Orestes botot, Joachim Bresseel & Jérôme Constant, 2018

Joachim Bresseel & Jérôme Constant, 2018, The Oriental stick insect genus Orestes Redtenbacher, 1906: Taxonomical notes and six new species from Vietnam (Phasmida: Heteropterygidae: Dataminae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 58, pp. 1-62 : 19-25

Orestes botot sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E627C0DC-E48E-4C8D-83A8-24CB0E6239E4

Figs 5 , 10–12

ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet is derived from “bò tót”, the Vietnamese name for the gaur (Mammalia: Bovidae ) and refers to the two horns on the head of this species. Gaurs are also present in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, the type-locality of this species of Orestes . It is used in apposition.

TYPE MATERIAL. VIETNAM. Holotype ♂: Lam Dong prov. Bidoup Nui Ba N.P., 12°26’N 108°30’E, 21-25.VII.2014, night coll. Leg. J. Constant & J. Bresseel, GTI project, I.G.: 32.779 ( RBINS)

Paratypes (3 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 ♂ nymph, 1 ♀ nymph): 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 ♂ nymph, 1 ♀ nymph: same data as HT (2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 ♂ nymph, 1 ♀ nymph: RBINS; 1 ♂: VNMN); 1 ♀: same data as HT, ex breeding Rob Krijns 2015 (VNMN)

DIAGNOSIS. Easy to recognise species. Males with strong supra-coxal spine on mesopleuron ( Fig. 10 D ) like the closely related species O. diabolicus sp. nov. (Fig. 13 D), but readily differentiated by the unarmed median segment and the dark brown colouration with the outer margins of meso- and metanotum yellowish ( Fig. 10 I ).

Females have the posteromedian crest on abdominal tergum IX notched ( Fig. 11 F ), terga IV– V almost parallel-sided and with a small but distinct spine on the mesopleura ( Fig. 11 A, C ); legs relatively longer when compared to other species ( Fig. 11 A ).

DESCRIPTION.

MALE ( Fig. 10 ).

Measurements: see table 2.

Head: supra-antennals distinct, conical but blunt and slightly pointed outwards. Posterior supra-occipitals small, blunt and pointing upwards. Vertex elongated and raised, supraorbitals positioned at base of crest, distinctly elongated, slightly incurving and acute apically. Anterior coronals spinose near apex of crest. Posterior and lateral coronals present as small granules. Behind eye a distinct carina reaching posterior edge of crest. Eyes relatively small, circular and strongly projecting hemispherically. Antennae shorter than legs with 23 segments (n = 4); scapus strongly flattened dorsoventrally and laterally carinated, with a posterolateral spine. Pedicellus cylindrical, slightly narrowing towards the posterior. First antennomere longer than following two antennomeres combined. Antennomeres gradually getting longer till segment XII which is about as long as scapus. Antennal segment XIII shorter, with minute blunt spine mediolaterally; following segments shiny and distinctly shorter. Apical antennomere elongated, club-shaped and slightly longer than the two preceding antennomeres combined.

Thorax: pronotum more or less parallel-sided; lateral margins slightly concave and rugose. Anterior margin incurved. Prozona with distinct elevation centrally with two to four distinct, raised tubercles; anterior tubercles slightly larger. Metazona with a pair of granules anteriorly and posteriorly, and posterior margin straight. Mesonotum rugose with anterior margin thickened and distinctly concave; lateral margins smooth, slightly concave and posterior margin slightly wider than anterior one; pre-medial mesonotals spinose and elongated; posteromedially with two distinct elongated spines, sometimes medially split and bi-apical. Mesopleura widened above coxae, widened portion notched medially and with an elongated spine anteriorly. Metanotum unarmed, relatively smooth. Metapleura widened above coxae and with strong, elongated supra-coxal spine. Prosternum with sensory areas elongate oval. Sensory area on profurcasternum small and circular. Ventral surface rugose.

Legs: femora with carinae indistinct and posteromedially with a short blunt spine. Profemora slightly longer than mesonotum and indistinctly curved basally, sometimes with some minute granules. Mesofemora slightly shorter than mesonotum, posteroventrally with two small, tuberculose spines laterally. Metafemora about as long as mesonotum and half the pronotum combined; ventrally armed as mesofemora, dorsally with some minute humps on anterior carina. Tibiae with carinae indistinct, about as long as corresponding femora and unarmed. Tarsomeres I–III about the same length with a posteromedian rounded hump dorsally. Euplantulae more or less circular and of a distinct pale colouration. Claws very small.

Abdomen: median segment unarmed and rugose, with posterior margin concave. Abdominal terga rugose. Tergum II transverse, slightly narrowing towards the posterior. Terga III–VI about the same length. Tergum V with posterior margin raised, armed with two granules. Anterior margin of tergum VI not raised, but with a pair of granules. Tergum VII slightly shorter than preceding one, with a pair of granules posteriorly. Tergum VIII about as long as VII, widening towards the posterior; posterior margin concave and slightly raised with a pair of granules medially; IX shorter than VIII and distinctly transverse, with posterior margin raised. Anal segment dorsoventrally flattened almost parallel-sided and indistinctly notched posteromedially. Posterolateral angles rounded. Poculum triangular from lateral view and strongly granulose; posterior rim dorsoventrally flattened and slightly notched posteromedially, projecting over base vomer but not reaching base of apical spine of vomer. Cerci short, strongly flattened and setose, not reaching apex of tergum X, apices broadly rounded to almost straight. Vomer well developed, semicircular basally till base of posteromedial spine; posteromedial spine black in the posterior portion with acute apex; apex curved, not ending medially but slightly to the right.

