Litosermyle Hebard, 1919

Ghirotto, Victor Morais, Engelking, Phillip Watzke & Crispino, Edgar Blois, 2023, Revision of the Neotropical stick insect genus Ocnophila (Phasmatodea: Diapheromeridae) with a new species from Colombia, Zootaxa 5296 (2), pp. 179-209 : 197-200

Genus Litosermyle Hebard, 1919

( Figs 14–19 )

Litosermyle Hebard, 1919: 171 . Type species Litosermyle ocanae Hebard, 1919 by original designation.

See Brock et al. (2023) for a complete reference list

This genus previously contained only a single species occurring in Colombia and is now further recorded for Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru and contains 5 species. The previously unknown male is illustrated, included in the diagnosis of the genus and together with the female is here redescribed. The egg, also hitherto unknown, is illustrated and described. The type species of the genus, Litosermyle ocanae Hebard, 1919 is considered very closely related to Litosermyle inconspicua ( Brunner, 1907) comb. nov. both occurring in the same mountain formation in Venezuela. One of the syntypes of Litosermyle submutica ( Brunner, 1907) comb. nov. is recorded from northern Mexico, is not conspecific with the other type and represents an undetermined species of Sermyle so we designate the female from Peru as the lectotype.

The other two transferred species share more characteristics with Litosermyle than other Diapheromerinae genera, however, these species are in need of a detailed analysis. It is very likely that these two species presenting a very robust and short body and occurring in high altitudes represent in fact a new genus. Unfortunately, this investigation would require a thorough examination of several other genera of Diapheromerinae , and a more detailed examination of the two species in question. Although the existing pictures are sufficient to stablish a close relationship to Litosermyle representatives, we did not have access to the material for detailed examination in person that would warrant a safe analysis and description (such as that made for L. inconspicua comb. nov.). We provisionally transfer these two species to the genus containing the most morphologically similar species which is Litosermyle .

Diagnosis. Litosermyle can be differentiated from other Diapheromerinae by the elongated head, strong keeled carinae in terga and sterna including subgenital plate and poculum, single posterior one in male poculum and three in female subgenital plate; subgenital plate short, paraprocts long each with median single straight medial carina, cerci ellipsoid with lanceolate apex in females; cerci somewhat long, cylindrical, slightly thickened and slightly incurved, thorn pads spread from lateral edge almost until medial line, poculum somewhat small, tapering towards posterior to a round edge and triangular in lateral view, tergum X long, posteriorly tectiform bearing a dorsal medial carinae with thick posterior margin in males.

Ocnophila submutica Brunner, 1907:313 = Litosermyle submutica ( Brunner, 1907) comb. nov.

>> Lectotype (here designated, in order to fix the status of this species), ♀ (NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila submutica ; Coll. Br.v.W. Vilcanota, Peru, Staudinger; 23.092 [examined] . Paralectotype (pending transfer to another genus), ♀ (NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila submutica ; Collectio Br.v.W.; Museum Paris, Basse-Californie, Diguet 178-95; 178-95; 23.330; [examined] (does not belong to Litosermyle , most likely a Sermyle ).

Ocnophila nana Shelford, 1913: 61 = Litosermyle nana (Shelford, 1913) comb. nov.

>> Syntypes, J ( MNHN): MUSEUM PARIS, ÉQUATEUR, CHILLACOCHA (3900 M. D’ALT.), P . RIVET 1905 ; Ocnophila nana , sp. n. ♁ TYPE; FÉVRIER ; SYNTYPE; MNHN-EO-PHAS624 [examined through pictures]; ♀ ( MNHN) : MUSEUM PARIS, ÉQUATEUR, BUERAN (3700 M. D’ALT.), P. RIVET 1905 ; Ocnophila nana , sp. n. ♀ TYPE ; SYNTYPE; TYPE; MNHN-EO-PHAS625 [examined through pictures] .

Ocnophila riveti Shelford, 1913: 62 = Litosermyle riveti (Shelford, 1913) comb. nov.

>> Holotype, ♀ ( MNHN): MUSEUM PARIS, ÉQUATEUR, EL PELADO (4150 M. D’ALT.), P. RIVET 1903 ; Ocnophila riveti , sp. n. ♀ TYPE; JANVIER ; HOLOTYPE; MNHN-EO-PHAS626 [examined through pictures] .

Figures

FIGURE 14. A–D. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., male habitus: A, B. Paralectotype with curved abdomen, lateral view, habitus (A) and detail of the body (B), mirrored; C. Paralectotype without front tarsi, dorsal view; D. Paralectotype 18.257, dorsal view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 15.A–L. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., male morphology:A, B, D, F, I, K–L. Paralectotype without front tarsi; C, E, H, J. Paralectotype with curved abdomen; G. Paralectotype 18.257. A–C. Head and thorax in dorsal (A) and lateral (B–C) views; D. Metathorax in dorsal view; E–F. Terminalia in dorsal view, (E mirrored); G–I. Terminalia in lateral view (mirrored); J, L. Terminalia in ventral view; K. Tergum X in posterior view showing thorn pads. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. A–C. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., female habitus: A–B. Paralectotype, dorsal (A) and lateral (B) views (A mirrored) C. Lectotype, dorsal view (mirrored). Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 17. A–L. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., female morphology of head, thorax and legs:A–B, D–E. Paralectotype; C. Lectotype. A. Head and thorax in dorsal view; B–C. Head and thorax in lateral view (C mirrored); D. Right hind tarsus, retrolateral view; E. Metathorax, dorsal view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 18. A–G. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., female morphology of the terminalia: A–B, D, G. Paralectotype “Mus. Caes. Vind.”; C, F. Lectotype; E. Paralectotype “Boucard”. A. Dorsal view (mirrored); B–C. Lateral view (mirrored); D. Posteroventral view; E–G. Ventral view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 19. A–E. Litosermyle inconspicua comb. nov., egg from paralectotype “Mus. Caes. Vind.”: A–B. Lateral view; C. Dorsal view; D. Dorsolateral view; E. Anterior view. Copyright NMW. Scale bars: 1 mm.