Exocnophila brevitarsata ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907 ) Ghirotto & Conle & Hennemann & Valero & Cancello, 2024

Ghirotto, Victor Morais, Conle, Oskar, Hennemann, Frank, Valero, Pablo & Cancello, Eliana M., 2024, On the Brazilian Exocnophila stick insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea), with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 5536 (1), pp. 59-98 : 61-69

Exocnophila brevitarsata ( Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov.

( Figs 1–7 )

Dyme brevitarsata Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907: 322 .

Bacteria brevitarsata, Brock 1998: 20 ; Otte & Brock 2005: 62; Brock & Büscher 2022: 510.

>> Lectotype (here designated), ♂ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Dyme brevitarsata ; Collectio Br.v.W.; Espirito-Santo, Brasil. ex coll. Fruhstorfer.; 19.988 ( Figs 4B–D , 6A–C, F–H ) . Paralectotype (here designated), ♂ ( NMW): det. Br.v.W. Dyme brevitarsata ; Collectio Br.v.W.; Espirito-Santo, Brasil. ex coll. Fruhstorfer. [pinned laterally] ( Fig. 6E ) ; Paralectotype (here designated), ♂ (NMW): det. Br.v.W. Dyme brevitarsata ; Coll. Br.v.W. Espirito Santo, Staudinger; 22.041 ( Figs 4A , 5B , 6D ) .

= Exocnophila exintegra Zompro, 2001: 235 ; Otte & Brock 2005: 143; Brock & Büscher 2022: 515. syn. nov.

>> Holotype, ♀ ( NMW), with two eggs: det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila integra Br ; Collectio Br.v.W.; Espirito-Santo, Brasil. ex coll. Fruhstorfer.; 20.264 ; Exocnophila exintegra Zompro , n. sp. ♀ and 2 eggs, HOLOTYPUS, PLT of Ocnophila integra Brunner v. W. , 1907, det. O.Zompro XI.1997 ( NHMW) ( Figs 1–3 ; eggs: Fig. 7 ). Paratype, ♀ (NMW): det. Br.v.W. Ocnophila integra Br ; Coll. Br.v.W., Brasilien, Mus. Bern; 14.978 ; Exocnophila exintegra Zompro , n. sp. ♀, PARATYPUS, PLT of Ocnophila integra Brunner v. W ., 1907, det. O.Zompro XI.1997 ( NHMW).

Diagnosis. Differs from Exocnophila hastata comb. nov. by the shorter head and tergum VIII, the slenderer thorax and a slightly narrower cercus with slightly constricted inner margin in males, and the more globose head with more convex vertex, shorter tergum VIII and almost straight margin of tergum X (undulated forming three round lobes in E. hastata ) in females. Differs from Exocnophila ovifuscum sp. nov. by the thicker cerci in both sexes, the less elongate and less compressed head, absence of tubercles in the mesothorax in males, and the less compressed and wider head with a more convex vertex and the almost straight margin of tergum X (irregularly and roundly serrate in Exocnophila ovifuscum sp. nov.) in females. Further differs from females of Exocnophila cornuta by the more robust body, slightly smaller head and less elongated tergum X, and from females of Exocnophila tuberculata by the less robust body and absence of ornamentations on legs.

Redescription

Female ( Figs 1–3 ).

Colour. Irregularly brownish in distinct shades, legs and abdomen dark brown, thorax dorsally reddish to orangish brown ( Fig. 1 ).

Head ( Fig. 2 ). Subrectangular, ca. 1.5x longer than wide, rugose, vertex convex; with irregular granules dorsally, the central pair the largest. Frontal convexity developed, frontal suture deep and roundly angulated. Eyes hemispherical. Labial palp segments wide, maxillary palp segments slightly wide. Clypeus wide, short, sinuous with ventral margin slightly emarginate. Antennae filiform, broken, reaching metathorax. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, large, very wide, longer than wider in dorsolateral view. Scapus with a dorsolateral carina separating dorsal and lateral surfaces, internal margin narrower at posterior edge, posteriorly slightly round and then straight, external margin wide and round through all its length. Pedicel more than half the length of scapus, longer than wide. Antennae with at least 18 articles.

