Pseudososibia cristata Ho 2017, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Ho, George Wai-Chun
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Phasmatidae
Pseudososibia
Pseudososibia cristata

description: Pseudososibia cristata sp. nov.
(Figs. 144–147, 190–194, 286–287)
Types. Holotype: ♀, 2100m, Motuo, Xizang, China, 11.VIII.2013, Bi Wen-Xuan (SEM); Paratypes: 2♀ & 42 eggs (extracted from abdomen of paratype ♀), 2100m, Motuo, Xizang, China, 11.VIII.2013, Bi Wen-Xuan (HKES); 1♂, 2000m, Motuo, Xizang, China, 5.X.1982, Han Yin-Xing (IZCAS).
Diagnosis. Pseudososibia cristata sp. nov. [China (Xizang)] is closely related to P. brachyptera (Chen & He, 2004) comb. nov. [China (Xizang)], but can be separated by paired small posterior tubercles on second to seventh abdominal sternites and lichen-like crest on posteromedial area of fourth to sixth abdominal tergites in female and paired horns on vertex of head between compound eyes in male.
Description. Female (Figs. 144–145, 190–194). Medium-sized. General colour of body and legs brown to dark brown. Body slender, sparsely covered with short and black bristles, denser on thorax.
Head: Oval, longer than pronotum, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex flat, with paired horns between compound eyes, apices pointed and pointing forwards. Occiput gently convex, with six indistinct swellings on posterior margin. Compound eyes small and rounded. Antennae long and filiform, surpassing apices of forelegs, densely covered with short bristles; scapus longer than pedicellus; third segment as long as pedicellus.
Thorax: Pronotum sparsely covered with small granules, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin rounded, transverse and longitudinal sulci just crossing before middle area. Mesonotum densely covered with small granules and a few small tubercle-like granules, parallel-sided, median longitudinal carina indistinct. Metanotum with a few granulesrough. Mesopleurae, mesosternum, metapleurae and metasternum sparsely covered small granules and tubercle-liked granules.
Abdomen: Rough, sparsely covered with small granules and with short wrinkles. Median segment longer than metanotum. Third or fourth to sixth tergites with a lichen-like crest on posteromedial area. Seventh tergum with a rounded crest posteromedially. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment shorter than ninth tergum, with a broad V-shaped emargination on posterior margin. Second to seventh sternites with a pair of short tubercles medially; also with three to five longitudinal carinae, posterior apices slightly elevated. Subgenital plate scoopshaped, reaching middle area of anal segment, posterior margin rounded. Cerci long, straight, apices pointed and surpassing end of abdomen.
Legs: Slender and long. Unarmed. Sparsely covered with short bristles. All femora thicker than corresponding tibiae. Profemora incurved basally, longer than mesofemora, shorter than metafemora. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost as long as corresponding femora, metatibiae longer than metafemora.
Wings: Tegmina small, tapering anteriorly, posterior margin truncate, reaching middle area of metanotum. Alae small, rudiment-like, almost as long as combined length of metanotum and median segment, anal region dull reddish brown, just surpassing anterior margin of second abdominal segment.
Male. (Figs. 146–147). Medium-sized. Body slender, smaller and more slender than female. General colour of body and legs brown.
Head: Oval, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex flat, with a pair of horns between compound eyes, apices pointed and pointing anteriorly. Occiput flat, posterior margin with distinct swellings. Compound eyes rounded. Antennae broken; scapus flattened basally, longer than wide.
Thorax: Pronotum rectangular, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point, anterior margin gently curved inwards, posterior margin truncate. Mesonotum slender, sparsely covered with small granules, median longitudinal line indistinct. Mesopleurae, metapleurae, mesosternum and metasternum sparsely covered with small granules.
Abdomen: Cylindrical and slender, tapering posteriorly. Sparsely covered with small granules. Median longitudinal and lateral carinae distinct. Fifth to ninth tergites with a small tubercle posteromedially. Second to seventh sternites with a small elevation posteromedially. Third to sixth sternites with a small spine-like tubercle medially. Anal segment as long as eighth tergum, longer than ninth tergum, posterior margin with a small V-shaped emargination, posterolateral angles rounded. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded, reaching middle area of anal segment. Cerci cylindrical and straight, apices rounded and surpassing posterior margin of anal segment.
Legs: Brown with blackish markings. Slender and long. Unarmed. Sparsely covered with short bristles. Femora roughly as long as corresponding tibiae. Profemora distinctly curved at base. Mesofemora shorter than mesonotum.
Wings: Tegmina small, scale-like. Alae brownish gray, with blackish markings, rudiment-like, reaching posterior margin of median segment.
Measurements in Table 17.
Eggs (Figs. 286–287). Capsule brown to dark brown, oval, posterior pole rounded, densely granulated, ventral surface flat and smooth. Micropylar plate racket-shaped, anterior apex truncate, connecting margin of operculum. Micropylar cup placed at middle point of micropylar plate. Median line long, about one-half of micropylar plate. Operculum brown to dark brown, lacking capitulum, gently convex medially, densely granulated.
Measurements. Length 4.2 mm, width 2.0 mm, height 2.0 mm.
Distribution. China (Xizang).
Notes. The antennae of the male are lost and its measurements are insufficiently provided. The description, illustrations and measurements of eggs are based on extracted eggs which were removed from the abdomen of the paratypic females and probably in an immature stage.
Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the crests on the posteromedial margin of third or fourth to seventh abdominal tergites in the females.