FEMALE ( Fig. 11 ).

Measurements: see table 2.

Head: supra-antennals distinct, slightly flattened laterally, blunt and slightly pointed outwards. Supra-antennals fused basally with anterior supra-occipitals. Anterior supraoccipitals small, blunt and pointing dorsally. Posterior supra occipitals present as a pair of granules. Vertex elongated and raised with supra-orbitals strong, laterally compressed and lamellate. Anterior coronals laterally compressed, lamellate with anterior margin reaching apex supra-orbitals. Central coronal compound and raised. Posterior and lateral coronals present as tubercles. Between lateral and anterior coronals, a row of four tubercles on side of crest. Behind eye, a distinct carina reaching posterior edge of crest. Eyes relatively small, circular and strongly projecting hemispherically. Antennae shorter than legs with 25 segments (n = 2); scapus strongly flattened dorsoventrally and laterally carinated, with a posterolateral spine; pedicellus slightly flattened dorsoventrally, slightly narrowing towards the posterior. First antennomere longer than the following two antennomeres combined. Antennomeres gradually getting longer till segment XII; segment XIII about as long as XII and with a granule anterolaterally; following segments shorter except for apical one; apical antennomere elongated, club-shaped and paler.

Thorax: pronotum trapezoidal, slightly widening towards the posterior; lateral margins slightly crenulated and anterior margin incurved. Prozona with distinct elevation centrally with four distinct raised tubercles. Metazona with two parallel rows of three to four granules and posterior margin straight. Mesonotum rugose with anterior margin thickened, distinctly concave and strongly granulose; lateral margins more or less smooth; posterior margin wider than anterior one; posteromedially with two distinct, short elongated carinae pointing obliquely towards mediolongitudinal line. Mesopleura slightly widened above coxae; anterior portion with three spinose tubercles; widened portion notched medially and with a spinose tubercle anteriorly. Metanotum slightly widening towards the posterior, sides of median line granulose. Metapleura widened above coxae, anteriorly with some small spines followed by a distinct supra-coxal spine; posterolatelly notched. Prosternum with sensory areas elongate oval, reaching lateral margin. Sensory area on profurcasternum small and circular. Mesosternum with several pairs of enlarged black granules dispersed longitudinally. Metasternum with few enlarged black granules.

Legs: femora with carinae indistinct except for anterodorsal carina of profemora; posteromedially ending with a short blunt spine. Profemora slightly longer than mesonotum and curved basally, dorsally with some minute humps. Mesofemora shorter than mesonotum, posteroventrally with a pair of granules and a pair of conical tubercles posteriorly; dorsally with several indistinct humps. Metafemora about as long as profemora; ventrally armed as mesofemora; dorsally with small, lamellate hump subcentrally and subapically. Tibiae with carinae indistinct, about as long as corresponding femora. Protibiae with three minute humps on antero- and posterodorsal carina. Mesotibiae with some minute humps dorsally; metatibiae with a minute hump subanteriorly and centrally. Tarsomeres I–III about the same length with a posteromedian rounded hump dorsally, IV distinctly shorter. Claws very small.

Abdomen: median segment with central X-shaped pattern of granules, strongly transverse and with posterior margin straight. Abdominal terga rugose; terga II–V with a central X-shaped pattern of granules; terga II–IV slightly widening; IV–V about parallel-sided and with posterior armature raised and lamellate. Posterolateral angles of tergum V with a distinct oblique, short carina. Tergum VI distinctly descending obliquely and strongly narrowing towards the posterior, medially with a thickened longitudinal carina. Tergum VII more or less parallel-sided, slightly ascending and with thick X-shaped carina mediolongitudinally. Tergum VIII about as wide as VII, strongly ascending and with mediolongitudinal carina slightly diverging at posterior margin; IX about as wide as VIII with two pairs of black granules in anterior portion and a distinct posteromedial crest; crest notched apically. Anal segment narrower and shorter than tergum IX, obliquely descending and dorsally flattened; anteriorly with a median tubercle; oblique carinae present as a row of conical tubercles, only lamellate posterolaterally; posterior margin straight. Abdominal sterna and subgenital plate with a mediolongitudinal carina. Subgenital plate rounded, boat-shaped with widest at about mid length; posterior rim dorsoventrally flattened and slightly tapering towards the posterior. Apex broadly triangular, almost reaching margin of tergum X.

DISTRIBUTION. Vietnam, Lam Dong province ( Fig. 5 ).

Figures

Fig. 10. Orestes botot sp. nov., holotype ♂. A, habitus, dorsal view. B, habitus, lateral view. C, habitus, ventral view. D, headand thorax, dorsal view. E, terminalia, dorsal view. F, terminalia anterodorsal view.G, terminalia, ventral view. H, terminalia, lateralview.I, head andthorax, lateralview.

Fig.11. Orestes botot sp. nov., paratype ♀. A, habitus, dorsal view. B, habitus, ventral view.C, head and thorax, dorsal view. D, terminalia, dorsal view. E, terminalia anterodorsal view. F, terminalia, lateral view. G, habitus lateralview. H, terminalia, ventralview. I, head andthorax, lateral view.

Fig. 12. Orestes botot sp. nov., in nature. A–B, adult male, Bidoup Nui Ba, 21.VII.2014. C–D, adult female, same data.

Fig.5. Orestes. spp., distribution map.