Thorax ( Figs 1–3A ). Surface smooth with sparse round short granules and presenting irregular carinae. Pronotum longer than wide, slightly constricted premedially, narrower anteriorly; with paramedial granules larger at posterior half ( Fig. 2A–B ). Probasisternum with longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly narrow, posterolateral margins round; with short stiff setae mainly near lateral edges. Profurcasternum round with an anterior region in “D’’ shape, densely covered with short stiff setae ( Fig. 2D ). Mesothorax 4.8x longer than prothorax; gradually widening posteriorly. Mesonotum and metanotum with faint longitudinal medial carina. Mesonotum, metanotum, mesosternum and metasternum with distinct pair of lateral carinae ( Fig. 3A ). Meso and metafurcae in “Y’’ shape, metafurca wider and shorter than mesofurca. Mesothorax 1.9x longer than metathorax. Metathorax with irregular sinuous paramedial carinae ( Fig. 3A ). Metanotum slightly more than 5x the length of median segment ( Fig. 3A ).

Legs ( Fig. 1 ). Anterior legs only very slightly shorter than hind legs; mid legs shorter. Hind legs considerably exceeding end of the abdomen. Coxae smooth. Profemur slightly longer than mesothorax. Mesofemur around 0.8x the length of profemur. Profemur with distinct basal curvature occupying slightly less than one third of the segment. Metafemur with a basal swelling occupying slightly less than one fifth of the length of the segment. Carinae of femora and tibiae with sparse setae between them and bearing row of short porrect spiniform setae larger in the tibiae. Carinae of tibiae presenting small short spines at the apex, one to two in dorsal carinae, three to seven in lateroventral carinae and seven to 15 in the ventral carina, with more spines in mid and hind tibiae. Basitarsi short, pro and metabasitarsi around the same size and mesobasitarsi shorter than the respective following three tarsomeres combined; ventrally with dense tuft of spiniform, thick setae. Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.

Abdomen ( Figs 1 , 3 ). Surface smooth, without granules but with several carinae. Median segment well marked by a sulcus, around 0.2x the length of the metanotum, bearing two sinuous pairs of paramedial carinae. Terga II–VIII and X longer than wide, IX as long as wide. Terga II–IX with four to five pairs of paramedial longitudinal carinae, X with two pairs and a single medial longitudinal carina ( Fig. 3B ). Tergum X with posterior margin almost straight, slightly sinuous; laterally slightly more sinuous, shorter not covering the cerci from lateral view ( Fig. 3B–C ). Sterna with more setae than terga, bearing two pairs of paramedial carinae. Praeopercular organ developed, swollen, rugose, shortly lobed posteriorly (probably artifact of collapse during drying process), slightly sclerotised ( Fig. 3D ). Subgenital plate convex, with two strong paramedial carinae in posterior three fourths, with round apex, reaching half the length of tergum X ( Fig. 3D ). Cerci very short, centrally widened, with roundly lanceolate apex, ventrally concave, not surpassing the posterior margin of tergum X ( Fig. 3D ). Paraprocts divided posteriorly, each with round posterior margin. Epiproct wide. Gonapophyses and gonoplac covered by the subgenital plate; gonapophyses VIII thin and longer than other valves; gonoplac thin.

Measurements (in mm). Female NMW 20.264. Body (without cerci) 69.4, head 4.5, antennae 30.5, pronotum 3.8, mesonotum 18.4, metanotum 9.9, median segment 1.8, abdomen (excluding median segment) 31.0, profemur 19.6, protibia 24.2, mesofemur 16.2, mesotibia 17.3, metafemur 20.0, metatibia 24.3.

Male ( Figs 4–6 ).

Colour ( Fig. 4 ). As in female, except also with two longitudinal bands behind the eye, the dorsalmost beige and the ventralmost dark.

