Prisopus piperinus Redtenbacher, 1906

Conle, Oskar V., Hennemann, Frank H., Bellanger, Yannick, Lelong, Philippe, Jourdan, Toni & Valero, Pablo, 2020, Studies on neotropical Phasmatodea XX: A new genus and 16 new species from French Guiana, Zootaxa 4814 (1), pp. 1-136 : 117-119

Prisopus piperinus Redtenbacher, 1906

( Figs. 46 h , 47 h )

Prisopus piperinus Redtenbacher, 1906: 154 , pl.5: 16. LT, ♀: Coll Br. v.W., Cayenne, Deyrolle ded; det Redtenb., Prisopus piperinus , 4029 [NHMW, No. 256]; PLT, ♀: Museum Paris, Guyane FR., La Mana, Mélinon 1864; 499.64, Collection Br. v.W.; det Redtenb., Prisopus piperinus , 23.420[NHMW, No. 256]; PLT, ♀: Museum Paris, Guyane Franc., St. - Laurent, Mélinon 1862; 331.62; 141. Prisopus piperinus, Redt. ♀; Syntypus [MNHN]; PLT, ♀ (nymph): Museum Paris, Guyane Franc., Prisopus piperinus, Redt. ♀; Syntypus [MNHN]

Chopard, 1911: 342

Brock, 1998: 50

Otte & Brock, 2005: 285

Further material [33 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀, 4 eggs]: FRENCH GUIANA: 1 ♂: 28.XII.97, Guyane fr. D6, PK33,5. leg. B. Hermier, det. coll. ASPER [in ASPER-PL]; 1 ♀: Guyane Française 1990, Nouveau Chantier, Collection Le Moult; Février; Museum Paris, Collection Lucien Chopard, 1914; Prisopus Piperinus ♀ Redt. [ MNHN]; 1 ♀: Museum Paris, Cayenne; P. Flabelliformis Gray. (Cayenne) [ MNHN]; 1 ♀: Prisopus Piperinus Redt, L. Chopard & L. Berland det. 1919; P. flabelliformis Stoll, Cayenne, M. Audouit ; Collection e Serville, déterminé par Serville sous le nom de flabelliformis Gray ; 331, 69 [ MNHN]; 1 ♀: Museum Paris, Guyane, M. Descamps rec.; Sinnamary 3.6- VII-1977 [ MNHN]; 1 ♀: Museum Paris, Guyane, M. Descamps rec.; Sinnamary VII-1977 [ MNHN]; 1 ♀, 4 eggs: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 01.-02.2009 [coll. OC, No. 0287-1, 0287-1-E]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Saül, Belvédère de Saül, 3°37’22” N– 53°12’57” W, 326m, S.E.A.G., Malaise-trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 31.10.2012 [coll. OC, No. 0287-19]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, RN2 PK22, 4°44’56”N– 52°26’28”W, 75m, S.E.A.G., Lichtfang, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 12.09.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0287-43]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 22.09.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-44]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guy- ana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 25.08.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-45]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 04.12.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-46]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 01.09.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-47]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Can- opy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 10.11.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-48]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 12.05.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-49]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Che- vaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 13.10.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-50]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy UV light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 13.10.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-51]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 13.01.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-52]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 02.12.2017 [coll. OC, No. 0287-53]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 02.09.2017 [coll. OC, No. 0287-54]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 17.03.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-55]; 1 ♂: Franzö- sisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 23.12.2017 [coll. OC, No. 0287-56]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 18.08.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-57]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 18.08.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-58]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 17.03.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-59]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 06.10.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-60]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 21.07.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-61]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 28.07.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-62]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap blue, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 20.01.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-63]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie pink trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 03.11.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-64]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie pink trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 04.12.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-65]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie pink trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 15.09.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-66]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie pink trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 29.09.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-67]; 1 ♂: Fran- zösisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie blue trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 17.11.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-68]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Canopy Lumivie blue trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 01.11.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-69]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux, 4°44’31”N– 52°25’53”W, 90m, S.E.A.G., Automatic light trap pink, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 08.09.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-70]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Saint Georges, Piton Rocheux de l’Armontabo, S.E.A.G., Light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 16.06.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287-71]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Saül, Point de Vue, 3°37’22”N– 53°12’58”W, 300m, S.E.A.G., Light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 22.03.2018 [coll. OC, No. 0287- 72]; 1 ♂: Französisch Guyana: Commune de Maripasoula, Mitaraka, 2°14’1”N– 54°27’38”W, 390m, S.E.A.G., Light trap, leg. Stéphane Brûlé 20.08.2015 [coll. OC, No. 0287-73].

