Phraortes corniformis Chen & He, 1993

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 : 332-333

Phraortes corniformis Chen & He, 1993 ( Figs 1–2 , 7–8 )

Phraortes corniformis Chen & He, 1993: 41 .

Material examined. 9♂ 4♀, China, Guangxi, Xing’an, Mao’ershan , 22 July 2012, coll. Wai-Chun George Ho. Diagnosis. This species is similar to Phraortes lii sp. nov. but can be separated by parallel-sided anal abdominal segment in male and dorsoventrally flattened praeopercular organ on seventh abdominal sternum in female .

Male. General colour of body and legs brown. Body slender, sparsely granulated. Head covered with inconspicuous granulation. Oblong, longer than pronotum. Vertex flat, with a small oval depression between antennal bases. Occiput flat, with indistinct median furrow, posterior margin with 6 small swellings. Compound eyes small and rounded, about 3 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 times as long as pedicellus; third segment as long as pedicellus. Thorax covered with minute granules, prothorax with less granules than mesothorax and metathorax. Pronotum 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 6.6 times as long as pronotum, broadly emarginated medially, with indistinct mediolongitudinal line. Metanotum broadly emarginated medially, shorter than mesofemora, about 6 times as long as median segment. Abdomen covered with minute granules. Median segment nearly square. Second to seventh terga parallel-sided. Second to sixth terga slightly equal in length. Seventh tergum shorter than preceding terga. Eighth tergum gently expanded posteriorly. Ninth tergum longer than eighth tergum. Anal segment split into 2 semi-terga. Semi-terga parallel-sided, apices pointed and curved downwards. Subgenital plate cup-shaped, flattened, posterior margin rounded. Cerci not exposed, cylindrical, apices pointed and curved inwards. Legs slender. All femora thicker than all tibiae. Profemora curved basally, longer than mesonotum, posteroventral carina with 2 small teeth near apex. Mesofemora almost as long as mesotibiae. Anteroventral and posteroventral carinae of mesofemora and metafemora with 2 small teeth near apices. All tibiae unarmed, medioventral carina slightly elevated basally.

Female. General colour of body and legs brown. Body slender, sparsely 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 times as long as genae. Antennae filiform, projecting over apices of forelegs; scapus flattened basally, about 2.5 times as long as pedicellus, 1.5 times as long as third segment; third segment longer than pedicellus. Pronotum with longitudinal and transverse sulci crossing at middle area, anterior margin truncate, posterior margin rounded. Mesonotum longer than metanotum, moderately expanded posteriorly, with distinct mediolongitudinal line. Metanotum shorter than mesofemora. Abdomen cylindrical. Median segment wider than long. Third to sixth terga equal in length. Second tergum shorter than third tergum, as long as seventh tergum. Seventh sternum with a dorsoventrally flattened praeopercular organ on posterior margin, apex rounded. Eighth tergum shorter than seventh tergum, longer than combined length of ninth tergum and anal segment. Anal segment as long as ninth tergum, with a broad V-shaped emargination on posterior margin, posterolateral angles rounded. Supra-anal plate small, with median carina, posterior margin truncate, projecting over posterolateral angles of anal segment. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, laterally carinate, also with elevated carina medially, 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, sparsely covered with dark markings. All femora distinctly thicker than all tibiae. Profemora curved basally, 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 ♂ 82.0–83.0 mm, ♀ 112.0–120.0 mm; antennae ♂ 60.0–61.0 mm, ♀ 53.0–60.0 mm; head ♂ 3.5 mm, ♀ 4.5–5.0 mm; pronotum ♂ 3.0 mm, ♀ 4.0– 4.5 mm; mesonotum ♂ 20.0–21.0 mm, ♀ 25.0–27.0 mm; metanotum ♂ 12.0 mm, ♀ 14.5–15.5 mm; median segment ♂ 2.0– 2.2 mm, ♀ 3.0 mm; profemora ♂ 22.0– 23.2 mm, ♀ 23.5–26.0 mm; mesofemora ♂ 18.0–19.0 mm, ♀ 18.0–19.0 mm; metafemora ♂ 21.0–23.0 mm, ♀ 22.0–23.0mm; protibiae ♂ 22.0–26.0mm, ♀ 23.0–26.0 mm; mesotibiae ♂ 17.0–18.0 mm, ♀ 17.0–19.0 mm; metatibiae ♂ 23.0 mm, ♀ 21.0–24.0 mm.

Distribution. China (Guangxi).

Remarks. Chen and He (1993) described this species based on a single male specimen which is wrongly indicated as female in the type data. Therefore, the female is unknown until it is described here. The male is also redescribed.

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.