Head ( Fig. 5 ). Subrectangular, narrower posteriorly gradually widening until eye length, ca. 1.5x longer than wide, vertex flat; with irregular granules dorsally mainly in two paramedial rows. Frontal convexity developed, frontal suture deep and roundly angulated. Eyes large, slightly more than hemispherical. Labial palp segments wide, maxillary palp segments slightly wide. Clypeus wide, short, sinuous with ventral margin slightly emarginate. Antennae filiform, broken, reaching tergum V. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, large, very wide, longer than wider in dorsolateral view. Scapus with a dorsolateral carina separating dorsal and lateral surfaces, internal margin narrower at posterior edge, posteriorly very slightly round and then straight, external margin wide and round through all its length. Pedicel more than half the length of scapus, longer than wide. Antennae with at least 40 articles.

Thorax ( Fig. 4–6A ). Surface smooth with sparse minute setae. Pronotum longer than wide, slightly constricted premedially, narrower anteriorly; smooth ( Fig. 5A, C ). Probasisternum with longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly narrow, posterolateral margins round; with short stiff setae mainly near lateral edges ( Fig. 5D ). Profurcasternum round with an anterior “D’’ shaped round region, covered with short stiff setae. Mesothorax 7.7x longer than prothorax; posteriorly slightly wider ( Fig. 5D ). Meso and metafurcae in “Y” shape, metafurca slightly shorter than mesofurca. Mesothorax 1.6x longer than metathorax. Meso and metanotum with faint longitudinal medial carina. Metanotum slightly more than 8x the length of median segment.

Legs ( Fig. 4 ). Hind legs only slightly longer than anterior legs; mid legs shorter. Hind legs considerably exceeding end of the abdomen. Coxae smooth. Profemur considerably longer than mesothorax. Mesofemur around 0.8x the length of profemur. Profemur with distinct basal curvature occupying slightly less than one fifth of the segment. Metafemur with a basal swelling occupying around one eighth of the length of the segment. Carinae of femora and tibiae with sparse setae between them and bearing row of porrect spiniform setae larger in the tibiae, longer than those of the female. Carinae of tibiae presenting small short spines at the apex, one (rarely two) in dorsal carinae, four to seven in lateroventral carinae and five to 10 in the ventral carina, with more spines in mid and hind tibiae. Basitarsi short, around the same size than the respective following three tarsomeres combined; ventrally with dense tuft of stiff, porrect setae. Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.

Abdomen ( Figs 4 , 6 ). Surface smooth, without granules but with carinae. Median segment well marked by a sulcus, around 0.12x the length of the metanotum ( Fig. 6A ). Terga II–X longer than wide. Terga II–VII with two pairs of paramedial longitudinal carinae near lateral margins; IV–VII with further two pairs of faint carinae near medial line; II–VIII with a further short longitudinal carinae near anterior margin. Tergum X with one pair of paramedial carinae and a longitudinal medial carina; posterior margin elevated and widely emarginate into two somewhat triangular lobes bearing thorn pads at the apexes. Tergum X very slightly shorter than IX; both slightly shorter than VIII ( Fig. 6B ). Tergum VIII widening towards posterior and IX tapering towards posterior; X wider centrally ( Fig. 6B ). Sterna with pair of paramedial carinae near lateral margins and IV–VII with a further, faint pair. Poculum well developed with angulated posteroventral tip (as for other species; wrinkled in the types) and short anterior region of sternum IX ( Fig. 6C–G ); cerci elongate and dorsoventrally compressed, very slightly curved with slightly constricted inner margin near apex, ellipsoid, apex round ( Fig. 6F ); thornpads apart, well developed with around 11 incurved teeth varying in size ( Fig. 6H ). Vomer well developed, triangular, terminal hook short, thin, curved upwards.

Measurements (in mm). Male lectotype. Body (without cerci) 72.1, head 2.9, antennae at least 54, pronotum 2.8, mesonotum 20.5, metanotum 13.1, median segment 1.5, abdomen (excluding median segment) 31.3, profemur 23.4, protibia 31.6, mesofemur 18.3, mesotibia 23.9, metafemur 23.1, metatibia 32.0.

