Nuichua, Bresseel & Constant, 1835

Bresseel, Joachim & Constant, Jérôme, 1835, Two new stick insect genera from Vietnam, Nuichua gen. nov. and Pterohirasea gen. nov. with two new species (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae: Necrosciinae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 70, pp. 1-29 : 1-29

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.13272100

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7DDA14D6-B84E-4EA1-9574-B92EAF59CD42

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F187CD-CE39-FB66-560C-FE3BE96FBE34

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Nuichua
status

gen. nov.

Genus Nuichua View in CoL gen. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7DDA14D6-B84E-4EA1-9574-B92EAF59CD42

Type species: Nuichua rabaeyae sp. nov. by present designation and monotypy.

ETYMOLOGY. The genus name is derived from the beautiful Nui Chua National Park in southeast Vietnam. The gender is feminine.

DIAGNOSIS

Differing from all other known genera of Necrosciinae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893 by the following combination of characters:

1) Relatively broad with all abdominal terga less than two times longer than wide and smooth ( Figs 1 A View Fig , 3 A View Fig ).

2) Head with few dark tubercles, otherwise smooth ( Fig. 5 I View Fig ).

3) Thorax and abdominal terga smooth ( Figs 1 A View Fig , 3 A View Fig ).

4) Tegmina absent and alae reduced to scales ( Fig. 5 H, J View Fig ).

5) Femora short, subapically armed with few minute spines on the outer ventral carinae, mesofemora swollen ( Figs 1 B View Fig , 3 B View Fig ).

6) Female praeopercular organ present ( Fig. 3 F View Fig ).

7) Vomer well developed and notched apically with two acute terminal hooks ( Fig. 1 F View Fig ).

8) Subgenital plate in females spoon shaped, tapering posteriorly, not reaching apex of abdomen ( Fig. 3 F–G View Fig ).

9) Eggs slightly oval. Micropylar plate rounded, with a mediolongitudinal carina ( Fig. 5 K– N View Fig ).

DESCRIPTION

MALE AND FEMALE ( Figs 1 View Fig , 3 View Fig )

Head: longer than wide, with an irregular amount of distinct black granules dorsally and on the genae; area between granules smooth. Dorsal surface slightly flattened with distinct mediolongitudinal groove. Vertex rounded, posterolaterally with a shallow impression or groove. Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically. Antennae distinctly projecting over front legs. Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally and oval in cross-section. Pedicellus short, knob like and round in cross-section.

Thorax: pronotum slightly shorter than head; anterior margin strongly incurved with anterolateral angles extended and rounded apically; posterior portion with lateral margins parallel-sided. Mediolongitudinal groove starting anteriorly, not reaching posterior edge. Centrally with a short transverse impression not reaching lateral margins; posterior margin rounded. Mesonotum smooth and parallel-sided. Metanotum smooth and laterally with anterolateral angles slightly extended and rounded apically. Pro-, meso- and metasterna smooth.

Wings: tegmina absent; alae reduced to small but distinct whitish scale-like remnants.

Legs: femora relatively short, profemora compressed and curved basally. Carinae present, antero- and posteroventral carinae armed with few minute saw-like teeth subapically.

5 Mesofemora laterally swollen; carinae and armature as in profemora. Metafemora as mesofemora. Protibiae rectangular in cross-section; carinae with small setae. Probasitarsus longer than all following tarsomeres combined. Meso- and metatibiae as protibiae. Meso and metatarsi with claws small when compared to body size; tarsomeres with a small posteromedian extension; ventrally with posterior portion smooth and strongly notched.

Abdomen: median segment shorter than metanotum, smooth and trapezoidal. All abdominal terga less than two times longer than wide and smooth. Anal segment in females broad and apically gently rounded; abdominal sternum VII with praeopercular organ present; subgenital plate not reaching apex of abdomen, spoon-shaped and tapering posteriorly; posterior portion with a definite median longitudinal carina. Males with tergum X apically notched. Outer margin of inner portion of tergum X swollen and armed with several short, black spines. Posterolateral angles rounded. Poculum not reaching base of vomer; apex broad and slightly rounded, almost straight. Vomer well developed, represented as a broad triangular sclerite, strongly notched posteriorly and with two apices. Apices blackish and tapering towards the posterior. Other abdominal sterna smooth with a small posteromedian black marking.

