Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et, 2021

Cumming, Royce T., Bank, Sarah, Bresseel, Joachim, Constant, Je ́ ro ̂ me, Tirant, Stephane Le, Dong, Zhiwei, Sonet, Gontran & Bradler, Sven, 2021, Cryptophyllium, the hidden leaf insects - descriptions of a new leaf insect genus and thirteen species from the former celebicum species group (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae), ZooKeys 1018, pp. 1-179 : 1

Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et sp. nov. Figures 46 , 47

Material examined.

Holotype ♀: "CHINA: Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Liuzhou City, Dayaoshan Mountain, 875-1,500 m., 18-19.IX.2019. (Coll RC 20-002)". Deposited in the Montreal Insectarium (IMQC).

Paratypes: (6 ♀♀, 4 eggs) • 1 ♀: "CHINA: Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Liuzhou City, Dayaoshan Mountain, 875-1,500 m., 19.IX.2019. Coll RC 19-182" (Coll RC) • 1 ♀: "CHINA: Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Liuzhou City, Dayaoshan Mountain, 875-1,500 m., 18-19.IX.2019. Coll RC 20-003" (Coll RC) • 3 ♀♀: Same data as the holotype (Coll SLT) • 1 ♀: Same data as the holotype (Coll FH)• 4 eggs: Removed from the abdomen of paratype female 19-182. "CHINA: Guangxi Prov., Jinxiu County, Liuzhou City, Dayaoshan Mountain, 875-1,500 m., 19.IX.2019"; Coll RC 20-069-20-072: 20-069, 20-072 (Coll RC); 20-070, 20-071 (IMQC).

Photographic record: (1 ♀) In addition to the type material examined, images of a live female observed by Dr. Lu Qiu in Guangxi, Huaping Nature Reserve, 900-1000m, in August 2020 (Fig. 46B ) were shared with us and compared to type material.

Remarks.

This species appears to be the same which was illustrated by Liu (1993) and called Phyllium (Phyllium) celebicum within the work. Not only do the illustrations clearly show similar morphology, but one of the specimens is also from the locality of Dayao Mountain, Jinxiu, Guangxi. The illustrated female (figures 10-12; Liu 1993) clearly shows gently rounded lobes on abdominal segment VII, the same tegmina length, a small but notable metatibial exterior lobe on the distal end, the same shape/length features of the genitalia (Fig. 47E ), mesothorax shape (Fig. 47D ), similar rounded profemoral exterior lobes (Fig. 47C ), and the VIII antennal segment which is notably longer than the other preceding individual segments (Fig. 47B ).

Differentiation.

Females are morphologically similar to Cryptophyllium drunganum comb. nov. due to the tibial and femoral shapes (including small exterior pro- and metatibial anteriorly situated lobes), alae long (reaching abdominal segment VI), a seventh abdominal segment which is slightly lobed, and similar genitalia shapes and lengths of features. These species can be differentiated by the mesopleura as they are broader on the anterior end in Cryptophyllium liyananae sp. nov. and slightly narrower in Cryptophyllium drunganum comb. nov. and the overall size as Cryptophyllium liyananae sp. nov. are 88.0-92.0 mm long and the holotype Cryptophyllium drunganum comb. nov. is 75.0 mm long. Males are presently unknown.

Distribution.

Presently only confirmed from two localities in Guangxi Province, Liuzhou prefecture-level city (Fig. 46A, C ) and Guilin prefecture-level city (Fig. 46B ). The other specimens within Liu (1993) with varying locality data which may represent additional localities have not been reviewed so it is possible that these may represent other species or range expansions.

Description.

Female. Coloration. Coloration descriptions are based upon photos of the live individuals which became the type material herein described (Fig. 46A, C ). The overall coloration is pale mint green, with highlights of yellow, orange, and red. The antennae, interior profemoral lobe margins, and the margins of the terminal abdominal segments are red. The mesopleura margins, veins of the tegmina, and exterior profemoral lobe margins are orange to yellow.

