Phraortes lii, Ho, 2016

Ho, Wai-Chun George, 2016, A new species of genus Phraortes Stål and the first description of female P. corniformis Chen & He from China (Phasmatodea: Phasmatidae), Zoological Systematics 41 (3), pp. 332-336 : 333-335

Phraortes lii sp. nov. ( Figs 3–6 , 9–10 )

Holotype ♂, China, Guangxi, Xing’an, Mao’ershan , 700–1000 m, 24 July 2012, coll. Wai-Chun George Ho. Paratype. 1♀, same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to P. corniformis Chen & He, 1993 but can be diagnosed by duller colouration, more robust body and indistinct granulation on body in both sexes, laterally swollen anal abdominal segment in male and paired praeopercular organ on seventh abdominal sternum in female.

Male. General colour of body and legs brown. Body slender, inconspicuously granulated. Head sparsely covered with minute granules. Oblong, slightly longer than pronotum. Vertex flat, with a pair of small rounded depressions between antennal bases. Occiput flat, with indistinct median furrow, posterior margin with 6 small swellings. Compound eyes small and rounded, about 2.8 times as long as genae. Between compound eyes with a pair of flattened oval elevations. Antennae filiform, projecting over apices of forelegs, covered with sparse bristles; scapus cylindrical, flattened basally, about 2.2 times as long as pedicellus; third segment as long as pedicellus. Thorax inconspicuously covered with minute granules, prothorax with less granules than mesothorax and metathorax. Pronotum nearly rectangular, anterior and posterior margins truncate, longitudinal and transverse sulci crossing at middle area, posterior apex of longitudinal sulcus not reaching posterior margin of pronotum. Mesonotum elongated, longer than mesofemora, about 6.3 times as long as pronotum, broadly emarginated medially, with faint mediolongitudinal line. Metanotum shorter than mesofemora, about 3.8 times as long as median segment. Abdomen inconspicuously covered with minute granules. Median segment nearly square. Second to seventh terga parallelsided. Second to sixth terga slightly equal in length. Seventh tergum shorter than preceding terga. Eighth tergum moderately expanded posteriorly. Ninth tergum longer than eighth tergum. Anal segment deeply split into 2 semi-terga. Semi-terga swollen laterally, tapering posteriorly, apices rounded and curved inwards. Subgenital plate cup-shaped, flattened, posterior margin truncate. Cerci not exposed, cylindrical, apices pointed and slightly curved inwards. Legs slender. All femora thicker than corresponding tibiae. Profemora curved basally, longer than mesonotum, posteroventral carina with 2 small teeth near apex. Mesofemora as long as mesotibiae. Anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of mesofemora and metafemora with 2 small teeth near apices. All tibiae unarmed.

Female. Body more robust and larger than male. General colour of body and legs brown. Body slender, inconspicuously covered with minute granules. Head oval, longer than pronotum. Vertex flat, with a pair of minute granule-like horns between compound eyes. Occiput flat, with distinct median furrow, lateral furrows indistinct, posterior margin with indistinct swellings. Compound eyes small and rounded, about 4.5 times as long as genae. Antennae filiform, projecting over apices of forelegs; scapus flattened basally, about 2 times as long as pedicellus, 1.5 times as long as third segment; third segment slightly longer than pedicellus. Pronotum with longitudinal and transverse sulci crossing at middle area, anterior margin slightly curved inwards, posterior margin nearly truncate. Mesonotum about 6.3 times as long as pronotum, moderately expanded posteriorly, with distinct mediolongitudinal line. Metanotum shorter than mesofemora, about 4.3 times as long as median segment. Abdomen cylindrical. Median segment wider than long. Third to fifth terga and seventh terga equal in length. Sixth tergum the longest. Seventh sternum with a pair of spine-like praeopercular organ posteriorly, apices pointing posteriorly. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment slightly as long as ninth tergum, with deep V-shaped emargination on posterior margin, posterolateral angles obtuse. Supra-anal plate small, posterior margin rounded, slightly projecting over posterolateral angles of anal segment. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, with lateral carinae, posterior margin rounded, projecting over posterior margin of supra-anal plate. Cerci short, tapering posteriorly, apices projecting over posterior margin of supra-anal plate. Legs slender. All femora distinctly thicker than all tibiae. Profemora as long as mesonotum, posteroventral carina with a spinose elevation near apex, bearing 2 small spines. Anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of mesofemora and metafemora with a spinose elevation near apices, bearing 2 small spines. Medioventral carina of all tibiae elevated basally. Protarsi with an indistinct lamella.

Measurements. Body length ♂ 84.0 mm, ♀ 115.0 mm; antennae ♂ 58.0 mm, ♀ 58.0 mm; head ♂ 4.0 mm, ♀ 6.0 mm; pronotum ♂ 3.0 mm, ♀ 4.0 mm; mesonotum ♂ 19.0 mm, ♀ 25.0 mm; metanotum ♂ 11.5 mm, ♀ 15.0 mm; median segment ♂ 3.0 mm, ♀ 3.5 mm; profemora ♂ 23.0 mm, ♀ 25.0 mm; mesofemora ♂ 16.0 mm, ♀ 17.0 mm; metafemora ♂ 21.0 mm, ♀ 20.0 mm; protibiae ♂ 24.0 mm, ♀ 24.0 mm; mesotibiae ♂ 16.0 mm, ♀ 16.0 mm; metatibiae ♂ 22.0 mm, ♀ 20.0 mm.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Remarks. This species is found in evergreen broadleaf forests between 700 and 1000 metres.

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Prof. Lizhen Li (Shanghai) for his contributions to the entomology of China.

Figures

Figures 1–6. Phraortes spp. 1–2. P. corniformis Chen & He, 1993. 3–6. P. lii sp. nov. 1. Female end of abdomen, dorsal view. 2. Female end of abdomen, lateral view. 3. Male end of abdomen, dorsal view. 4. Male end of abdomen, lateral view. 5. Female end of abdomen, dorsal view. 6. Female end of abdomen, lateral view. Scale bars =5mm.

Figures 7–10. Phraortes spp. 7–8. P. corniformis Chen & He, 1993. 9–10. P. lii sp. nov. 7, 9. Male habitus. 8, 10. Female habitus. Scale bars=5mm.