Andeocalynda tenuis, Hennemann & Conle, 2020

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2020, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXIV: Andeocalynda n. gen., a new genus of Andean stick insects, with the descriptions of nine new species from Colombia and Ecuador (Phasmatodea: “ Anareolatae ”: Diapheromeridae: Diapheromerinae), Zootaxa 4896 (3), pp. 301-341 : 326-330

Andeocalynda tenuis n. gen., n. sp.

( Figs. 1 , 14–15 , 19 A–B, 21C–D)

HT, ♀: Ecuador, Cañar Prov. Rio Mazan , 25.VIII.90, 3500 m, AJE. Harman; A. Harman M. Salton Coll. [ NHMUK] .

PT, 1 ♀, 1 ♂: Ecuador, Cañar Prov. Rio Mazan , 25.VIII.90, 3500 m, AJE. Harman; A. Harman M. Salton Coll. [ NHMUK] .

PT, ♀: Ecuador, Azuay Prov., Rio Mazan , 3500 m, 25.VIII.1990, AJE. Harman; A. Harman M. Salton Coll. [ NHMUK] .

PT, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 ♀♀ (nymphs), 5 eggs: Central Ecuador—Cordillera : Prov. Azuay, Cuenca Ģ Loja km35, 3300 m, S 03°10´W 079°01´, leg. Hennemann, Conle & Friede 14.–15.IX.2003, Jungle vegetation“ [coll. FH, No’s 0518-1 to 4 & E].

PT, 1 ♀, 1 ♂ (nymphs): Central Ecuador—Cordillera, Prov. Azuay, Rio Yanuncay 3000–3100 m, leg. Hennemann, Conle & Friede 13.IX.2003 [coll. FH, No’s 0518-5 & 6] .

PT, 1 ♂: Central Ecuador—Cordillera: Prov. Azuay, Cordillera Zapote Naida , Gualaceo Ģ Indanza, 3200 m, S 02°57,4´W 078°42,3´, leg. Hennemann, Conle & Friede 18.IX.2003 [coll. FH, No. 0518-7] .

PT, 2 ♀♀, 2 ♂♂, 5 eggs: Ecuador: Prov. Azuay, road Cuenca to Loja, km 35, 3300 m, S 03°10’ W 079°01’, leg. Hennemann, Conle & Friede 14–15.IX.2003 [coll. OC, No’s 0541-1 to 5] .

Diagnosis: Females readily differ from the other two currently known ♀♀ of this genus by the entirely smooth body surface. This feature however will certainly not hold true once ♀♀ of the other species become known. ♂♂ are similar to A. comis ( Bates, 1865) and A. tuberculata n. sp. in lacking a central node or protuberance on the poculum. From both species they are however easily separated by the much more elongate head, pale cream lower portions of the genae, strongly tectiform anal segment, which bears distinct black ventral teeth along the entire posterior margin, and much longer and more slender cerci, that are almost equal in length to the anal segment.

Etymology: The name (tenuiter lat. = simple, tenous) refers to the smooth body surface of this new species.

♀♀ ( Figs. 14 A–B, 21C): Moderately sized (body length incl. subgenital plate 93.0–110.0 mm) and slender for the genus, body surface entirely smooth and slightly shiny. Colouration mid to dark ochraceous brown or with a slight greenish hue and to a variable degree furnished with either paler or darker speckles. Genae with a fairly broad, but weakly defined dark brown postocular streak. Eyes greyish mid brown. Bases of profemora red interiorly. Antennae ochraceous brown and becoming slightly darker towards the apex. Gonoplacs straw.

Head: Flattened ( Fig. 14H ), sub-cylindrical, about 1.8x longer than wide, the genae almost parallel-sided and vertex with a slightly impressed coronal line ( Fig. 14G ); with two shallow swellings between the bases of the antennae. Eyes small, moderately projecting and slightly oval in outline; their diameter contained almost 4x in that of genae (Fig. Fig 14H ). Antennae reaching to abdominal segment II. Scapus strongly flattened, roundly rectangular and about 1.5x longer than wide ( Fig. 14G ). Pedicellus round in cross-section, almost ¾ the length of scapus and gently constricted towards the apex.

