segment tapered towards apex, narrower than IX, wider than long, 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 just visible. Subgenital plate small and flat, at best reaching 2/3 the way along anal segment; minutely setose and apex pointed. Cerci small, short, slightly incurving, and gradually constricted towards the apex, which is slightly thickened and club-like; 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, and hind legs not projecting over apex of abdomen. Profemora considerably compressed and curved basally. Basitarsus 2x longer than second tarsomere.

ďď ( Fig. 2 ): Similar to ♀♀, but smaller and much more slender (body length 23.0–27.0 mm), abdominal segments II–VII parallel-sided.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀.

Thorax: As in ♀♀, but pro-, mesothorax less distinctly broadened towards the posterior. Pronotum as long and wide as head. Mesonotum 2x longer than wide and very gently widened towards the posterior.

Abdomen: Sub-cylindrical in cross section, about 1.5x 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 slightly transverse, III–VII longest and roughly quadrate, IX the shortest. VIII and IX 1.5–2.0x wider than long. Anal segment broader than previous tergites, about 2x wider than long. Posterior margin rounded, swollen and laterally expanded, with a very small median indentation. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Cerci as in ♀♀.

Poculum small and rather flat, slightly spoon-like and hardly reaching the posterior margin of tergite IX. Posterior margin rounded, and with a small triangular incision medially. Vomer longer than wide, parallelsided basally, with apex broadly rounded; outer margin swollen.

Legs: As in ♀♀. Hind legs hardly projecting over apex of abdomen.

* according to Rehn (1906: 115)

Comments: Rehn (1906: 113) described Malacomorpha androsensis from Andros Island ( Bahamas) as the only species to be contained in the newly described genus Malacomorpha . It is therefore is the type-spe- cies by monotypy. Rehn’s original description and illustration ( Fig. 2 ) were based on a single penultimate instar ♀♀ nymph. This can be deducted from the small body dimensions and description of the genitalia. According to Rehn (1906) and Otte & Brock (2005: 392) the HT is preserved in the USNM, but it was not traced during several investigations of the concerned collection by the third author. Thus, it could not be examined for the present study and must be presumed as lost. M. androsensis appears to be rather widely spread throughout the Bahamas having so far been recorded from nine different islands (→ see above). Although several adult ♀♀ are traced in the collections of ANSP and USNM, the eggs remain unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. Malacomorpha androsensis Rehn, 1906 1) ♀ (USNM), 2) ♂ (USNM), 3) ♂ apex of abdomen in lateral view, 4) ♂ vomer, 5) ♀ apex of abdomen in lateral view.