Parasinophasma sparsigranulatum, Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017

Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017, Contribution to the knowledge of Oriental Phasmatodea I: A taxonomic study of the genus Parasinophasma (Phasmatodea: Necrosciinae), Journal of Orthoptera Research 26 (2), pp. 181-194 : 188-191

Parasinophasma sparsigranulatum sp. n. Figs 26-27, 69-71

Type material.-

Holotype: ♀, Giang Ly, Lac Duong, Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, 12.V.2012, Liu Xing-Yue (CAU).

Diagnosis.-

Parasinophasma sparsigranulatum sp. n. is readily separated from all other species by its small size, slender body, very sparse granulations on mesonotum and lack of a noticeable praeopercular organ on the seventh abdominal sternum.

Description.-

Female (Figs 26-27, 69-71): Small size. Body slender. Head oval, gently constricted anteriorly, lacking granulation. Vertex flat, lacking ocellus. Occiput weakly convex, with distinct median and lateral longitudinal furrows. Compound eyes oval, length about two times that of genae. Antennae filiform, incomplete, apices not surpassing apices of protarsi, sparsely covered with short bristles; scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus, as long as third segment. Pronotum with sparse granulations, rectangular, longer than wide, shorter than head; anterior margin truncate, posterior margin rounded, transverse and longitudinal sulci just crossing before middle point. Mesonotum covered with very sparse granules, parallel-sided, longer than combined length of pronotum, metanotum and median segment, median longitudinal carina distinct. Mesopleurae with sparse granulations. Mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum lacking granulations. Abdomen cylindrical, smooth. Seventh sternum lacking noticeable praeopercular organ. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment almost as long as eighth tergum, with a minute and indistinct emargination on posterior margin. Supra-anal plate indistinct. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, tapering posteriorly, apex pointed and reaching middle area of anal segment. Gonapophyses not exposed. Cerci long and straight, flattened, tapering posteriorly, apices pointed and surpassing posterior margin of anal segment. Legs sparsely covered with short bristles. Unarmed. All femora as long as corresponding tibiae. Profemora distinctly curved basally. Mesofemora longer than mesotibiae, shorter than mesonotum. Tegmina oval, posterior margin rounded, longer than pronotum. Alae short, posterior apices reaching anterior area of sixth abdominal tergum.

Coloration: General color of body yellowish brown. Legs yellowish brown. Tegmina and alae yellowish brown with green posterior area. Alae yellowish brown with green posterior area, anal region pale white with brown veins.

Measurements.-

(mm) Holotype ♀, Body length: 49, head: 3, antennae: 32 (incomplete), pronotum: 2.5, mesonotum: 10, metanotum including median segment: 6.5, profemora: 15.5, mesofemora: 10.5, metafemora: 14, protibiae: 15.5, mesotibiae: 9.5, metatibiae: 14, tegmina: 4.5, alae: 21.

Distribution.-

Vietnam.

Notes.-

The male is unknown. The description of the coloration is based on the dried specimen which is probably a green species in nature based on the green posterior area of the tegmina and alae.

Etymology.-

The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the sparse granulations on the mesonotum.