Hainanphasma

Wai-Chun, George Ho, 2013, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea II: Review of the Dataminae Rehn & Rehn, 1939 (Phasmatodea: Heteropterygidae) of China, with descriptions of one new genus and four new species, Zootaxa 3669 (3), pp. 201-222 : 203

Genus Hainanphasma Ho gen. nov.

( Figs. 1–18 )

Type-species. Hainanphasma cristata Ho spec. nov., by present designation.

Diagnosis. Closely related to Orestes Redtenbacher, 1906 , Hainanphasma Ho gen. nov. is distinguished by slenderer and thinner antennae in both sexes. The female is characterized by posteriorly projecting and punctulate occipital crest. The male is characterized by strongly elevated occipital crest, distinctive hump on fourth and fifth abdominal terga and postero-dorsal carina of meso- and metafemora with three distinct fin-like lamellae. Also closely related to Pylaemenes Stål, 1875 , Hainanphasma Ho gen. nov. is distinguished by slenderer and thinner antennae in both sexes. The female differs by faint median carina and parallel-sided thorax. The male differs by indistinct median carina and unarmed thorax. Egg structure of this new genus ( Figs. 17–18 ) is distinctive and unique from all other genera in the subfamily.

Description. Medium-sized. Apterous. Body cylindrical, slender and granulose. Head oval-shaped. Occiput with a high crest and spine-like tubercles in both sexes. Eyes rounded. Antennae slender and thin, filiform, surpassing apices of protibiae. The first antennal segment triangular in cross section, with two or three distinct elevations (spine-like tubercles or lamella-like elevation) on outer edges. Thorax parallel-sided. Pronotum rectangular, longer than head. Mesonotum slender, not carinate medially, nearly parallel-sided in female, broadly emarginated medially in male. Metanotum longer than wide, about 3–3.5 x longer than median segment. Abdomen cylindrical. Ninth tergum with distinct crest-like structure. Cerci short and flattened. Profemora indistinctly curved basally. Antero-dorsal and postero-dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora with fin-like lamellae.

Distribution. This new genus is endemic to Hainan and is widely distributed in most remaining primary forests areas.

Etymology. Combine with the words “Hainan” and ‘phasma’. The latter is a frequently used name in Phasmatodea meaning ghost.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 11. Hainanphasma Ho gen. nov. spp. 1. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., HT female, apex of abdomen, lateral view [scale bar 5 mm]. 2. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., HT female, apex of abdomen, dorsal view [scale bar 5 mm]. 3. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., HT female, metafemur [scale bar 5 mm]. 4. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., PT male, apex of abdomen, lateral view [scale bar 5 mm]. 5. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., PT male, apex of abdomen, dorsal view [scale bar 5 mm]. 6. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., PT male, metafemur (left) [scale bar 5 mm]. 7. H. diaoluoshanensis Ho spec. nov., HT female, apex of abdomen, lateral view [scale bar 5 mm]. 8. H. diaoluoshanensis Ho spec. nov., HT female, apex of abdomen, dorsal view [scale bar 5 mm]. 9. H. diaoluoshanensis Ho spec. nov., HT female, metafemur (left) [scale bar 5 mm]. 10. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., HT female, the first antenna (left), dorsal view [scale bar 1 mm]. 11. H. diaoluoshanensis Ho spec. nov., HT female, the first antenna (left), dorsal view [scale bar 1 mm].

FIGURES 12 – 18. Habitus of Hainanphasma Ho gen. nov. spp. 12. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., HT female, Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, Ledong Country, Hainan Province, China [scale bar 5 mm]. 13. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., PT male, Jianfengling National Nature Reserve, Ledong Country, Hainan Province, China [scale bar 5 mm]. 14. H. diaoluoshanensis Ho spec. nov., HT female, Diaoluoshan National Nature Reserve, Lingshui Country, Hainan Province, China [scale bar 5 mm]. 15. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., HT female, head and thorax, dorsal view [scale bar 5 mm]. 16. H. diaoluoshanensis Ho spec. nov., HT female, head and thorax, dorsal view [scale bar 5 mm]. 17. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., egg capsule, dorsal view [scale bar 1 mm]. 18. H. cristata Ho spec. nov., egg capsule, lateral view [scale bar 1 mm].