Pseudososibia undulatomarginata sp. nov. (Figs. 148–151, 181–189, 288–289)
Types. Holotype: ♀, 1300–1400m, Fenshuiling, Jinping, Yunnan, China, 4.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES); Paratypes: 3♀ & 22 eggs (naturally laid by holotype & paratypes ♀), 1300–1400m, Fenshuiling, Jinping, Yunnan, China, 4.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES); 9♂ & 2♀, 1300–1400m, Huanglianshan, Luchun, Yunnan, China, 6–7.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES & SNUC); 2♂, 5♀ (including 1 subadult) & 14 eggs (4 eggs naturally laid by & 10 eggs extracted from the abdomen of paratypes ♀), Yuping, Pingbian, Yunnan, China, 8.IX.2016, George Ho Wai-Chun (HKES).
Diagnosis. Pseudososibia undulatomarginata sp. nov. [China (Yunnan)] is related to P. brachyptera (Chen & He, 2004) comb. nov. [China (Xizang)], but can be separated by small size, slender body and scale-like tegmina and alae in both sexes.
Description. Female (Figs. 148–149, 181–184, 188). Medium-sized. General colour of body and legs brown to dark brown. Body slender and more robust than male.
Head: Oval, longer than pronotum, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex flat, unarmed. Occiput gently convex, with eight indistinct swellings on posterior margin. Compound eyes small and rounded. Antennae long and filiform, surpassing apices of forelegs, densely covered with short bristles; scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus; third segment shorter than pedicellus.
Thorax: Sparsely covered with small granules. Pronotum with incurved anterior margin, posterior margin rounded, transverse and longitudinal sulci just crossing before middle area. Mesonotum slender and elongate, parallel-sided, median longitudinal carina indistinct, with a few acute granules or spine-like tubercles. Metanotum almost as long as median segment.
Abdomen: Rough, sparsely covered with small granules and with short wrinkles. Median segment or sixth tergum with a small and obscure elevation on posteromedial area. Fourth and fifth sternites with a small hump posteromedially. Posterior margin of seventh tergum distinctly waved. Eighth tergum longer than ninth tergum. Anal segment shorter than ninth tergum, medially constricted posteriorly, with a small U-shaped emargination on posterior margin. Subgenital plate scoop-shaped, reaching middle area of anal segment, posterior margin weakly emarginated. Cerci long, cylindrical, straight, apices rounded and surpassing end of abdomen.
Legs: Slender and long. Unarmed. With blackish markings. Sparsely covered with short bristles. All femora thicker than corresponding tibiae. Profemora incurved basally, almost longer than mesofemora. Metafemora longer than profemora. Protibiae and mesotibiae almost as long as corresponding femora, metatibiae longer than metafemora.
Wings: Tegmina small, scale-like. Alae small, scale-like, oval, slightly smaller than tegmina.
Male. (Figs. 150–151, 185–187, 189). Medium-sized. Body slender, smaller and more slender than female. General colour of body and legs brown.
Head: Oval, sparsely covered with small granules. Vertex flat, unarmed. Occiput flat, posterior margin with six distinct small swellings. Compound eyes rounded. Antennae long; scapus flattened basally, longer than pedicellus; pedicellus as long as third segment.
Thorax: Pronotum rectangular, transverse and longitudinal sulci crossing before middle point, anterior margin curved inwards, posterior margin truncate, sparsely covered with small granules. Mesonotum slender and elongate, sparsely covered with small granules, also with one to two paired short tubercles or spines on pre-median or/and middle area, median longitudinal carina distinct. Mesopleurae, metapleurae, mesosternum and metasternum sparsely covered with small granules.
Abdomen: Cylindrical and slender. Sparsely covered with small granules. Median and lateral longitudinal carinae distinct. Second to seventh sternites with a small elevation posteromedially. Eighth and ninth tergites equal in length, with a small and rounded elevation posteromedially. Anal segment shorter than eighth tergum, posterior margin truncate. Poculum cup-shaped, posterior margin rounded, reaching posterior area of anal segment. Cerci short, cylindrical and straight, apices rounded and not surpassing posterior margin of anal segment.
Legs: Brown with blackish markings. Slender and long. Unarmed. Sparsely covered with short bristles. Profemora distinctly curved at base. Mesofemora shorter than mesonotum.
Wings: Tegmina small, scale-like. Alae small, scale-like, oval, slightly smaller than tegmina.
Measurements in Table 18.
Eggs (Figs. 288–289). Capsule brown to dark brown, oval, posterior pole broadly notched in dorsal view, densely granulated, ventral surface flat. Micropylar plate racket-shaped, anterior and posterior apices pointed. Micropylar cup placed after middle point of micropylar plate. Median line long, about one-half of micropylar plate. Operculum brown to dark brown, lacking capitulum, flat, densely granulated, with a few enlarged lamellae or granules marginally.
Measurements. Length 3.0 mm, width 1.6 mm, height 1.6 mm.
Distribution. China (Yunnan).
Etymology. The specific epithet of this new species is derived from the waved posterior margin of seventh abdominal tergum in the females.
description: Published as part of Ho, George Wai-Chun, 2017, Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Phasmatodea V: New taxa and new nomenclatures of the subfamilies Necrosciinae (Diapheromeridae) and Lonchodinae (Phasmatidae) from the Phasmatodea of China, pp. 1-72 in Zootaxa 4368 (1) on pages 38-42, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4368.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1125305