Peruphasma schultei, Conle, Oskar V. & Hennemann, Frank H., 2005

Conle, Oskar V. & Hennemann, Frank H., 2005, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea I: A remarkable new species of Peruphasma Conle & Hennemann, 2002 from Northern Peru (Phasmatodea: Pseudophasmatidae: Pseudophasmatinae), Zootaxa 1068, pp. 59-68 : 61-64

Peruphasma schultei n. sp.

(figs.1–9)

HT, ɗ: NE­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, (MUSM).

PT (55 ɗɗ, 58 ΨΨ, eggs): 1 Ψ, 3 eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, (MUSM); 1 ɗ, 2 ΨΨ, 2 nymphs, 10 eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, (OC); 2 ɗɗ, 2 ΨΨ, 3 eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, ex. ovum, F1­Generation (ZSMC); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, 3 eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, ex. ovum, F1­Generation (ANSP); 1 ɗ, 1 Ψ, 3 eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, ex. ovum, F1­Generation (ZMHB); 25 ɗɗ, 25 ΨΨ, eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur 1200–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, ex. ovum, F1­Generation (OC); 25 ɗɗ, 25 ΨΨ, eggs: N­Peru, Cordillera del Condor, South Spur, 1500–1800m, leg. R. Schulte, ex. ovum, F1­Generation (FH 0580­1 to 50 & E).

Etymology

This remarkable new species is dedicated to Dipl. Biol. Rainer Schulte (INIBICO NGO, Tarapoto, Peru), a German specialist for wildlife rescue and management, who collected the original specimens.

Differentiation

Easily distinguished from all other species currently included in Peruphasma Conle & Hennemann by the presence of small tegmina and alae; the anal region of the latter is bright red while the colouration shown by living specimens is of a uniform velvet black.

Description

The colouration is described from live specimens.

ΨΨ: Large (body length 43.0–55.0 mm) and rather compact insects for the genus with small tegmina (3.4–4.1 mm) and alae (5.5–6.5 mm). Legs robust but relatively long and distinctly carinated. Complete body surface as well as the extremities all over covered with very minute setae; otherwise smooth. General colouration of the body and legs plain and dull velvet black. Basal quarter of antennae black, remaining parts reddish brown with a white spot at the apex. Usually the antennomeres with a more or less distinct transverse yellow band. Eyes dark yellow to pale orange. Mandibles and maxilles bright red. Tegmina and alae black with a prominent network of yellow veins. Anal region of alae bright red.

Head: Large, hardly longer than wide, oval in cross­section and slightly flattened dorsally, smooth. Minute rudiments of ocelli present. Eyes prominent, very slightly oval and projecting hemispherically. Antennae long and thick, reaching to abdominal tergite VI or VII. All antennomeres except scapus cylindrical and finely bristled. Scapus 1.5x longer than wide, dorsoventrally compressed, rectangular and slightly carinated. Pedicellus 1.5x longer than wide, cylindrical, distinctly narrower than scapus but wider than following antennomeres and about 0.7x the length of scapus. Third antennomere almost as long as scapus and pedicellus combined, fourth distinctly shorter and transverse. Segments towards apex of antennae increasing in length.

Thorax: Oval in cross­section. Pronotum as wide as, but longer than the head, 1.2x longer than wide, broadened towards the posterior; anterolateral angles have a conspicuous excavation to accommodate the defensive glands. Transverse median depression distinct and displaced to anterior third of segment. Mesonotum wider and 1.1 – 1.3x as long as pronotum, about as long as wide and gently broadened towards the posterior. Metanotum and median segment as wide as the posterior of mesonotum and combined about 1.3x longer. Metanotum 2.5x wider than long and shorter than median segment, rectangular. Transverse fissure between metanotum and median segment very distinct and slightly curved. Pro­, meso­ and metaepisternum and sternum simple. Tegmina small, almost circular, disc­like and reaching half way along metanotum. Alae almost twice as long as tegmina, reaching the posterior third of median segment. Venation of the tegmina and costal region of the alae very prominent.

Abdomen: 1.4 x longer than head and complete thorax combined, subcylindrical and slightly gradually constricted towards the apex. Median segment 2x wider than long, rectangular and distinctly longer than following segments. Tergites II–X transverse and decreasing in length, II–VII 4– 5 x, VIII–IX 3– 4 x, X 2x wider than long. Tergite X with a distinct longitudinal median carina, tapered towards the apex, posterior margin rounded. Sternites simple. Subgenital plate large, reaching to posterior margin of tergite X, smooth except for minute setae, apex pointed. Cerci small, straight, cylindrical, gradually constricted towards the apex, slightly broadened at the base and finely bristled.