EGG ( Fig. 5 K–N View Fig )

Capsule oval; colouration cream with black markings; cream areas on capsule surface covered with minute whitish granules. Polar area black. Operculum convex. Micropylar plate positioned almost centrally on capsule, slightly displaced towards the polar area and oval. Micropylar cup black and distinct, followed anteriorly by a definite mediolongitudinal carina, and posteriorly by an elongated, black median line.

DISTRIBUTION. Southern Central Vietnam ( Fig. 8 View Fig ).

Nuichua rabaeyae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:36511ECA-1B3E-4CD1-AB6E-A102A4A368FC

Figs 1–8 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig

ETYMOLOGY. The species is named after Mrs Kristien Rabaey in acknowledgement for breeding the F1 generation of this species after the authors’ material (except one male) was lost in an accidental domestic fire.

TYPE MATERIAL. VIETNAM: holotype ♂ ( Fig. 1 View Fig ): Ninh Thuan prov., Nui Chua N. P., 11°42’N 109°09’E, 3-9.VII.2014, night coll. Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, GTI project I.G.:32.779 ( RBINS) GoogleMaps .

Paratypes [25♂♂, 27♀♀]: 18♂♂, 20♀♀: ex breeding J. Bresseel, 2015, origin: Vietnam, Ninh Thuan prov., Nui Chua N.P., 11°42’N 109°09’E, 3-9.VII.2014, night coll. Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, GTI project, I.G.: 32.779 (14♂♂, 16♀♀: RBINS; 3♂♂, 3♀♀: VNMN; 1♂, 1♀: NHMW) GoogleMaps ; 1♂: ex breeding Bruno Kneubühler, origin: Vietnam, Ninh Thuan prov., Nui Chua N. P., 11°42’N 109°09’E, 3-9.VII.2014, night coll. Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, GTI project, I.G.: 32.779, DNA 16-65 BK ( RBINS) GoogleMaps ; 1♂: idem, DNA 16-45 BK ( RBINS) GoogleMaps ; 1♀: idem, DNA 16-64 BK ( RBINS) GoogleMaps ; 1♀: idem, DNA 16-44 BK ( RBINS) GoogleMaps ; 5♂♂, 5♀♀: ex breeding F. Hennemann, 2016, origin: Vietnam, Ninh Thuan prov., Nui Chua N.P., 11°42’N 109°09’E, 3-9.VII.2014, night coll. Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, GTI project (Coll. Frank Hennemann, No’s FH 0899-1 to -10) GoogleMaps .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL. VIETNAM: 150 eggs : ex breeding J. Bresseel, 2015, Origin: Vietnam , Ninh Thuan prov., Nui Chua N. P., 11°42’N 109°09’E, 3-9.VII.2014, night coll., leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, GTI project, I.G.: 32.779 (100 eggs: RBINS; 50 eggs: VNMN) GoogleMaps .

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DESCRIPTION

MALE ( Figs 1–2 View Fig View Fig , 5 A–B, E–G View Fig , 6 A, C View Fig , 7 View Fig )

Measurements: see table 1.

Body: ( Fig. 1 A–C View Fig ) head, scapus and pedicellus greyish blue with black granules. Pro-, meso and metanotum mahogany red with a mediolongitudinal greyish blue marking, marking widening near the posterior margin of each segment. Abdominal terga as metanotum, but with black markings posteriorly. Legs with coxae coloured as head; femora grass green, slightly darkening distally. Other portions of legs grass green.

Head: ( Fig. 1 D, G View Fig ) longer than wide and mainly smooth, apart from few distinct granules posteriorly and on genae. Dorsal surface slightly flattened with distinct mediolongitudinal groove. Vertex rounded, posterolaterally also with a groove. Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically. Antennae distinctly projecting over front legs. Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally and oval in cross-section. Pedicellus short, knob-like and round in cross-section.

