Neohirasea unispina parvula, Ho, 2017

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea V: New taxa and new nomenclatures of the subfamilies Necrosciinae (Diapheromeridae) and Lonchodinae (Phasmatidae) from the Phasmatodea of China, Zootaxa 4368 (1), pp. 1-72 : 26-28

Neohirasea unispina parvula subsp. nov .

(Figs. 61, 113–114)

Types. Holotype: ♂, 1300–1400m, Huanglianshan, Luchun, Yunnan, China, 7.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES); Paratypes: 4♂, 4♀ & 17 eggs (naturally laid by paratypes ♀), 1300–1400m, Huanglianshan, Luchun, Yunnan, China, 6–7.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES & SNUC).

Diagnosis. Neohirasea unispina parvula subsp. nov . [ China (Yunnan)] is similar to the nominate N. u. unispina sp. nov. & subsp. nov . [ China (Yunnan)], but can be separated by smaller size in both sexes.

Description. Male (Figs. 61, 113). Small size. Generally similar to the nominate race but smaller. General colouration of body and legs brown to dark brown. Head as in the nominate race. Antennae as in the nominate race. Thorax as in the nominate race. Pronotum shorter than head, anterior margin incurved, posterior margin truncate, with sparse and small granulations. Mesonotum and metanotum with sparse and small granules, apex of posteromedial spine obtuse, but pointed in nominate race. Mesopleurae and metapleurae as in nominate race. Abdomen as in the nominate race. Anal segment broader than long, constricted posteriorly near middle area, with a small and indistinct notch on posterior margin. Poculum flattened, posterior margin truncate. Cerci and vomer as in nominate race. Legs slender and long. Unarmed. All femora roughly as long as corresponding tibiae.

Female (Fig. 114). Generally similar to the nominate race, but comparatively smaller. Head as in the nominate race. Oval, indistinctly constricted after compound eyes. Antennae as in the nominate race. Thorax as in the nominate race, but less granulated. Pronotum with weakly incurved anterior margin. Mesonotum longer than combined length of pronotum, metanotum and median segment. Abdomen as in the nominate race. Subgenital plate with pointed posterior apex, reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Legs as in the nominate race. Slender and long. Unarmed.

Measurements in Table 10.

Eggs. As in the nominate race.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the small size of this subspecies while compared with the nominate race.

Types. Holotype: ♂, Yuping, Pingbian, Yunnan, China, 8.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES); Paratypes: 3♀ (including 1 immature) & 16 eggs (6 eggs naturally laid by adult paratypes ♀ & 10 eggs extracted from the abdomen of an adult paratype ♀), Yuping, Pingbian, Yunnan, China, 8.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES).

Diagnosis. Neohirasea wangpengi sp. nov. [ China (Yunnan)] is related to N. pengzhongi sp. nov. [ China (Guizhou)], but can be separated by a pair of small spine-like tubercles on mesonotum centrally and elongated and incurved cerci in male and two tuberculate humps on mesonotum and horn-like praeopercular organ on seventh abdominal sternum in female.

Description. Male (Figs. 62–63, 69, 115–117, 122). Small size. Body slender and slim, distinctly smaller and more slender than female. General colouration of body and legs dark brown.

Head: Lacking granulation. Oval, constricted behind compound eyes, as long as pronotum. Vertex flat. Posterior margin of occiput with six small indistinct swellings, median longitudinal furrow distinct, lateral longitudinal furrows indistinct. Compound eyes rounded and small. Antennae long and filiform, sparsely covered with short bristles, apices of antennae not surpassing apices of protarsi; scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus; third segment as long as combined length of scapus and pedicellus.

Thorax: Pronotum rectangular, longer than wide, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point, with very few small granules; anterior margin weakly curved inwards and with a pair of small tubercle-like granules, posterior margin rounded. Mesonotum with a pair of short spine-like tubercles medially, also with very few small granules, lateral margins interspersed with a few enlarged granules; parallel-sided, median longitudinal carina indistinct. Metanotum trapezoidal, constricted posteriorly, longer than median segment, with a pair of small granules posteriorly. Mesopleurae, mesosternum and metasternum with inconspicuous granulations. Metapleurae with inconspicuous granulations and a short supra-coxal tubercle.

Abdomen: Slender, covered with very sparse and inconspicuous granulations and short wrinkles. Median segment almost square. Second to ninth tergites with an indistinct granule-like hump posteromedially. Second to seventh tergites parallel-sided. Eighth tergum gently expanded posteriorly, as long as ninth tergum. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, with a broad U-shaped emargination on posterior margin, posterolateral angles rounded. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded, reaching anterior area of anal segment. Cerci flattened, distinctly curved inwards, apices rounded and surpassing posterior margin of anal segment.

Legs: Slender and long, sparsely covered with short bristles. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora waved with indistinct elevations. Profemora incurved basally. Anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of mesofemora and metafemora with a small spine near apices. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of tibiae weakly waved.

Vomer: Apical part asymmetrical, gradually constricted apically, apex nearly pointed, weakly emarginated medially on left side in anteroventral view.

Female (Figs. 64, 118–121, 123). Body robust, distinctly larger than male. General colouration of body and legs dark brown.

Head: Rough. Oval, longer than wide. Vertex and occiput flattened, with a few minute granules. Posterior margin of occiput with eight indistinct small swellings, median and lateral longitudinal furrows indistinct. Compound eyes oval and small. Antennae filiform, surpassing apices of protibiae, covered with sparse long and dense short bristles; scapus flattened basally, median longitudinal carina indistinct, shorter than third segment; pedicellus shorter than scapus.

Thorax: Thick-built and rough. Pronotum square, roughly as long as head, covered with very few small granules; anterior margin incurved, with a pair of short spine-like tubercles, apices pointing forwards, posterior margin rounded; transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly in anterior half, moderately swollen medially and narrowing in posterior half; mediolongitudinally not carinate; with a small tuberculate hump on pre-median area, medially also elevated with a larger hump bearing 18 to 20 short tubercles; near posterior margin with a pair of short tubercles and lateral margins interspersed with comparatively larger granules and tubercle-like granules. Metanotum with a small hump bearing four short tubercles near posterior margin. Mesopleurae, mesosternum and metasternum with sparse and small granules. Metapleurae covered with a few small granules and a short supra-coxal tubercle.

Abdomen: Cylindrical, tapering posteriorly. Wrinkled and sparsely granulated. Median segment broader than long, as long as metanotum. Median segment to eighth tergum with a short tubercle posteromedially. Seventh sternum posteromedially with distinct praeopercular organ formed by two horn-like structures, pointing posteriorly. Ninth tergum with a crest posteromedially. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, lacking median longitudinal carina, with small emarginations on posterior margin. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, median longitudinal carina distinct, apex pointed, almost reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci short, flattened, apices rounded and not surpassing posterior margin of anal segment.

Legs: Slender and long, sparsely covered with short bristles. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora waved with distinct elevations. Profemora incurved basally. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of tibiae weakly waved.

Measurements in Table 11.

Eggs (Figs. 280–281). Capsule grayish brown, oval, posterior pole rounded, with granules and indistinct wrinkles. Micropylar plate rounded. Micropylar cup placed near posterior margin of micropylar plate. Median line short. Operculum grayish brown, lacking capitulum, gently convex medially, granulated.

Measurements. Length 2.4 mm, width 1.7 mm, height 1.8 mm.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Notes. The descriptions, illustrations and measurements are only given to adults.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Wang Peng (Yunnan, China) who helped me in many ways during the collecting trips in Yunnan, China.