Malacomorpha cancellata ( Redtenbacher, 1906 ) Heleodoro & Andreazze & Rafael, 2017

Heleodoro, Raphael Aquino, Andreazze, Ricardo & Rafael, José Albertino, 2017, Redescription of Malacomorpha cancellata (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae): a geographically misplaced Neotropical species, Zoologia (e 20476) 34, pp. 1-10 : 2-9

Malacomorpha cancellata ( Redtenbacher, 1906) , comb. nov.

Figs 1–17, 19–30.

Olcyphides cancellatus Redtenbacher, 1906 ; Zompro 2002 (notes on holotype).

Pseudolcyphides cancellatus ; Weidner 1966 (note on holotype); Hennemann et al. 2008 (geographical record); Brock et al. 2016 (world catalogue).

Diagnosis. Antenna with antennomeres alternating yellow and black from base to apex ( Figs 4, 6). Pro- and mesonotum with three longitudinal and parallel black stripes ( Figs 1, 7). Tegmina with white band between radial and medial veins ( Figs 8, 14). Femora, tibiae and first tarsomeres alternating yellow and black from base to apex ( Figs 3, 13–15, 19–21). Metasternum with black spots from apex of basal third to apex of median third ( Figs 2, 9, 11, 15, 21). Sternites with irregular-shaped complex of spots at distal half ( Figs 2, 10, 12, 15, 21).

Redescription. Females from Natal , Brazil, and holotype specimen ( Figs 1–5, 7–10, 13–17, 30). Head. Frons and vertex dorsally smooth, yellow with black stripes ( Fig. 13). Face yellow. Clypeus rectangular. Labrum U-shaped. Gena black ( Figs 4, 14). Antennomeres covered by short setae, with color alternating yellow and black from base to apex ( Figs 13–15). Ocellum present. Compound eye globose, black, dorsally with yellow stripes. Labial and maxillary palps yellow, covered by setae .

Thorax. Pronotum rectangular, 1.4 times longer than wide, rugged, yellow with three longitudinal and parallel black stripes ( Figs 1, 7, 13). Mesonotum rectangular, 1.5 times longer than pronotum ( Figs 1, 7, 13). Propleuron black, smooth. Mesopleuron triangular, black, with yellow stripe at apex of apical third, rugged ( Figs 4, 14). Prosternum rugged, yellow, anteriorly trapezoidal, posteriorly rectangular. Mesosternum smooth, rugged, yellow with black spots ( Figs 2, 15). Metasternum smooth, yellow, with black spots from apex of basal third to apex of median third ( Figs 2, 9, 15).

Legs. Covered by setae laterally. Coxae and trochanters black. Anterior femur black except yellow dorsally at basal third. Anterior tibia with basal third yellow, remaining black ( Figs 13–15). Mid femur yellow at proximal half, with small black spot at base; distal half black ( Figs 1, 14, 15). Mid tibia with basal third yellow, remaining black ( Figs 13–15). Posterior femur yellow at basal and medial third, black at apical third ( Figs 13–17). Tarsi with first tarsomeres alternating black and yellow; black from second to fifth tarsomeres ( Figs 3, 13–15).

Wings. Tegmina black, elongated, two times longer than broad, with several longitudinal and transversal yellow veins; shoulder elevated, with white band between radial and medial veins ( Figs 8, 14). Posterior wing six times longer than tegmina, costal area black with longitudinal and transversal yellow veins ( Figs 13, 14); anal area reddish in live specimens and whitish in preserved specimens.

