Huananphasma amicum (Bey-Sienko, 1959)

Wen, Jun, Qian, Yu-Han, Xie, Chong-Xin, Chen, Rui & Wang, Chen, 2024, New species and new synonym of Necrosciini (Phasmatodea: Lonchodidae: Necrosciinae) from Hainan Province, China, Zootaxa 5507 (2), pp. 371-383 : 377-382

Huananphasma amicum (Bey-Sienko, 1959) ( Figs. 3–6 )

Huananphasma amicum Bey-Sienko, 1959 : Zoologicheskii Zhurnal. 38:1818, 1820, fig. 4 (type locality: China, Guangdong province, Dinghushan preserve forest; original description male, holotype in ZIN); Ho G.W.C., 2013. Stick Insects of Hong Kong. 93–97 (described male, female and egg).

Sipyloidea wuzhishanensis Chen S.C., He Y.H., & Li Y., 2002 . Forest insects of Hainan. 105, fig. 6 (type locality: China, Hainan province, Wuzhishan District of National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest; original description female and male, holotype and paratype in BJFU); Xu J., 2006. Master Thesis. 62, fig. 26 (provide a picture of egg); Chen S.C. & He Y.H., 2008. Phasmatodea of China. 170, fig. 135 (redescription). syn. nov.

Material examined. 1 male and 3 females, China, Hainan Province, Ledong Li Autonomous County, Jianfengling District of National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest , 1100 m, 6 Aug. 2020, Leg. Chong-Xin Xie ; 1 female and 8 eggs, China, Hainan Province, Wuzhishan City, Wuzhishan District of National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest , 900 m, 18 May 2023, Leg. Chong-Xin Xie (all in SWFU) .

Distribution. China (Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Fujian, Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi).

Remarks. Due to the missing type specimen of Huananphasma amicum , the specimens of H. amicum collected from Hainan are compared with the type specimens of Sipyloidea wuzhishanensis . By comparing the original literature description of H. amicum (Bey-Sienko, 1959) , as well as the literature by Chen & He (2008) and Ho (2013), we have found that S. wuzhishanensis is exactly similar to H. amicum , the posterior apices of their alae surpassing the posterior margin of tergum V, and both sexes have 3–5 small spines near the apices on both anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of the mid and hind femora. In addition, the female mesonotum has a brown longitudinal band; the subgenital plate is scoop-shaped, with a rounded apex and there is a distinct median longitudinal carina; male genae have a yellow postocular stripe; the mesopleura exhibit a white spot near the posterior area; the anal segment shows an emargination on the posterior margin. The egg capsule is flattened, chestnut red, and coarse; capitulum nearly rounded and covered with 7 longitudinal carinae. There is therefore no significant difference between these two species, S. wuzhishanensis is a junior synonym of H. amicum .

We also compared Sipyloidea peelensis Brock & Seow-Choen, 2000 , which was previously considered a synonym of H. amicum ( Ho, 2013) . However, its eggs are long and grey and adhere to surfaces like bark ( Brock & Seow-Choen, 2000). These specific characteristics distinguish it from H. amicum . Consequently, we believe that S. peelensis is not a synonym of H. amicum but rather a valid species.

Habitat. This species inhabits the understory shrubs and grasses at an elevation of 900–1100 m, and its host plants are currently unknown ( Fig. 6 H ).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Sipyloidea wuzhishanensis syn. nov., holotype, female A–G. (photos by Wang Chen [BJFU]). A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. data labels; D. head, dorsal view; E. head, lateral view; F. terminalia, dorsal view; G. terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURE 4. Sipyloidea wuzhishanensis syn. nov., paratype, male A–F. (photos by Wang Chen). A. habitus, lateral view; B. data labels; C. head, lateral view; D. head, dorsal view; E. terminalia, dorsal view; F. terminalia, lateral view.

FIGURE 5. Huananphasma amicum, female A–G and egg H–K. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. head, dorsal view; D. head, lateral view; E. terminalia, dorsal view; F. terminalia, lateral view; G. terminalia, ventral view; H. egg, dorsal view; I. egg, lateral view; J. egg, top view; K. egg, polar view.

FIGURE 6. Huananphasma amicum, male A–G and habitat H. A. habitus, dorsal view; B. habitus, lateral view; C. head, dorsal view; D. head, lateral view; E. terminalia, dorsal view; F. terminalia, lateral view; G. terminalia, ventral view; H. habitat.