Morphology. Head. Head capsule about as long as wide, vertex smooth (Fig. 47D ). The posteromedial tubercle is the only notable feature on the head capsule. Frontal convexity broad for the posterior half then narrowing on the anterior half, about as long as the first antennomere, and with slight granulation on the dorsal surface and several setae present which are longer than any setae on the antennae. Compound eyes slightly protruding from the head capsule, taking up ca. ¼ of the length of the lateral head capsule margins (Fig. 47D ). Ocelli absent. Antennal fields slightly wider than the first antennomere and slightly shallower than the first antennomere is tall (Fig. 47B ). Antennae. Antennae consisting of nine segments, with the terminal segment slightly shorter than the preceding two segment lengths combined (Fig. 47B ). Antennomeres I-VIII sparsely marked with small transparent setae, the terminal antennomere is more densely covered in stout, brown setae. The pars stridens of antennomere III has 46 or 47 teeth. Thorax. Pronotum with gently concave anterior margin and straight lateral margins, which converge to a convex posterior margin that is ½ the width of the anterior margin (Fig. 47D ). The pronotum surface is smooth, with only a prominent pit in the center, and slight furrows anterior, posterior, and lateral to the pit (Fig. 47D ). The pronotum has a prominent anterior rim and weakly formed lateral and posterior rims, all of which are relatively smooth (Fig. 47D ). Prosternum and the mesosternum with stout and numerous nodes, with the central area of the mesosternum with less nodes and relatively smooth. Metasternum with granulation reduced and only minimal. Prescutum anterior margin as wide as the presuctum is long, with margins slightly narrowing on the anterior ⅓ and then running parallel to the posterior margin which is slightly narrower than the anterior margin (Fig. 47D ). Lateral rims with 7-9 short tubercles which are all about the same size (Fig. 47D ). Prescutum anterior rim prominent but not strongly protruding, with a surface that is granular, lacking a singular prominent sagittal tubercle (Fig. 47D ). Prescutum surface with minimal granulation throughout, with those along the sagittal plane only slightly larger (Fig. 47D ). Mesopleura beginning near the anterior margin of the prescutum and evenly diverging; lateral margin with 9-13 tubercles which are variable in size, with three larger than the rest (Fig. 47D ). Face of the mesopleura relatively smooth, and with two notable divots, one near the anterior margin and another ca. ⅗ of the way through the length (Fig. 47D ). Wings. Tegmina reaching ca. ½ through abdominal segment VII. The subcosta (Sc) is the first vein in the forewing, is distinctly bent in the center, and terminates ca. ¼ of the way through the wing length. The radius (R) spans the anterior half of the forewing with two subparallel branched veins; radius 1 (R1) terminates ca. ⅓ of the way through the wing length, and the radial sector (Rs) terminates in the center of the wing at the widest portion. There is a weak continuation of the radius following the prominent Rs branching which continues on as a short and thinner R-M crossvein that does not appear to solidly connect the two veins fading as it reaches the media. The media (M) is bifurcate with both the media anterior (MA) and media posterior (MP) terminating on the posterior ⅓ of the wing. In some individuals there is a weak continuation of the media as a thin crossvein to the cubitus, but this was not present in all individuals observed. The cubitus (Cu) is also bifurcate, branching near the posterior ⅓ to ¼ of the wing into the cubitus anterior (CuA) and cubitus posterior (CuP) which both terminate at or very near the wing posterior apex. The first anal vein (1A) is simple and fuses with the cubitus early on, only slightly past the branching distance of the first radius from the radius. Alae well-developed, reaching abdominal segment VI (41.0-43.0 mm long). Abdomen. Abdominal shape relatively stable between all females observed. Segments II through the anterior ⅓ of IV evenly diverging, with the posterior ⅔ of segment IV the widest segment. Segments V-VI are slightly subparallel, converging gently to the posterior, giving the abdomen a slight narrowing appearance. Segment VII is distinctly rounded to the terminal three segments which are notably narrower than the previous segments (segment VIII on the anterior is slightly> ½ width of the widest portion of the abdomen). Segments VIII-X converge to the apex which is broad and rounded. Genitalia. Subgenital plate starts at the anterior margin of segment VIII, is moderately broad, and extends ca. ⅔ of the way onto segment X, ending in a fine point (Fig. 47E ). Gonapophyses VIII are long and moderately broad, with their tips notably exceeding the apex of the abdomen, and slightly shorter than the tips of the cerci; gonapophyses IX are slender and long, extending ca. ¾ of the way onto segment X (Fig. 47E ). Cerci flat, not strongly cupped, with a heavily granular surface (Fig. 47E ). Legs. Profemoral exterior lobe broad (broader than the interior lobe), approximately right angled, and with a rounded exterior angle. The margin is marked by 7-9 small serrate teeth throughout the length, none prominent (Fig. 47C ). Profemoral interior lobe narrower than the exterior lobe (only ca. 3 × the greatest width of the profemoral shaft) and with a slightly obtuse angle giving the interior lobe a triangular appearance marked by five teeth on the distal margin (Fig. 47C ). These teeth are arranged in a two-one-two pattern with the exterior pairs closer together and with a shallow gap between them, and the gap to the center tooth is deeper and wider than these exterior pairs (Fig. 47C ). Mesofemoral exterior lobe arcs from end to end as a rounded triangle, but is slightly weighted towards the distal ½ and marked with two or three small serrate teeth distributed on the distal half only. Mesofemoral exterior lobe is slightly wider than the interior lobe. Mesofemoral interior lobe arcs end to end more evenly than the exterior lobe, is marked with five or six small serrate teeth only on the distal half of the arc. Metafemoral interior lobe arcs end to end but is significantly more heavily weighted on the distal half and has six or seven serrate teeth on the broader distal half of the lobe. Metafemoral exterior lobe is thin and smooth, hugging the metafemoral shaft. Protibiae interior lobe spans the entire length of the protibiae and is at its widest ca. 2 × the width of the protibiae shaft itself. The lobe is distinctly triangular and widest on the distal half. There is a small but notable exterior protibial lobe on the distal quarter of the length, but this is only ca. ½ as wide as the protibial shaft itself. Mesotibiae simple, lacking lobes completely. Metatibiae lacks an interior lobe, but does have a small but notable anteriorly situated exterior lobe.