Thorax: ( Fig. 1 D, G View Fig ) pronotum slightly shorter than head; anterior margin strongly incurved with anterolateral angles extended and apically rounded; posterior portion with lateral margins parallel-sided. Median longitudinal groove starting anteriorly, not reaching posterior edge. Centrally with a short transverse impression not reaching lateral edges. Posterior margin rounded. Mesonotum longer than mesofemora, smooth and parallel-sided. Metanotum smooth, longer than head. Anterolateral angles as in pronotum, but not as strongly pronounced. Pro-, meso- and metasterna smooth.

Wings: ( Figs 1 G View Fig , 5 H View Fig ) tegmina absent; alae reduced, scale-like and whitish.

Legs: ( Fig. 1 A–C View Fig ) profemora slightly longer than mesonotum; compressed and curved basally. Dorsal carinae present, but unarmed; all ventral carinae present. Antero- and posteroventral carinae armed with three to four minute saw-like teeth subapically. Mesofemora distinctly shorter than mesonotum and slightly swollen laterally; carinae and armature as in profemora. Metafemora about as long as profemora, armature as in mesofemora. Protibiae slightly longer than profemora, rectangular in cross-section with outer ventral and dorsal carinae developed; carinae with small setae. Probasitarsus longer than all following tarsomeres combined. Mesotibiae about as long as mesofemora; carinae as in protibiae. Metatibiae slightly longer than metafemora. All carinae present, but unarmed with medioventral carina raised and laterally flattened. Meso- and metatarsi with claws small when compared to body size; tarsomeres with a small posteromedian extension ventrally with posterior portion smooth and deeply notched.

Abdomen: ( Fig. 1 A–C, E–F, H View Fig ) median segment longer than wide, shorter than metanotum, smooth and trapezoidal. All abdominal terga with indistinct median line, less than two times longer than wide and smooth. Terga II–VI about the same, or slightly decreasing in length; tergum VII distinctly shorter than VI; VII about as wide as long; VIII distinctly wider than long; VII and VIII with posterolateral angles expanded and rounded; tergum X about as long and wide as IX and with a mediolongitudinal line, apically notched with outer rim slightly setose. Outer margin of inner portion of tergum X swollen and armed with several short, black spines. Posterolateral angles rounded. Poculum slightly rounded, not reaching base of vomer; apex broad and slightly rounded, almost straight. Cerci reaching about apex of abdomen, with apices knob-like, slightly incurving and distinctly setose. Vomer well developed, represented as a broad triangular sclerite, strongly notched posteriorly and with two terminal hooks; apices blackish and tapering towards the posterior. Other abdominal sterna smooth with a small black posteromedian marking.

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11 Genitalia: ( Fig. 2 View Fig ) phallus entirely membranous; when inflated, strongly curved dorsally with distal portion more strongly swollen and bearing a medioventral round opening; one posteroventral inflated hump and one apicolateral inflated hump on right side.

FEMALE ( Figs 3 View Fig , 5 B, E–G, I–J View Fig , 6 B–C View Fig , 7 View Fig )

Measurements: see table 1.

Body: ( Figs 3 A–C View Fig , 6 B–C View Fig ) coloured more or less like male, but less contrasted. Head and mediolongitudinal dorsal marking on body with a greenish tinge.

Head: ( Figs 3 D, H View Fig , 5 I View Fig ) longer than wide, with an irregular amount of distinct black tubercles dorsally and on genae; area between granules smooth. Dorsal surface slightly flattened with distinct mediolongitudinal groove. Posteriorly of groove, a distinct black triangular marking. Vertex rounded, posterolaterally with a shallow impression. Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically. Antennae distinctly projecting over front legs. Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally and oval in cross-section. Pedicellus short, knob-like and round in cross-section.

Thorax: ( Fig. 3 D, H View Fig ) pronotum slightly shorter than head; anterior margin strongly incurved with anterolateral angles extended and apically rounded; posterior portion with lateral margins parallel-sided. Mediolongitudinal groove starting anteriorly, not reaching posterior edge. Centrally with a short transverse impression not reaching lateral edges; posterior margin rounded. Mesonotum about as long as median segment and terga II–IV combined, smooth and parallel-sided. Metanotum smooth. Pro-, meso- and metasterna smooth.