GUYANA: 1 ♀: Brit. Guiana, W. Kutari Source. 17.I.1936. G. A. Hudson. B.M.1936-360 [ NHMUK] .

Differentiation. Similar to P. occipitalis Dohrn, 1910 , P. phacellus Westwood, 1859 and P. clarus n. sp.. From P. occipitalis , which is so far only known from the ♂♂, it differs by the lack of the black transverse band at the posterior margin of the metasternum and presence of a lateral, apical spine on the metatibiae. From P. phacellus it is easily distinguished by the U-shaped black band on the posterior margin of the metasternum in both sexes. From P. clarus n. sp. it is distinguished by the darker colour of the tegmina and costal area of the alae and the comparatively wider mesosternum in the ♂♂.

Description. ♀. Large and robust for the genus (body length 89.0 mm), the mesonotum transverse and scarcely longer than the pronotum, the head armed with several prominent spines at the posterior margin and abdominal terga VI–X with distinct lateral lobes. Pro- and mesonotum bearing some single acute granules. General colouration of dorsal surface of head, thorax and abdomen and dorsal surface of legs greyish brown to reddish brown, often lichenous. Ventral side of head, thorax, abdomen and legs dull yellow to orange with a U-shaped black band on the posterior margin of metasternum; this band often interrupted at the base of the “U”. Abdominal sternites II–VII with broad transverse black bands. Vertex in some specimens with tiny white spots. Antennae brown with some weakly defined dark brown markings, antennomeres slightly club-shaped. Eyes marbled in brown and black. Tegmina and costal region of alae pale brown to grey with dark brown veins and irregular dark mottling; basal two thirds of costal area of alae creamish white to greenish grey with irregular dark brown markings. Protuberances of tegmina slightly to distinctly roundly elevated. Anal region of alae transparent and irregularly reticulate, the transverse stripes brown. Subgenital plate flat, posterior margin rounded, at best reaching posterior margin of sternum IX. Epiproct slightly incised posteromedially, hardly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment, dark brown to black. Cerci long and slender, laterally compressed with rounded apex, slightly longer than anal segment. All legs bearing fine setae at their posterior margins. Profemora with a large outer and a small inner lobe at apical margin. Femora of all legs distinctly undulate. Metatibiae with a short, curved, acute spine at apical margin. Basitarsus 2x longer than second tarsomere.

♂ ( Figs. 46 h , 47 h ). Very similar to ♀, but smaller and more slender (body length 59.0–64.0 mm). Transverse black bands on abdominal sternites II to poculum. Vomer small and triangular with an up-curving hook with acute apex. Poculum flat with the posterior margin rounded, posteromedially slightly incised, at best reaching centre of anal segment.

Comments. This species is characterized by the yellow ventral body surface, the distinctive black, U-shaped marking near the posterior margin of the metasternum and the transverse black band of the abdominal sternites. As in most species of the genus the colouration of the dorsal surface of body, wings and legs can vary a lot and sometimes shows interesting darker and paler patterns. The central protuberance of the tegmina can be indistinct to very pronounced.

Distribution. French Guiana: Cayenne [MNHN, NHMW]; La Mana [NHMW]; St-Laurent [MNHN]; Sinnamary [MNHN]; Nouveau Chantier [MNHN]; Commune de Roura, Montagne des Chevaux [coll. OC]; Commune de Maripasoula, Mitaraka [coll. OC]; Commune de Saül, Point de Vue [coll. OC]; Commune de Saint Georges, Piton Rocheux de l’Armontabo [coll. OC]; Guyana: W. Kutari Source [NHMUK].

Figures

FIGURE 46. Comparison of males of all known Prisopus spp. for French Guiana. Habitus in dorsal view. a. P. wolfgangjunki; b. P. clarus n. sp.; c. P. sacratus; d. P. horstokkii; e. P. horridus; f. P. phacellus; g. P. minimus; h. P. piperinus; i. P. ariadne; j. P. conocephalus n.sp..

FIGURE 47. Comparison of males of all known Prisopus spp. for French Guiana. Habitus in ventral view. a. P. wolfgangjunki; b. P. clarus n. sp.; c. P. sacratus; d. P. horstokkii; e. P. horridus; f. P. phacellus; g. P. minimus; h. P. piperinus; i. P. ariadne; j. P. conocephalus n.sp..