Abdomen. Laterally covered by small setae. Tergites 1–2 dorsally yellow, without spots; tergites 3–10 yellow with black spots apically. Tergites 2–7 dorsally rectangular, 1.5 times longer than wide. Tergites 8–9 dorsally trapezoidal, with arched spots at apex. Tergite 8 laterally rectangular, 1.3 times longer than high ( Figs 5, 16). Tergite 9 laterally rectangular, 1.2 times higher than long ( Figs 5, 16). Tergite 10 dorsally with straight basal margin, lateral margin convex and apical margin arched; laterally with basal and lateral margin straight, apical margin curved ( Figs 5, 16). Sternites with irregular-shaped complex of spots at distal half ( Figs 10, 15). Sternites 2–7 rectangular, two times longer than wide; sternite 2 yellow, gradually turning black from sternite 3 to sternite 7 ( Fig. 15). Subgenital plate sword-shaped, with basal margin straight, lateral margin sinuous and apical margin acute; proximal half broad, gradually narrowing from base to apex of distal half; elongated, 1.5 times longer than broad; black with yellow spots, covered by setae ( Fig. 17). Cercus slender, straight, narrowing from base to apex, covered by setae ( Figs 16–17).

Measurements (mm). Body length 70.4–71.2; pronotum 3.9–4.1; mesonotum 9.4–10.0; anterior femur 11.0–11.8; anterior tibia 10.2–10.3; mid femur 8.4–8.5; mid tibia 6.7–6.8; posterior femur 12.3–12.5; posterior tibia 11.3–11.5.

Description of males (based on specimens from Natal, Brazil). Similar to female, but with shorter and slender body and with the following differences.

Thorax. Black stripes at pro- and mesonotum and white band in tegmina thinner. Mesosternum without black spots. Black spots of metasternum with lighter coloration. Abdomen. Tergite 8 dorsally quadrangular, laterally two times longer than high ( Figs 22–23). Tergite 9 dorsally and laterally trapezoidal ( Figs 22–23). Tergite 10 dorsally rectangular, 1.4 times wider than long, with straight basal margin and lateral margin, apical margin slightly emarginated medially and projected laterally ( Figs 22–24).Abdominal sterna yellow. Sternite 7 1.5 times longer than wide ( Fig. 21). Sternite 8 with straight basal margin, lateral margin broadening towards apex, apical margin arched, convex ( Fig. 24). Subgenital plate ventrally quadrangular, with straight basal margin, curved lateral margin, and straight apical margin; rugose, covered by setae ( Fig. 24). Cercus robust, cylindrical, curved, covered by small setae ( Figs 21–24). Vomer broad at basal third, narrowing at median third towards to apex; apex curved upwards ( Fig. 25). Genitalia. Connected to subgenital plate by two anterior points, pouch-like shaped and globose, mostly membranous, with some sclerotized parts ( Figs 26–27), divided into two big lobes, dorsal and ventral. Dorsal lobe dorsally with small and scattered setae; dorsoapically with group of spines; anteroventrally with sclerotized and sinuous right process of phallic complex; apically with well sclerotized, ellipsoidal left posterior sclerite ( Figs 28–29). Ventral lobe divided into two ellipsoidal parts ( Figs 28–29).

Measurements (mm). Body length 41.1–41.7; pronotum 1.8–2.0; mesonotum 3.4–3.7; anterior femur 8.8–9.1; anterior tibia 7.4–7.5; mid femur 5.7–5.8; mid tibia 5.3–5.4; posterior femur 8.2–8.3; posterior tibia 9.0–9.1.

Variations. The most noticeable variations are in the color of the antennomeres and legs, which can vary from dark to light yellow. Some male specimens have a lighter pigmentation of the thoracic and abdominal spots.