Wings: ( Figs 3 H View Fig , 5 J View Fig ) tegmina absent; alae small, whitish and scale-like.

Legs: ( Fig. 3 A–C View Fig ) profemora shorter than mesonotum, compressed and curved basally; dorsal carinae present, but unarmed; all ventral carinae present; antero- and posteroventral carinae armed with three minute saw-like teeth subapically. Mesofemora about 2/3 as long as mesonotum and distinctly swollen laterally; carinae and armature as in profemora. Metafemora about as long as profemora, with armature as in mesofemora, but with four spines subapically on outer ventral carinae. Protibiae slightly longer than profemora, rectangular in cross-section with all carinae developed; carinae with small setae. Probasitarsus longer than all following tarsomeres combined. Mesotibiae about as long as mesofemora, with carinae as in protibiae. Metatibiae slightly longer than metafemora. Meso- and metatarsi with claws small when compared to body size; tarsomeres with a small posteromedian extension, ventrally with posterior portion smooth and strongly notched.

Abdomen: ( Fig. 3 A–C, E–G View Fig ) median segment about as wide as long, shorter than metanotum, smooth and trapezoidal. All abdominal terga smooth and less than two times longer than wide. Terga II–V slightly increasing in length; terga VI and VII decreasing in length; tergum VII about as wide as long; VIII slightly wider than long; IX about as long and wide as X, rounded posteriorly. Anal segment broad and apically gently rounded. Abdominal sternum VII with praeopercular organ represented by a carina followed by a single, dorsoventrally flattened spine. Subgenital plate just not reaching halfway along anal segment, spoon-shaped and tapering posteriorly; posterior portion with a definite median longitudinal carina. Other abdominal sterna smooth with a small posteromedian black marking.

NYMPH ( Figs 4 View Fig , 5 C–D View Fig )

Newly hatched nymphs mostly mottled pale yellowish brown and black. Head reddish brown with yellowish granules. Antennae black and white. Profemora coloured as head. Meso- and metafemora with a greenish tinge in basal half, a whitish ring in middle, and distal portion black.

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EGG ( Fig. 5 K–N View Fig )

Measurements (in mm). Length: 2.7; width: 1.9; height: 2.2.

Capsule oval, colouration cream with black markings; cream areas on capsule surface covered with minute whitish granules. Polar area black. Black marking on polar area tapering towards and reaching micropylar plate. Operculum convex; central portion cream coloured with outer margin black; cream coloured area covered with minute white granules except centrally. Micropylar plate positioned almost centrally on capsule but very slightly displaced towards polar area; oval, slightly darker than capsule; surface smooth, except for outer margin with minute whitish granules. Micropylar cup black and distinct, followed anteriorly by a definite mediolongitudinal carina and posteriorly by an elongated, black median line covered with minute black granules and reaching polar area.

BIOLOGY.

The species was collected in secondary evergreen rainforest, at low altitude (400m). The specimens were found foraging on low vegetation and bushes ( Fig. 6 A–B View Fig ).

The species is easy to rear in captivity and accepts a wide variety of alternative foodplants including Hypericum spp. ( Hypericaceae ), Hedera helix L. ( Araliaceae ) and different species of Rubus spp. ( Rosaceae ). Eggs are dropped to the ground and have a relatively short incubation time (2–4 months). Nymphs can react hectically when disturbed, but older nymphs often feign dead. Males mature 4 to 6 weeks earlier than females and are considerably smaller in size than the latter, reaching only about half their length. As soon as they are adult, males already occupy the larger female nymphs and stay with the same female for the rest of their life. Subadult females moult with males still attached to the old skin ( Fig. 7 A–E View Fig ). Once the moulting process is completed, the male moves from the old skin to the freshly moulted adult female ( Fig. 7 F–G View Fig ). When a lone male comes close to an occupied female or even when two mating males come close to one another, they become agitated and instantly try to fend off the contender with their legs (B. Kneubühler pers. comm., IV.2016).

DISTRIBUTION. Southern Central Vietnam, Ninh Thuan Province ( Fig. 8 View Fig ).

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RBINS

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

VNMN

Vietnam National Museum of Nature

NHMW

Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Phasmida

Family

Lonchodidae

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