Cnipsomorpha trituberculata, Ho, 2021

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea X: Eight new species of Cnipsomorpha from China (Phasmatidae: Clitumninae: Medaurini), Zootaxa 5026 (1), pp. 102-126 : 114-115

Cnipsomorpha trituberculata sp. nov.

(Figs. 22–24, 40, 51, 72–73, 82, 92–93)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 1300–1400m, Primitive broad-leaved forests, Huanglianshan , Luchun , Honghe, Yunnan, China, 6.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 5 eggs (naturally laid by holotype ♀), same data as holotype ♀ ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Cnipsomorpha trituberculata sp. nov. is similar to C. serratitibia sp. nov., but can be separated by having six pairs of medial spines on the middle area of mesonotum, the tri-tuberculate praeopercular organ on the posteromedian area of seventh abdominal sternum and having three to four serrations on the anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora in the female.

Description. Female (Figs. 22–24, 40, 51, 72–73, 82). Small size. Body robust. General colouration of body and legs green, with blackish markings.

Head: Covered with very few small granules. Oblong, longer than wide, gently tapering posteriorly after compound eyes. Vertex convex, with paired supra-antennal spines. Occiput distinctly convex, with paired supraorbital spines; also with three pairs of occipital medial spines along median longitudinal furrow, anterior pair largest and longest, posterior pair larger than median pair. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about four times that of genae. Antennae with 14 segments, reaching middle area of profemora; scapus flattened basally, longer than third segment, shorter than combined length of pedicellus and third segment; and pedicellus shorter than third segment.

Thorax: Sparsely covered with a few small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, anterior margin weakly incurved, posterior margin nearly truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point of segment; with a pair of posterior medial spines, lateral margins with a small spine medially. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, gently swollen medially, about two times length of pronotum; with two paired pre-median medial, two paired median medial, two paired post-median medial and one paired posterior medial spines; also with paired pre-median and median spines; lateral margins with a few small spines. Metanotum square, about three times length of median segment; with paired pre-median medial, median medial, post-median medial and posterior medial spines, also with paired median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a supracoxal spine.

Abdomen: Cylindrical and tapering posteriorly, with a few small granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles, indistinct on second and ninth tergites. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with median spines. Second to sixth tergites with paired posterior and lateral posterior spines. Second tergum also with paired median medial and posterior medial spines. Third and fourth tergites also with paired anterior medial, median medial and posterior medial spines. Fifth tergum also with paired median medial spines. Posteromedian area of seventh sternum with a crest-like praeopercular organ, apically tri-tuberculate. Eighth tergum with a pair of small, tooth-like crests posteromedially. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum, with a pair of toothlike crests posteromedially. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, tapering posteriorly, mediolongitudinal carina elevated, posterior apex elongated posteriorly and bifurcated. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, posterior apex pointed and reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci long, broad and flattened, apices obtuse and reaching posterior apex of anal segment.

Legs: Slender. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, with blackish markings. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora with three to four small serrations. Profemora weakly curved basally. Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae with four to five small serrations, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with indistinct small serrations.

Measurements in Table 6 .

Eggs (Figs. 92–93). Capsule greenish brown, oval, posterior pole weakly notched in lateral view, surface reticulate-foveate; depressions greenish brown, more or less rounded, with dense and small granulations. Micropylar plate light brown, oval, gently tapering anteriorly, posterior margin rounded. Micropylar cup placed at posterior margin of micropylar plate. Median line short, placed behind micropylar cup, about one-fourth length of micropylar plate. Operculum flattened and lacking capitulum.

Measurements. Length 0.8 mm, width 0.5 mm, height 0.6 mm.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Notes. The male is unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the tri-tuberculate praeopercular organ on the posteromedian area of the seventh abdominal sternum in the female.

Suggested common name (Chinese). 三突華¬'.