Malacomorpha jamaicana ( Redtenbacher, 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 : 25-29

Malacomorpha jamaicana ( Redtenbacher, 1906)

( Figs. 26–33 , 86 )

Anisomorpha jamaicana Redtenbacher, 1906: 94 . LT, ♀ ‚: Coll. Br. v. W., Jamaica, Burr; Brunner det. Anisomorpha jamaicana (NHMW, No. 132); PLT, 2 ♀ ‚ ♀ ‚: Coll. Br. v. W., Jamaica, Burr; Brunner det. Anisomorpha jamaicana (NHMW, No. 132); PLT, ♂ ·: Jamaica (ISNB). [examined]

Vanschuytbroeck & Cools, 1981: 25.

Langlois & Lelong, 1996: 22.

Brock, 1998: 37.

Malacomorpha jamaicana, Conle & Hennemann, 2002: 51 , pl. 5: 50–51 (♂, ♀), pl. 12: 115–116 (genitalia), pl. 16: 175– 176 (egg), pl. 18: 190 (head of ♀) & 197 (antenna), pl.19: 206 (live couple). [Designation of lectotype]

Zompro, 2004: 147, figs. 9: 3 & 85a.

Otte & Brock, 2005: 392.

[Not: Anisomorpha jamaicana?, Wolcott, 1936: 35 . Misidentification = Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp.]

[Not: Anisomorpha jamaicana?, Wolcott, 1948: 50 . Misidentification = Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp.]

[Not: Anisomorpha jamaicana?, Wolcott, 1951: 50 . Misidentification = Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp.]

Material examined [78 ♂♂, 76 ♀♀, 8 nymphs, eggs]: 1 ♀: Bacillus squalidus Gray (OXUM) ; 1 ♂: M.Burr Collection, Pres. 1903 by M.B. ( OXUM) ; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 ♀ (nymph): Main Range , Blue Mts., 5-7388 ft., Aug. 17.–19., Jamaica, 1934, Darlington, Ansp., Anisomorpha jamaicana Redt. Moxey det., 1972 ( ANSP) ; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀: Cinchona , Jamaica, Feb. 26. 1911, ANSP, Anisomorpha jamaicana Redt. Moxey det., 1972 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 ♀ (nymph): Pleasant Hill , 3700–4400ft., Blue Mountains, Jamaica (R.), VIII. 29. 1923 ( ANSP) ; 1 ♂: Between Pleasant Hill & St. Helens Gap, Blue Mountains, Jamaica (R.), 4400–4780ft., VIII. 12. 1923. WO 310, ANSP, Anisomorpha jamaicana Redt. Moxey det., 1972 ( ANSP) ; 6 ♂♂, 12 ♀♀: ex Zucht O. Conle 2001 ( MNHU) ; 1 ♂: Jamaica, Green Hills , 13.–20.XI.66, A.B. Gurney ( USNM) ; 2 ♂♂: Jamaica, Catherine´s Peak , 4600–5000ft., 16.XI.1966, A.B. Gurney ( USNM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Clydesdale , Jam., July ’41, W.G. Lynn, USMNH, Anisomorpha jamaicana Redt. det. C.F. Moxey 1972 ( USNM) ; 1 ♀: Clydesdale , Jam., July ’41, W.G. Lynn, 0311, USMNH, Anisomorpha jamaicana Redt. det. C.F. Moxey 1972 ( USNM) ; 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀: Clydesdale , Jam., July ’41, W.G. Lynn ( USNM) ; 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (nymph): Clydesdale , Jamaica, 7.7.36, W.G. Lynn ( USNM) ; 1♀: Chester Vale , Jamaica, 7.36, W.G. Lynn ( USNM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Sugar Loaf Mt. , Jamaica, 7.13.36, W.G. Lynn ( USNM) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Trail to Blue Mt. Peak, Jamaica, under stone, Febr. 1932, W.G. Lynn ( USNM) ; 1♂: Chinchona , Jamaica, Feb. 26, 1911, Anisomorpha jamaicana Redt , ♂, det. Hebard 1922 ( USNM) . 7 ♂♂ / ♀♀ (in copula), 21 ♂♂, 18 ♀♀, 5 nymphs, eggs: ex Zucht F. Hennemann, urspr. Jamaika, 2000-2002 (FH, No’s 0490-1 to 38, E & ED) ; 1 ♀: Jamaika ( OC) ; 25 ♂♂, 25 ♀♀: ex Zucht 2000–2002, Zuchtstamm aus Jamaika ( OC) .