Thorax: Pronotum roughly as wide but only ¾ the length of head, roundly rectangular in outline ( Fig. 14G ). Entire surface with a fine, impressed median line, the transverse median sulcus faint, straight and very short. Mesothorax parallel-sided and just weakly widened in posterior portion; about 3.6x longer than head and prothorax combined. Mesonotum occasionally with a very few scattered nodes. Mesopleurae and mesosternum with a very few, small scattered granules.

Abdomen: Median segment about 2/5 the length of metanotum, 1.5x longer than wide and indistinctly widened towards the posterior. Segment II slightly longer than median segment but shorter than III–VI; the latter segments roughly equal in length and about 3.5x longer than wide. VII shorter than previous and about as long as II; gently narrowed towards the posterior. All sterna smooth. Praeopercular organ formed by a small but distinct and spiniform, reddish brown median granule some ¼ off the posterior margin of sternum VII ( Fig. 14F ). Tergum VIII narrower than previous and about 3/5 the length of VII, IX about 2/3 the length of VIII; both with a faint longitudinal median carina. Anal segment considerably shorter than IX, carinate longitudinally, narrowed towards the apex and the posterior margin with a shallow, triangular median excavation ( Fig. 14D ). Epiproct small, triangular and with an acute median keel; very slightly projecting over apex of anal segment ( Fig. 14D ). Cerci slender, round in cross-section and tapered towards an acute tip. Gonoplacs strongly flattened, elongate-oval and slightly projecting over apex of cerci ( Figs. 1 A–B). Subgenital plate lanceolate with the apex acutely pointed; projecting over apex of abdomen by about the combined length of terga VII–X ( Figs. 14 C–E).

Legs: All moderately long and slender, with all carinae setose but unarmed except for sub-apical ventral teeth on meso- and metafemora. Profemora about as long as mesothorax, mesofemora as long as metathorax, metafemora slightly projecting over posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatarsi almost reaching apex of anal segment. Meso- and metafemora gently constricted basally. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora distinct, the two outer lower carinae protruded into a small, triangular tooth apically (smaller on interior carina). All basitarsi about equal to combined length of remaining tarsomeres.

♂♂ ( Figs. 15 A–B): Moderately sized (body length 58.7–68.0 mm) and slender for the genus. General colouration ochraceous mid brown with the thorax a little darker and the lateral margins of all thoracic terga dark brown. Lower lateral portions of head pale cream ( Fig. 15C ). Bases of profemora red interiorly. Antennae mid brown and becoming slightly darker towards the apex. Legs with a slight greenish wash.

Head: Generally as in ♀♀. Vertex with a fine and impressed coronal line ( Fig. 15C ). Between the bases of the antennae there are two very small swellings. Eyes moderately projecting, slightly oval in outline and their diameter contained about 2.5x in length of genae ( Fig. 15C ). Antennae generally as in ♀♀ but reaching to abdominal segment VI and scapus less distinctly flattened.

Thorax: Pronotum as wide but shorter than head. Generally as in ♀♀ but lateral margins gently concave medi-ally and transverse median sulcus more prominent ( Fig. 15C ). Mesothorax about 3x longer than head and pronotum combined; very indistinctly widened in posterior portion. Mesosternum gently tectinate longitudinally. Meso- and metanotum with a shallow longitudinal median carina.

Abdomen: Median segment hardly 1/3 the length of metanotum, about 2.3x longer than wide and roundly constricted medially. Segment II about 1.3x longer than median segment but a little shorter than III–V; the latter roughly equal in length and about 5.5x longer than wide. VI as long as II and VII only 4/5 the length of VI. All sterna smooth. Tergum VIII 2/3 the length of VII and very slightly widened towards the posterior. IX notably longer than VIII with the lateral margins gently rounded ( Fig. 15D ); widest segment ( Fig. 15E ). Anal segment a little more than half the length of IX, tectiform with the lateral margins somewhat convex and the apex narrowed towards in dorsal aspect ( Fig. 15E ); in lateral aspect slightly longer than high with the posterior margin obtusely rounded in the lower portion ( Fig. 15D ). Inner surface of posterior margin set with a marginal row of small denticles and the two lateral portions facing each other ( Figs. 15 G–H). Vomer slender and up-curving with a single terminal hook. Cerci elongate, slender, gently in-curving, ventrad directed and notably longer than anal segment ( Fig. 15D ). Poculum almost reaching to posterior margin of tergum IX but just moderately convex and acutely angular but without a distinct spiniform basal protuberance ( Fig. 15D, G ).

