Sinoxenophasmina abbreviatum, Ho, 2021

Ho, Wai-Chun George, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea IX: First report of Xeroderinae (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae) from China, Zoological Systematics 46 (2), pp. 187-190 : 188-189

Sinoxenophasmina abbreviatum sp. nov. ( Figs 1–11 )

Diagnosis. As in the generic diagnosis.

Description. Female. Small size. Apterous. Body distinctly larger and more robust than male. General colouration of body brown, legs brown with light brown markings. Head rounded, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex and occiput gently convex. Median and lateral longitudinal furrows distinct. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about two times of genae. Antennae sparsely covered with short bristles, apices reaching protarsi; scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus, as long as third segment. Pronotum trapezoidal, gently constricted posteriorly, shorter than head; anterior margin thickened, gently curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point. Mesonotum parallel-sided, longer than combined length of metanotum and median segment, median longitudinal carina distinct, sparsely covered with a few small granules and a few oblong granules. Metanotum as long as median segment, gently expanded posteriorly, median longitudinal carina distinct, sparsely covered with a few small granules. Mesopleurae with a few small granules. Mesopleurae with short hairs on lower margin. Mesosternnm and metasternum lacking granulation. Abdomen cylindrical, tapering posteriorly. Sparsely covered with a few small granules, median and lateral longitudinal carinae distinct. Median segment longer than wide. Seventh sternum lacking praeopercular organ. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment roughly as long as ninth tergum, medially constricted posteriorly, posterior margin rounded. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, flattened, tapering posteriorly, apex pointed and reaching posterior margin of anal segment. Cerci short, subcylindrical and nearly flattened, apices pointed and surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs slender and long, unarmed, covered with short hairs. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, triangular in cross-section. Profemora gently curved basally, posterodorsal carina indistinct, anterodorsal and posteroventral carinae waved with small elevations, anteroventral carina lacking elevation. Posterodorsal carina of mesofemora indistinct, anterodorsal carina waved with indistinct elevations, posteroventral carina waved with small elevations, anteroventral carina lacking elevation. Anterodorsal carina metafemora indistinct, posterodorsal and posteroventral carinae lacking elevation, anteroventral carina waved with small elevations. Tibiae roughly as long as corresponding femora. Posteroventral carina of protibiae and mesotibiae and anteroventral carina of metatibiae waved with small elevations, other carinae lacking elevation.

Male. Small size. Apterous. Body slender, similar to female, distinctly thinner and more slenderer than female. General colouration of body and legs greenish brown. Head sparsely covered with a few small granules. Rounded, vertex and occiput gently convex, median and lateral longitudinal furrows distinct. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about two times of genae. Antennae long and filiform; scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus; and third segment longer than combined length of scapus and pedicellus. Thorax wrinkled. Pronotum trapezoidal, gently constricted posteriorly, as long as head; anterior margin thickened, gently curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point. Mesonotum parallel-sided, longer than combined length of metanotum and median segment. Metanotum longer than median segment. Lower margin of mesopleurae with short hairs. Abdomen slender and cylindrical, surface gloss. Median segment rectangular, longer than wide. Second to sixth tergites parallel-sided. Eighth tergum expanded posteriorly, longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment roughly as long as ninth tergum, gently tapering posteriorly, posterior margin thickened, weakly emarginated. Poculum small, cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded and reaching anterior area of anal segment. Cerci subcylindrical, nearly flattened, short, weakly curved inwards, apices surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs slender and long, covered with short hairs. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, more or less triangular in cross-section, medioventral carina with a few minute teeth subapically. Profemora curved basally, posterodorsal carina indistinct, anterodorsal carina with a minute tooth near middle area. Tibiae roughly as long as corresponding femora. Apical part of vomer symmetrical, gradually constricted apically, apex pointed.

Measurements. Body length, ♀ 61.0mm, ♂ 51.0–55.0 mm; antennae, ♀ 24.0 mm, ♂ 33.0–34.0mm; head, ♀ 4.5 mm, ♂ 3.0 mm; pronotum, ♀ 4.0 mm, ♂ 3.0 mm; mesonotum, ♀ 14.0 mm, ♂ 13.0mm; metanotum, ♀ 4.0 mm, ♂ 3.5–4.0 mm; median segment, ♀ 4.0 mm, ♂ 2.5–3.0 mm; profemora, ♀ 12.0mm, ♂ 13.0 mm; mesofemora, ♀ 9.0 mm, ♂ 9.0 mm; metafemora, ♀ 13.0 mm, ♂ 13.0 mm; protibiae, ♀ 11.0 mm, ♂ 12.0 mm; mesotibiae, ♀ 7.0 mm, ♂ 8.0 mm; metatibiae, ♀ 12.0 mm, ♂ 12.0 mm.

Egg. Capsule greenish brown, wrinkled; oval, moderately tapering posteriorly in dorsal view, posterior pole weakly notched in lateral view. Micropylar plate oval, anteriorly tapering and pointed, posteriorly rounded. Micropylar cup placed at posterior area of micropylar plate. Median line indistinct. Operculum centrally with a stalked, mushroom-like capitulum.

Measurements. Capsule length, 3.0 mm; capsule width, 2.5 mm; capsule height, 3.0 mm.

Material examined. Holotype ♀, China, Yunnan, Dehong, Yingjiang , 1000 m, 3 July 2019, George Ho Wai-Chun . Paratypes. 2 eggs, same data as holotype ; 1♂, 1 immature ♀, China, Yunnan, Yuxi, Xinping , 2000 m, 23 June 2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ; 1♂, China, Yunnan, Honghe, Jinping , 2000 m, 26 August 2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ; 1♂, China, Yunnan, Honghe, Jinping, Fenshuiling , 1300–1400 m, 4 September 2016, George Ho Wai-Chun .

Distribution. China.

Remarks. The measurements only included the adults.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the short body length while compared with the taxa in Xenophasmina .

Figures

Figures 1–11. Sinoxenophasmina abbreviatum gen. & sp. nov. 12. Xenophasmina fimbriatum (Redtenbacher, 1908). 1. Female apex of abdomen, lateral view. 2. Female apex of abdomen, dorsal view. 3. Male apex of abdomen, lateral view. 4. Male apex of abdomen, dorsal view. 5. Male vomer, ventral view. 6. Female habitus. 7. Male habitus. 8. Female head and thorax, dorsolateral view. 9. Male head and thorax, dorsolateral view. 10. Egg, lateral view. 11. Egg, dorsal view. 12. Female habitus. Scale bars: 1–4, 6–9, 12=5mm; 5, 10–11=1mm.