Distribution: East Jamaica (Blue Mountains: Pleasant Hill & St. Helen’s Gap; Green Hills: Clydesdale; St. Andrew: Chinchona; Darlington; Portland: Hardwar Gap [ Moxey, 1972: 32] & St. Thomas [ Moxey, 1972: 32]).

Differentiation: Similar to Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp., but easily distinguished by the much more distinct posteromedian humps of the abdominal tergites and the distribution (restricted to Jamaica), which also easily separates the species from the other wingless species.

The eggs are similar to the eggs with circular or oval micropylar plates of Malacomorpha multipunctata n. sp., Malacomorpha cyllarus ( Westwood, 1859) , Malacomorpha obscura n. sp., Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp., and Malacomorpha spinicollis ( Burmeister, 1838) .

From Malacomorpha multipunctata n. sp. it differs by: the broader capsule with much more scabrous surface and many blunt humps. From Malacomorpha cyllarus ( Westwood, 1859) it differs by: the surface of the capsule being much more scabrous and bearing many blunt humps; and the circular micropylar plate. From Malacomorpha obscura n. sp. it differs by: the surface of the capsule being much more scabrous and bearing many blunt humps; the circular micropylar plate; the much shorter median line and the distinct impression at the polar-area (seen laterally). From Malacomorpha spinicollis ( Burmeister, 1838) it differs by: the surface of the capsule being much more scabrous and bearing many blunt humps. From Malacomorpha sanchezi n. sp. it differs by: the more scabrous surface of capsule and the distinctly shorter median line.

Description: The colouration is described from live specimens.

ºº ( Figs. 26 & 86 ): Medium sized (body length 45.0–60.0 mm), robust for the genus with a rather bulgy abdomen. Rudiments of tegmina and alae usually lacking (only one female with small rudiments of alae and tegmina is known from NHMW). Legs stout and not very long, distinctly carinated; all carinae covered with minute setae. Antennae long and relatively slender, nearly reaching towards the posterior margin of anal segment. Body surface tuberculose and rugulose, not shiny; mesonotum bearing several tubercles roughly arranged in four longitudinal rows. Basic colouration of body and legs brown 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 a dark postocular line. Antennae irregularly brown and yellow annulated. Eyes marbled in black and mid brown. Transverse median depression of pronotum yellowish. Metaepisternum cream to pale beige. Legs pale to dark brown with indistinct yellowish mottling.

Head: Small in relation to the body, hardly longer than wide, oval in cross-section and slightly flattened dorsally. Vertex very minutely granulated, very small rudiments of ocelli present. Eyes roughly circular, projecting hemispherical, their length contained 2x in that of cheek. Antennae nearly reaching to posterior margin of anal segment. 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-, meso- and metathorax slightly broadened towards the posterior. Pronotum a little longer than wide, longer and as wide as the head, broadened towards the posterior. Anterolateral angles with a conspicuous, rounded excavation for the defensive glands. Transverse median depression V- or W-shaped, placed in the centre of segment. Median line slightly impressed. Mesonotum wider and about 1.9x longer than pronotum, 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 a little shorter in length. Metanotum and median segment combined hardly 1.5x longer than wide, slightly broadened towards posterior end. Metanotum transverse, wider than long and as long as median segment. Transverse fissure between metanotum and median segment distinct and slightly rounded. Rudiments of tegmina and alae are usually absent, but are recorded from one single specimen (NHMW). Mesoepisternum rugulose, metaepisternum smooth. Pro-, meso- and metasternum simple and very gently rugulose or even smooth.

Abdomen: 1.5x longer than head and complete thorax combined, bulgy and gradually tapered towards the apex. Surface smooth to slightly rugulose. Segments parallel sided. Median segment as long as metanotum, wider than long, rectangular. Tergites II–VI widest and longest, VIII–IX narrowest, X shortest. II–VII transverse, being 2–3x wider than long, VIII–IX transverse, being 2x wider than long. Tergites I–IX each with a prominent faint posteromedian tubercle or hump. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Anal segment tapered towards apex, narrower than IX, about 1.5x 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 boat-shaped, reaching towards the posterior margin of 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 slender but relatively short, distinctly carinated, unarmed and with all carinae minutely bristled. Profemora 1.5x longer than mesothorax, metafemora reaching towards the centre of abdominal tergite V, hind legs distinctly projecting over apex of abdomen. Profemora considerably compressed and curved basally. Basitarsus 2x longer than second tarsomere.