Legs: All long and slender, entirely unarmed with all carinae minutely setose. Profemora about as long as head, pro- and mesothorax combined, mesofemora as long as mesothorax, metafemora almost reaching posterior margin of abdominal segment VI and metatibiae projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. All basitarsi longer than combined length of remaining tarsomeres.

Eggs ( Figs. 19 A–B): Capsule elongate, about 2x longer than wide and 1.6x longer than high, compressed laterally and oval in cross-section. Anterodorsal portion convex. Capsule very minutely granulose and shiny. Micropylar plate elongate, a little less than half the length of capsule and roughly 4.8x longer than wide; shape elongate, slightly widened sub-posteriorly and gently narrowed in the median portion with the anterior end obtusely rounded and the posterior end narrowed. Micropylar cup represented by a rounded swelling close to posterior end of plate. Median line distinct, being an obtuse ridge that reaches about half the way towards the polar-area. Operculum oval and with a roundly convex capitulum, that has several, irregular, radial directed impressions laterally. Colour of capsule plain dark reddish brown. The area surrounding the micropylar plate broadly pale cream to white. Micropylar plate yellowish pale brown, the median line pale cream and the capitulum reddish brown. Measurements [mm]: length incl. capitulum 3.2, length 2.9, width 1.3, height 1.9, length of micropylar plate 1.3.

Comments: As for A. decorata n. sp. it is noteworthy that specimens in the two collections of the authors (coll. FH and coll. OC) are remarkably smaller than the examples from Río Mazan, Parque Nacional Cajas (see table 5 be-low). Several eggs were laid by the two ♀♀ in the authors collections and served for the description here presented. Unfortunately, the few nymphs that emerged from these eggs refused all alternative food-plants offered in Europe.

Distribution: S-Ecuador: Azuay Province (Parque Nacional Cajas, Río Mazan, 3500m; Cuenca Ģ Loja km35,

S 03°10' W 079°01', 3300 m).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Terminalia of ♀♀ of Andeocalynda tenuis n. gen., n. sp.. A. HT [NHMUK]; B. PT [coll. FH, No. 0518-1]. Explanation of abbreviations: Cer = cercus, Ep = epiproct, Gap8 = gonapophysis VIII, Gap9 = gonapophysis IX, Gon = gonangulum, Gpl = gonoplac, PrO P praeopercular organ, Sg = subgenital plate (sternum VIII), S7 = sternum VII, Sti8 = stigmen VIII, T7 = tergum VII, T8 = tergum VIII, T9 = tergum IX, T10 = anal segment (tergum X). [scale = 1 mm]

FIGURE 14. Andeocalynda tenuis n. sp. ♀♀. A. HT [NHMUK], habitus dorsal view; B. HT [NHMUK], habitus dorsolateral view; C. Apex of abdomen of HT in lateral view [NHMUK]; D. Apex of abdomen of HT in dorsal view [NHMUK]; E.Apex of abdomen of HT in ventral view [NHMUK]; F. Ventral view of abdominal sternum VII of PT showing praeopercular organ [coll. FH, No. 0518-1]; G. Head and pronotum of PT in dorsal view [NHMUK]; H. Head and pronotum of PT in lateral view [NHMUK].

FIGURE 15. Andeocalynda tenuis n. sp. PT, Ƌ [NHMUK]. A. Habitus dorsal view; B. Habitus dorsolateral view; C. Head and pronotum in lateral view; D. Apex of abdomen in lateral view; E. Apex of abdomen in dorsal view; F. Apex of abdomen of PT in ventral view; G. Two terminal abdominal segment in dorsolateral view; G. Anal segment and cerci in caudal view.

FIGURE 19. Eggs of species of Andeocalynda n. gen.. A. Andeocalynda tenuis n. sp., dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0518-E]; B. Andeocalynda tenuis n. sp., lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0518-E]; C. Andeocalynda decorata n. sp., dorsal view [coll. FH, No. 0519-E]; D. Andeocalynda decorata n. sp., lateral view [coll. FH, No. 0519-E];