Pylaemenes shirakii

Wai-Chun, George Ho, 2013, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea II: Review of the Dataminae Rehn & Rehn, 1939 (Phasmatodea: Heteropterygidae) of China, with descriptions of one new genus and four new species, Zootaxa 3669 (3), pp. 201-222 : 217-219

Pylaemenes shirakii Ho & Brock spec. nov.

( Figs. 29–31 )

Datames sp., Huang, 2002: 82. Li, 2009: 40.

Type. Holotype: Ƥ, Taipei City, Taiwan, 2.X.2009, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES).

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Pylaemenes guangxiensis (Bi & Li, 1994), but differs by its larger size, metanotum 4 x length of median segment, third to fifth abdominal terga lacking postero-lateral tubercles and the truncate posterior margin of the subgenital plate.

Description. Female ( Figs. 29–31 ). General colour of body and legs brown. Medium-sized Pylaemenes .

Head: Rounded. Vertex with two short spine-like tubercles between the bases of the antennae. Occiput elevated with a short crest-like structure, with four carinae, broad v-shape in dorsal view. Posterior margin with six small granule-like swellings. Eyes light brown, rounded and prominent. Antennae with 24 segments, densely covered with short setae, surpassing apices of protibiae, almost as long as the combined length of pronotum and mesonotum. The first segment broad, triangular in cross section, elevated with two spine-like tubercles on outer edge, the anterior one placed near the apex and the posterior one placed at the middle of the segment. Second segment almost as long as third segment. Apices of apical segment pointed.

Thorax: Pronotum nearly square, slightly broader than long, longer than head, with an elevation surrounded by four short blunt spines placed before transverse sulcus; two short longitudinal carinae placed behind the transverse sulcus, with three small granules on the carina. Mesonotum 3 x length of pronotum, gently expanded posteriorly, indistinctly carinate medially. Lateral margins with few blackish granules and pits. Metanotum broader than long, 4 x length of median segment, with small pits along lateral margins. Meso- and metapleura with three to five small granules along lateral margins, postero-lateral angle with a small tuberculate elevation. Meso- and metasternum with few small granules.

Abdomen: Rough surface, with short wrinkles and granules. Median segment 4 x broader than long. Fourth to sixth terga with x-shaped carina posteriorly. Fourth tergum broadest. Second to fourth terga broadened posteriorly, fifth to seventh terga narrowing posteriorly. Eighth tergum broadest among the three terminal terga. Ninth tergum with crest-like structure posteriorly, apex pointed and not emarginate apically, reaching middle of the anal segment. Anal segment almost as long as ninth tergum, broadly emarginate at posterior margin, lateral margins with a short tubercle medially, postero-lateral angles elevated and rounded. Subgenital plate reaching posterior margin of the anal segment, median carina thick, with short wrinkles, posterior margin truncate and elevated. Cerci small, not exposed behind the anal segment.

Legs: Brown, mesofemora with a pale marking near the base. Profemora curved basally, broadened in second half, postero-dorsal carina with three elevations; antero-dorsal carina and antero-ventral carinae lacking armature. Antero-dorsal carina of protibiae with one small and slight elevation medially, ventral carinae lacking armature. Postero-dorsal carina of meso- and metafemora with three fin-like lamellae, anterior one largest. Antero-dorsal carina of meso- and metafemora with two indistinct small elevations. Antero-dorsal carina of meso- and metatibiae with one fin-like lamella medially. Postero-dorsal carina of all tibiae with two fin-like lamellae, anterior one larger than posterior one. Antero-ventral and postero-ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora with four to five small and slight elevations. Antero-ventral and postero-ventral carinae of meso- and metatibiae slightly waved.

Male. Unknown.

Measurements in Table 6.

Lengths (mm.) Female (HT) Body 51.0 Head 3.2

Antennae 13.0 Pronotum 3.5

Mesonotum 10.5 Metanotum 6.0 Median segment 1.5

Profemora 8.5 Mesofemora 6.5 Metafemora 8.0 Protibiae 7.0 Mesotibiae 5.5 Metatibiae 7.0

Notes. Several authors (Shiraki 1935: 25; Cai 1987: 26; Hua 2000: 31; Brock & Okada 2005; Xu 2005: 76) mentioned the distribution of Orestes mouhotii [Type originally collected from Cambodia, also found in the southwestern China and several countries of South-East Asia] and Pylaemenes guangxiensis (Bi & Li, 1994) [Type from Guangxi, China] from Taiwan. By examining the material from Taiwan, it represents a distinct species and refers to this new species.

Distribution. The distribution of this species is known from most areas below 1000 meters in Taiwan (Huang 2002: 82).

Etymology. Named in honour and memory of Dr Tokuichi Shiraki for his contribution to the entomology of Taiwan.

Figures

FIGURES 29 – 31. Pylaemenes shirakii Ho & Brock spec. nov. 29. HT female, apex of abdomen, lateral view [scale bar 5 mm]. 30. HT female, apex of abdomen, dorsal view [scale bar 5 mm]. 31. Habitus of HT female, Taipei, Taiwan [scale bar 5 mm].