ďď ( Figs. 27 & 86 ): Similar to ♀♀, but smaller and much more slender (body length 30.0–39.0 mm), abdominal segments II–VII parallel-sided.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀.

Thorax: As in ♀♀, but pro-, meso- and metathorax less distinctly broadened towards the posterior. Mesonotum a little more than 1.5x longer than pronotum, at least 2x longer than wide. Metanotum and median segment combined more than 1.5x longer than wide. Mesoepisternum granulated at the lateral margin. Mesosternum bearing a moderate longitudinal carina.

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 small median indentation. Sternites II–VII simple and smooth. Cerci as in ♀♀. Poculum small and rather flat, slightly spoon-like, reaching the posterior margin of tergite IX. Posterior margin rounded, with a small triangular incision medially. Vomer longer than wide, parallel-sided basally, with apex broadly rounded; outer margin swollen.

Legs: As in ♀♀.

Eggs ( Figs. 31–33 ): As in other species of the genus, the eggs have considerable variation in size, colour and capsule sculpturing. Average eggs served for the descriptions provided below.

Moderately sized to large for the genus. Capsule barrel-shaped, 1.6–1.8x longer than wide, oval in crosssection, lateral surfaces gently convex. In lateral view, the capsule becomes wider towards the posterior end and the polar-area has a very wide but distinct impression. Anterior margin of capsule set with several small, pointed humps. Surface of capsule strongly rugose and covered with irregular hump-like structures or swellings; rugulae becoming increasingly more numerous and distinct in the portion around micropylar plate. Two indistinct dorsal longitudinal rows of humps or irregular bulges reaching from the anterior end of the micropylar plate to the anterior margin of the capsule. Micropylar plate very small, almost circular with the anterior margin very gently truncate, its length contained about 4.5x in that of capsule; surface slightly concave and almost smooth. Micropylar cup small and positioned close to the posterior margin of micropylar plate. Median line indistinct, fine and almost reaching to polar-area. Operculum oval, very indistinctly convex and with a small, blunt hump in the centre; otherwise very minutely rugulose. General colouration varying from plain pale green over pale to mid brown, more rarely moss-coloured or beige. Micropylar plate of the same colour as capsule, sometimes darker brown, outer margin of micropylar plate cream.

Measurements [mm]: length: 3.4–3.8, width: 2.0, height: 2.0–2.3, length of micropylar plate: 0.7.

Comments: Redtenbacher (1906: 94) described Anisomorpha jamaicana from both sexes and cited typematerial to be deposited only in ISNB. There are however three ♀♀ in NHMW, which match very well with the original description and obviously all represent type-specimens. It therefore appears as if they have been retained in NHMW after publication of the monograph of Brunner v. Wattenwyl & Redtenbacher (1906 – 1908). One of these was designated as the lectotype by Conle & Hennemann (2002: 51). According to Otte & Brock (2005: 392) a ♂ PLT is present in ISNB, but it could not be traced during an investigation of the ISNB collection by the two first authors in 1998. Vanschuytbroeck & Cools (1981: 25) as well did not mention a ♂ of M. jamaicana to be present in their type catalogue of ISNB. Therefore, the measurements of the ♂ PLT in table 5 below are taken from Redtenbacher (1906: 94). One ♀ PLT in NHMW is remarkable for having small rudimentary wings, but is otherwise identical to typical M. jamaicana . Conle & Hennemann (2002: 51) recognized the close relation to Malacomorpha androsensis Rehn, 1906 and consequently placed M. jamaicana in Malacomorpha Rehn, 1906 , providing descriptions and illustrations of both sexes and eggs.

This species is being frequently reared in captivity in Europe since the late 1990’s from a stock collected in central Jamaica by Pat & Tony James ( England). It has proven pretty easy to maintain in culture and readily accepts various sorts of privet ( Ligustrum spp. , Oleaceae ) as an alternative food-plant. It is contained on the “Phasmid Study Group” culture-list as culture No. 213.

* according to Redtenbacher, 1906

Figures

FIGURES 26–33. Malacomorpha jamaicana (Redtenbacher, 1906). 26) ♀ (OC), 27) ♂ (OC), 28) ♂ apex of abdomen in lateral view, 29) ♂ vomer, 30) ♀ apex of abdomen in lateral view, 31) egg in dorsal view, 32) egg in lateral view, 33) internal micropylar plate.

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.