Measurements (in mm). Male NMW 22.041. Body (without cerci) 65.2, head 3.0, antennae at least 16.1, pronotum 2.8, mesonotum 18.8, metanotum 13.1, median segment 1.4, abdomen (excluding median segment) 26.1, profemur 23.7, protibia 31.2, mesofemur 18.3, mesotibia 22.8, metafemur 20.7, metatibia 33.3.

Egg ( Fig. 7 ). Extracted from the abdomen of the female. Laterally flattened ( Fig. 7C ), oval in lateral view and ellipsoid in dorsal view, opercular collar constricted on the dorsal surface from the end of the micropylar plate to the operculum ( Fig. 7A–B ); 1.3–1.4x longer than tall and 1.8–1.9x longer than wide. Capsule surface densely granulated with minute wide rounded prominences. Micropylar plate ellipsoid, elongated, with parallel or slightly constricted lateral edges ( Fig. 7C ). Micropylar plate internally flat and smooth. Edge of the micropylar plate raised, prominent and divided into a rougher inner part with a foamy appearance, interrupted by the micropyle, and a narrower outer part, slightly rough, bordering the micropyle, with a smooth inner margin and a rougher outer margin with texture similar to the inner part; these two parts are interrupted by a narrow depression ( Fig. 7C ). Micropyle oval, with a rounded projection between the inner edges posteriorly bordered by a rounded depression. Median line very short, truncated, thick and continuous with the outer edge of the external part of the micropylar plate ( Fig. 7C ). Operculum round, with a raised and convex ring with a surface similar to the rest of the capsule in the outer half of the diameter and with a round, smooth central depression. Entirely dark orange in colour with sparse irregular black dots, micropylar plate surrounded by a creamish rim very short at anterior and posterior edges; with little extension in the anterior and posterior parts; micropylar plaque internally orange darkening towards polar area, inner part of the border ice-coloured and outer part of the border beige to yellowish.

Distribution ( Fig. 31 ). Known from Espírito Santo state in Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., female holotype of Exocnophila exintegra syn. nov. A, body in dorsal view; B, habitus in dorsal view; C, habitus in lateral view (mirrored). Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 2. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., head and thorax, female holotype of Exocnophila exintegra syn. nov. A, dorsal view; B, right lateral view; C, left lateral view; D, ventral view. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 3. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., thorax and abdomen, female holotype of Exocnophila exintegra syn. nov. A, metathorax in dorsal view; B, terminala (end of the abdomen) in dorsal view; C, terminalia, lateral view; D, terminalia, ventral view. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 4. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., male body and habitus, paralectotype 22.041 (A), lectotype (B–D); A, body in dorsal view; B–D, habitus in dorsal (A), lateral (B) and ventral (C) views. Scale bars: 2 mm.

FIGURE 5. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., head and thorax, lectotype (A, C, D), paralectotype 22.041 (B); A–B, dorsal view; C, lateral view; D, ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 6. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., male thorax and abdomen, lectotype (A–C, F–H), paralectotype 22.041 (D), paralectotype pinned laterally (E); A, metathorax in dorsal view; B, terminalia in dorsal view; C, terminalia in laterodorsal view (mirrored); D–E, terminalia in lateral view (mirrored); F, cercus in dorsal view; G, terminalia in ventral view; H, tergum X in posteroventral view (mirrored). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Exocnophila brevitarsata comb. nov., eggs from female holotype of Exocnophila exintegra syn. nov. A–B, two different eggs in lateral view; C, egg in dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 31. Map of the known distribution for Exocnophila species, in southeast Brazil. Precise localities are known only for Rio de Janeiro state; the inlet map shows Brazilian states with records for the genus highlighted in red, map colours indicating biomes (dark green: Amazon, green: Atlantic Forest; orange: Cerrado; beige: Caatinga).