Cnipsomorpha serratitibia, Ho, 2021

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2021, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea X: Eight new species of Cnipsomorpha from China (Phasmatidae: Clitumninae: Medaurini), Zootaxa 5026 (1), pp. 102-126 : 113-114

Cnipsomorpha serratitibia sp. nov.

(Figs. 20–21, 39, 50, 70–71, 81)

Types. Holotype: ♀, 2000m, Primitive broad-leaved forests near Jinhezhen , Jinping , Honghe, Yunnan, China, 26.VIII.2019, George Ho Wai-Chun ( HKES) ; Paratypes: 10 eggs (extracted from the abdomen of holotype ♀), same data as holotype ♀ ( HKES) .

Diagnosis. Cnipsomorpha serratitibia sp. nov. is similar to C. trituberculata sp. nov., but can be separated by having four pairs of medial spines on the mesonotum, the carina-like praeopercular organ on the posteromedian area of seventh abdominal sternum and having five to seven serrations on the anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae of tibiae in the female.

Description. Female (Figs. 20–21, 39, 50, 70–71, 81). Small size. Body robust. General colouration of body and legs green, with blackish markings.

Head: Covered with very few small granules. Oblong, longer than wide, gently tapering posteriorly behind compound eyes. Vertex convex, with paired supra-antennal spines. Occiput distinctly convex, with paired supraorbital spines; also with two pairs of occipital medial spines along median longitudinal furrow, anterior pair largest and longest than posterior pair. Compound eyes small and rounded, its length about four times that of genae. Antennae with 13 segments, reaching middle area of profemora; scapus flattened at base, as long as combined length of pedicellus and third segment; and pedicellus shorter than third segment.

Thorax: Sparsely covered with small granules. Pronotum nearly trapezoidal, gently expanded posteriorly, anterior margin weakly incurved, posterior margin truncate, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing at middle point; with a pair of posterior medial spines, lateral margins with a small spine medially. Mesonotum moderately expanded posteriorly, swollen medially, about two-and-one-half times length of pronotum; with paired anterior medial, pre-median medial, post-median medial and posterior medial spines; also with paired pre-median and median spines; lateral margins with a few small spines. Metanotum longer than wide, about four times length of median segment; with anterior medial, pre-median medial, median medial and post-median medial spines, also with pre-median spines. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a supra-coxal spine. Mesosternum and metasternum also with a few acute granules.

Abdomen: Cylindrical and tapering posteriorly, with a few small granules. Second to ninth tergites with triangularly expanded posterolateral angles, indistinct on second and ninth tergites. Median segment narrow, wider than long, with paired posterior spines. Second to seventh tergites with paired anterior medial, median medial, posterior medial and posterior spines. Posteromedian area of seventh sternum elevated with a hump-like praeopercular organ, posterior apex weakly emarginated. Eighth tergum with a pair of posterior medial spines. Ninth tergum shorter than eighth tergum, with a pair of tooth-like crests posteromedially. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, posterior margin emarginated, posterolateral angles pointed; mediolongitudinal carina distinct, posteromedially elevated with a tooth-like crest, posterior apex elongated posteriorly and pointed. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, posterior apex pointed and reaching posterior area of anal segment. Cerci long, flattened, tapering posteriorly, apices pointed and surpassing posterior apices of anal segment.

Legs: Slender. Femora thicker than corresponding tibiae, with blackish markings. Anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of femora with three to six small serrations. Profemora weakly curved basally. Tibiae longer than corresponding femora, anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae with five to seven small serrations, anteroventral and posteroventral carinae with indistinct serrations.

Measurements in Table 6 .

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Notes. The male is unknown. The description, illustrations and measurements of eggs are not provided because the extracted eggs were probably in an immature stage.

Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the serrate tibiae in the female.

Suggested common name (Chinese). 齒脛華¬'.