Material examined. Brasil, Rio Grande do Norte: Natal (Parque das Dunas Costeiras do Natal), 13.iv.1984, 29 females, Varela-Freire, A.A. leg. Collected manually on Ubaias [ Eugenia pyriformis Cambess. ( Myrtaceae )] (CEAAVF); same data but 3.vi.1984, 3 males, Varela-Freire, A.A. leg Collected manually on Ubaias (CEAAVF); same data but 3.vi.1986, 2 males, 2 females, A. A. Freire leg., Collected manually on Ubaia (INPA); same data but 05.iv.1989, 3males 2females (INPA); Parnamirim (Barreira do Inferno), 19.iii.2009, 1 females, Oliveira, D.V. leg. (INPA); Parnamirim (Coabinal), 25.iv.2009, 1 male, Magalhães, L.B. leg. (INPA); (Parque das Dunas), 15.vi.2010, 1 female, Soares, A.M. leg. (INPA); Goianinha (Usina Estivas), 30.iv.2011, 1 female Brito, M.M. leg. (INPA); same data but 26.iv.2011, 1male, Dantas, A.K. leg. (INPA); Parnamirim (Pium), 23.v.2015, 1 male, Silva, J. leg. (INPA); Baia Formosa (Mata Estrela), 14.iii.2016, 1 male, 1 female, Silva, G.M. leg., collected manually on dune (INPA); Natal (UFRN, Mata dos Saguis), 20.iii.2016, 1 female, Garcia G.S. leg. (INPA); Parnamirim (Barreira do Inferno), 1.v.2016, 1female, Silva, F. leg. (INPA); idem, 1male, Coutinho, J.R.S. leg. (INPA); same data but 1 female, Lima, L. leg. (INPA); Natal (Parque das Dunas, zona interdunal), 03.vi.1984, 5 males, 5 females, A.A. Freire, leg., collected manually on Ubaia (MZUSP); Parnamirim, 30.iv.2009, 2 females, Oliveira, D.V. leg. (MZUSP); Natal [actually Parnamirim] (Barreira do Inferno), 11.vi.2009, 1 male, 1 female, Damião Valdenor de Oliveira leg. (MZUSP); Parnamirim, 29.iv.2010, 2females, Oliveira, C.A.S. leg. (MZUSP); Parnamirim, 2.v.2010, 1female, Lima, G.R.R. leg. (MZUSP); Natal, (Ponta Negra), 11.vi.2011, 1female, Bezerra, A.M. leg. (MZUSP); Parnamirim (Barreira do Inferno), 04.vii.2014, 01 female, Medeiros, A.G.N. leg. (MZUSP).

Biological information. A couple of individuals in copula were photographed in a forest fragment near the city of Natal ( Fig. 30). The male was positioned adjacently to the female, the body turned almost upside down, clasping the female with its terminalia. The copula lasted approximately 45 minutes.

Known distribution. Brazil, Rio Grande do Norte: Natal, Baía Formosa, Goianinha, Parnamirim.

Remarks. The name of the genus comes from the Greek Malakós (soft, gentle) and Morphé (shape, form) and ends with the suffix “a”, indicating that it is a feminine name. Thus, the specific name also has to be feminine. “Cancellatus ” comes from the Latin and means latticed, being a masculine word. Therefore, we changed the specific name to “cancellata ” to agree with the gender of the genus.

Conle et al. (2008) did not mention this species in their revision of Malacomorpha and hence they did not transfer it from Pseudolcyphides to Malacomorpha . Since they did not propose a new combination, the generic placement of this species remained questionable (i.e., whether it should be Pseudolcyphides or Malacomorpha ). In addition, it is important to highlight that the specific name “cancellatus ” had never been combined with Malacomorpha in a scientific publication before.

Although Brock et al. (2016) already used the combination “ Malacomorpha cancellatus ”, it was used in an online digital database that does not constitute a formal scientific publication, since it is not registered with the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank). According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, this violates Article 8.5.3, which mandates that a valid electronic publication: “be registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) (see Article 78.2.4) and contain evidence in the work itself that such registration has occurred.” Thus, we are here treating this combination as new.

Malacomorpha cancellata comb. nov. has a striking and unique coloration pattern. In addition, it can be distinguished from the wingless M. androsensis Rehn, 1906 , M. bastardoae Conle et al., 2008 , M. guamuhayaense Zompro and Fritzsche, 2008 , M. jamaicana ( Redtenbacher, 1906) , M. macaya Conle et al., 2008 , M. multipunctata Conle et al., 2008 , M. obscura Conle et al., 2008 , and M. sanchezi Conle et al., 2008 by the presence of wings. Among winged species it differs from M. cyllara (Westwood, 1859) by having a wider and quadrangular subgenital plate (rounded in M. cyllara ); from M. hispaniola Conle et al., 2008 by having longer and ellipsoidal tegmina (short and rectangular in M. hispaniola ).