Measurements of holotype female [mm]. Length of body (including cerci and head, excluding antennae) 88.7, length/width of head 7.2/7.1, antennae 4.6, pronotum 5.3, mesonotum 7.5, length of tegmina 52.3, length of alae 41.5, greatest width of abdomen 37.9, profemora 19.7, mesofemora 15.0, metafemora 17.2, protibiae 12.6, mesotibiae 11.4, metatibiae 15.2.

Measurements of paratype females [mm]. Length of body (including cerci and head, excluding antennae) 90.8-92.0, length/width of head 7.5-7.7/6.6-7.3, antennae 4.9-5.3, pronotum 5.5-5.6, mesonotum 8.0-8.4, length of tegmina 50.5-53.8, length of alae 41.0-43.5, greatest width of abdomen 35.9-39.5, profemora 19.9-21.1, mesofemora 15.1-16.0, metafemora 17.6-18.0, protibiae 12.0-12.6, mesotibiae 10.8-11.0, metatibiae 15.6-15.9.

Description of egg (Fig. 8K, L ). The entire capsule is covered in short moss-like pinnae and pitting of various size, depth, and spacing. The dorsal, ventral, and lateral surfaces are flattened, giving the egg a rectangular appearance. When viewed from the lateral aspect, the egg has an almost uniform width throughout. The lateral margins have slightly longer pinnae than the faces, but not drastically. Lateral surfaces slightly raised along the center of the length of the egg, and the entire surface has various shallow pitting in no detectable pattern. Micropylar plate spans the entire dorsal surface, with the thickest portion near the posterior ⅓ around the micropylar cup. The remainder of the micropylar plate is narrower, but not thin, at the thinnest still ca. ½ of the width of the widest portion. Operculum ovular and shallowly raised in the center and a singular circle of eight or nine shallow pits around the margin. Overall color light tan to brown.

Measurements including the extended pinnae [mm]. Length (including operculum) 4.8-5.0, maximum width of capsule when viewed from lateral aspect 3.5-3.6 mm, length of micropylar plate 3.9-4.0 mm.

Etymology.

Patronym. The type specimens for this species were discovered by Chengzhi Bian (China) who recognized the scientific importance of the specimens and shared them with the authors to review. Chengzhi Bian has decided to name this species after his mother Liyanan to thank her for her amazing support of his passion for entomology.

Figures

Figure 8. Known eggs for the Cryptophyllium gen. nov. set in couplets of lateral and then dorsal views. All images except for K and L were taken by Bruno Kneubu ̈ hler (Switzerland), K and L images taken by the first author, Q and R images taken by Rene ́ Limoges (IMQC) A, B Cryptophyllium westwoodii comb. nov. C, D Cryptophyllium tibetense comb. nov. E, F Cryptophyllium bollensi gen. et sp. nov. G, H Cryptophyllium oyae comb. nov. I, J Cryptophyllium icarus gen. et sp. nov. K, L Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et sp. nov. M, N Cryptophyllium chrisangi comb. nov. O, P Cryptophyllium celebicum comb. nov. Q, R Cryptophyllium limogesi gen. et sp. nov. Scale bars 2.0 mm long.

Figure 46. Female Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et sp. nov. A live holotype female, photograph by Chengzhi Bian (China) B live female observed and photographed by Dr. Lu Qiu in Guangxi, Huaping Nature Reserve, 900 - 1000 m, August 2020 C paratype female Coll RC 19 - 182 shortly after being collected before the color faded, photograph by Chengzhi Bian.

Figure 47. Holotype Cryptophyllium liyananae gen. et sp. nov., photographs by Rene ́ Limoges (IMQC) A habitus, dorsal B details of the antennae, dorsal C profemoral lobes, dorsal D details of the antennae, head, and thorax, dorsal E genitalia, ventral.