Pseudoparamenexenus Ho

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2016, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea III: Catalogue of the phasmids of Hainan Island, China, with descriptions of one new genus, one new species and two new subspecies and proposals of three new combinations, Zootaxa 4150 (3), pp. 314-340 : 323-324

Genus Pseudoparamenexenus Ho gen. nov. E

(Figs. 11–16, 20–21)

Type-species. Paramenexenus yangi Chen & He, 2002: 105 (in Chen et al., 2002) , by present designation. Monotypy.

Diagnosis. Pseudoparamenexenus Ho gen. nov. is closely related to Paramenexenus Redtenbacher, 1908 but can be distinguished from the latter by unarmed thorax and medioventral carina of femora with an small subapical spine in male; strongly elongate and bifurcated posterior apex of anal abdominal segment and truncate posterior apex of flattened subgenital plate in female; and pear-shaped capsule and oblong micropylar plate in egg. Paramenexenus can be distinguished from Pseudoparamenexenus Ho gen. nov. by distinctly spinose thorax in male; more robust body and strongly elongate subgenital plate in female; and oval capsule and elongate micropylar plate in egg.

Description. Medium-sized Necrosciinae . Both sexes similar in size, but female body more robust than male. Female apterous and male with scale-like wing rudiments. Spineless, female with few short tubercles on thorax laterally and male unarmed. Head oval, with four to six swellings on posterior margin. Vertex flat. Pronotum rectangular. Mesonotum constricted at anterior region, moderately swollen pre-medially and slightly narrowing in posterior half in female; broadly emarginated medially in male. Abdomen smooth in male, medially and laterally carinate in female. Anal segment of female with strongly elongate and bifurcated posterior apex, lateral angles very sharp, with small emargination on posterior margin in male. Subgenital plate of female scoop-shaped, posterior margin truncate, reaching middle point of anal segment. Male poculum small, cup-like. Legs lacking distinct armature. Anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora with two to four subapical spines in both sexes. Egg capsule pear-shaped. Micropylar plate oval. Operculum with apically tapering capitulum.

Distribution. Hainan, China.

Notes. Only one species is known in the genus.

Etymology. It refers to the similarity to Paramenexenus Redtenbacher, 1908 .

Pseudoparamenexenus yangi (Chen & He, 2002) comb. nov. E/T (Figs. 11–16, 20–21)

Paramenexenus yangi, Chen & He, 2002: 105 (in Chen et al., 2002) , fig. 5.

Type. Holotype: ♀, Wuzhishan , Hainan, China, 29.V.1997, Yang Chi-Kun & Cheng Gui-Fang (BFU).

Other material examined. 1Ƌ, Jianfengling, Hainan, China, 6.VI.2008, George Ho Wai-Chun (GH) ; 2♀ & 20 eggs, Jianfengling , Hainan, China, 22–23.I.2010, George Ho Wai-Chun (GH); 1Ƌ & 1♀, Jianfengling, Hainan, China, 15–16.IV.2011, George Ho Wai-Chun (GH).

Description. Male (Figs. 13–14, 20). Body slender. Head brown, oblong, longer than wide, slightly as long as pronotum. Occiput flat, with a rounded depression, margin surrounding with a few depressed granules. Compound eyes rounded, with a thin and black postocular stripe behind compound eyes. Antennae brown, filiform, reaching posterior end of abdomen, with blackish bristles; scapus cylindrical, slightly as long as third segment; pedicellus shorter than scapus. Mouth parts with golden bristles. Thorax unarmed. Pronotum with small pits anterolaterally, anterior margin curved inwards, longitudinal and transverse sulci crossing at centre of segment. Mesonotum slender, 6 times length of pronotum, lateral margins with small pits; with scale-like wings rudiment posterolaterally. Mesopleurae dull green, lateral margins with a row of small pits. Metanotum 2 times length of median segment. Abdomen slender, cylindrical and parallel-sided. Median segment longer than wide. Second to seventh terga with small pits laterally. Eighth tergum as long as ninth tergum. Anal segment shorter than ninth tergum, with emargination on posterior margin. Poculum small, cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded. Cerci light brown, short, cylindrical, apices pointed. Legs dull green, densely covered with long blackish bristles. Medioventral carina of femora with a small spine subapically. Anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora with two to three small spines subapically.

Measurements. Body 71–78 mm; head 3.5– 4 mm; antennae 7 3–80 mm; pronotum 3.5– 4 mm; mesonotum 17– 20 mm; metanotum 6.5– 7 mm; median segment 3 mm; profemora 22–25 mm; mesofemora 15 mm; metafemora 22–25 mm; protibiae 23–24 mm; mesotibiae 14–15 mm; metatibiae 24–29 mm.

Eggs (Figs. 15–16). Capsule elongated, pear-shaped, sandy brown, posterior polar rounded; surface webbed. Micropylar plate oval, sandy brown; webbed as capsule, anterior and posterior apices rounded; margin convex. Median line indistinct. Micropylar cup placed after middle point of micropylar plate. Operculum oval, surface webbed; central area distinctly elevated, tapering apically, apex pointed.

Measurements. Length 4 mm, width 2.5 mm, height 2.5 mm.

Distribution. Hainan (Jianfengling), China.

Notes. The descriptions of male and eggs are the first given for this species. Illustrations of abdominal drawings are based on the type and non-type material.