Legs: All relatively long but robust and distinctly carinated; femora quadrate, tibiae slightly trapezoidal in cross­section. Lacking spines or teeth but minutely bristled. Profemora almost 2x longer than mesothorax, hind legs projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. Profemora straight. Medioventral carina on femora and tibia distinctly visible. Basitarsi 2.0–2.5x longer than the following segment.

ɗɗ: Large (body length 38.0–43.0 mm) and rather compact insects for the genus with small tegmina (2.5–2.8 mm) and alae (4.4–4.8 mm). Very similar to the ΨΨ but smaller and more slender. Legs robust but relatively long and distinctly carinated. Complete body surface as well as the extremities velvet­like and all over covered with very minute setae; otherwise smooth. General colouration as in ΨΨ.

Head: As in ΨΨ but eyes slightly larger.

Thorax: Generally as in ΨΨ, but metanotum 2.0x wider than long.

Abdomen: 1.4x longer than head and complete thorax combined, parallel sided towards tergite VII. Tergites VIII and IX broadened posteriorly. II–IX transverse, II–VI 2x, VII–IX 2.5x wider than long. X about as wide as long, posterior margin rounded and without a medial indention. Poculum large and bulgy, strongly convex and reaching to apex of anal segment, with a rounded posterior margin. A conspicuous finger­like posterolateral appendage of sternite IX is present on the right and almost reaches the posterior margin of anal segment; there is a similar appendage on the left but distinctly smaller and less developed. Vomer basally as wide as long, triangular and with the apex strongly constricted and pointed.

Legs: Generally as in ΨΨ but basitarsi relatively longer.

General colouration pale brown with irregular blackish mottling. Micropylar plate straw with outer margin, micropylar cup and median line dark brown to black. Capsule oval, 1.3–1.4x longer than wide, almost circular in cross­section. Complete surface minutely wrinkled and granulated, not shiny. Micropylar plate oval, 1/3 the length of the capsule, about 2x longer than wide and broadest towards the base. Outer margin conspicuously raised. Micropylar cup very small, positioned in a posteromedial gap of the plate. Median line prominent, distinctly raised and half as long as micropylar plate, reaching about half way to polar­area. Operculum almost circular and very slightly convex. Disc structured like capsule but wrinkles and tubercles slightly more prominent.

Measurements (in mm): length: 3.8–4.0, width: 2.7–2.9, height: 3.0–3.1, length of micropylar plate: 1.2–1.5.

Comments

This remarkable new species appears restricted to a very small area in the Cordillera del Condor in northern Peru. It lives at altitudes of 1200 to 1800 meters and is found in small patches of dwarf forest. The host plant is a so far unidentified species of Schinus ( Anacardiaceae , Fig. 8) and the species appears to be strongly monophagous. During the day these nocturnal phasmids hide in the leaf­bases of big Tillandsias ( Bromeliaceae ) which grow in the original habitat on vertical rock cliffs (R. Schulte, pers. comm.).

In captivity in Europe Peruphasma schultei n. sp. readily accepts Ligustrum ovalifolium and L. japonicum (Oleaceae) as alternative food plants. At temperatures of 20– 25°C and high humidity the species has proven pretty easy to rear. The eggs take 2–5 months to hatch and if kept at the mentioned temperatures nymphs will reach maturity after 4–5 months. The hatching ratios are close to 100% and the nymphs are very sturdy, the mortality during the complete nymphal development being very low. Newly hatched nymphs in particular, are extremely fast moving and can walk very fast. Both, nymphs and adults usually curl up their abdomen when disturbed and readily spray a strongly smelling and corrosive secretion from their prothoracic defensive glands. Adults will additionally open their small alae, exposing the bright red anal region as a warning colour. The eggs are singularly flicked away by the adult Ψ the ratio being 1– 3 eggs per day and Ψ.

Measurements in table 1 (below) were taken from dried specimens.

......continued on the next page The authors would like to express their thanks to Rainer Schulte (INIBICO, Tarapoto, Peru), who discovered the new species, kindly provided papered specimens and live eggs for examination as well as information on the habitat, diet and biology, and the good cooperation and support. Dr. Daniel E. Perez­Gelabert ( United States National Museum, Washington, USA) shall be thanked for providing helpful comments on the manuscript. Rainer Schulte owes thanks to Mark Hoogeslag from IUCN­ SPN­ NL office for the help to save Dendrobates mysteriosus and many other new species living in our Wildlife Refuges. The Dutch Postcode Lottery provided the funds for this project (Project Nº. 7 LA 000203).