Exocnophila ovifuscum Ghirotto, Conle, Hennemann, Valero & Cancello, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Ghirotto, Victor Morais
name: Conle, Oskar
name: Hennemann, Frank
name: Valero, Pablo
name: Cancello, Eliana M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Diapheromeridae
Exocnophila
Exocnophila ovifuscum

description: Exocnophila ovifuscum sp. nov. Ghirotto, Conle, Hennemann & Valero
(Figs 19–30)
>> Holotype, ♂ (MZUSP V0286): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Itatiaia. PARNA Itatiaia, próx ao alojamento dos pesquisadores, 750m, 22°27’10.5”S 44°36’33.7”W. 08.v.2019. VM Ghirotto col.
Paratypes, ♀ (MZUSP): 1♂ (MZUSP V0044), 1♀ (MZUSP V0043), eggs: Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Itatiaia. P.N. do Itatiaia, 22°26’07.7”S 44°36’46.3”W. i.2017. VM Ghirotto, PABA Neves, PW Engelking, PIC Machado col.; 2♂ (MZUSP V0292, V0293), 1♀ (MZUSP V0309), eggs: Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Itatiaia. PARNA Itatiaia, próx ao alojamento dos pesquisadores,750m, 22°27’10.5”S 44°36’33.7”W,on cf. Synedrella nodiflora, Asteraceae. 05.v.2019. VM Ghirotto, RP Indicatti, EF Trova col.; 1♂ juvenile (MZUSP V0400): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Itatiaia. PARNA Itatiaia, próx ao alojamento dos pesquisadores, 750m, 22°27’10.5”S 44°36’33.7”W. 07.v.2019. VM Ghirotto, RP Indicatti col.; 1♂ (MZUSP0262): Brasil. Est do Rio [Rio de Janeiro]. Itatiaia (1.100 mtr.). i.1972. Dirigns [col.].; 1♂ (MZUSP0282): Brasil. Est do Rio [Rio de Janeiro]. Itatiaia (1.100 mtr.). iv.1960. Dirigns [col.].; 1♂ (MZUSP0685), 1 subadult ♂ (MZUSP0686), 2♀ (MZUSP0738, 0783): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Itatiaia. Parque Nacional de Itatiaia, parte baixa. 22°25’35”S 44°37’05”W. 31.x–2.xi.2016. P.I.Chiquetto-Machado col.; 2♂ (MNRJ-ENT15-17, MNRJ-ENT15-18): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Itatiaia. PN Itatiaia, parte baixa, ao redor da Casa do Pesquisador. 06–08.ii.2020. P. Souza-Dias, Siqueira, Lima, Borille col.; 1♂ (FIOC): Brasil. E. do Rio [Rio de Janeiro]. Itatiaia. 10.viii.[19]44. J.F. Zikan col; 13♂ (PNI022, PNI037–40, PNI094), 7♀ (PNI119–120, PNI206, PNI218–221), eggs (FIOC): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, along BR 485 betw. park entrance & Cachoeira de Maromba, 22°45’97 S 44°59’91 W – 22°25’47 S 44°37’05 W, 720–1120 m a.s.l. 30.x.–06.xi.2016. OV Conle, FH Hennemann, Uhlig, Y Gutiérrez, P Valero, J Costa, Rodrigues, PABA Neves, PI Chiquetto-Machado, VM Ghirotto, PW Engelking col.; 1♀ (FIOC PNI036): Brasil. Rio de Janeiro. Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, near Lago Azul, 22°27’10 S 44°36’36 W, 750–780 m a.s.l. 04.11.2016. OV Conle, FH Hennemann, Uhlig, Y Gutiérrez, P Valero, J Costa, Rodrigues, PABA Neves, PI Chiquetto-Machado, VM Ghirotto, PW Engelking col.
Diagnosis. Differs from other species of the genus by the more elongate, slightly dorsoventrally compressed head with almost flat vertex and slenderer cerci, that of the male narrower from mid length to apex. Males can also be recognised by a slightly more elongate mesothorax and presence of few granules in the mesonotum. Females can be differentiated from those of the other Exocnophila by the irregularly serrated margin of tergum X. Furthermore, eggs of the new species differ from those of the other species in the genus by its dark, blackish colouration and by the crest in the operculum.
Etymology. The name of the new species refers to its striking dark, blackish eggs, and is composed of the Latin words “ovum” meaning egg, in the genitive case, and “fuscum”, meaning dark, black. It is to be treated as a noun in the nominative case.
Description
Female (Figs. 19–24, 30A–B, D).
Colour (Fig. 20). Entirely beige, beige orangish, yellowish beige, dark orange, brown, reddish brown, orangish brown, gray, or dark brown, with or without irregular stains, with or without a longitudinal black line in pronotum to the end of the abdomen interrupted at the mesonotum and abdomen, with or without symmetrical stains of lighter or darker colour mainly near posterior region of mesonotum, metanotum, and in the first abdominal segments. Head with or without a dark longitudinal band bordered by dark beige bands behind the eye. Antennae darker posteriorly and creamish in apical half, with 3–4 small black rings at apical one fourth.
Head (Fig. 21). Subrectangular, ca. 1.6–1.7x longer than wide, smooth, vertex flat to very slightly convex; slightly dorsoventrally compressed; with few irregular granules dorsally. Frontal convexity developed, frontal suture deep and curved. Eyes slightly less than hemispherical. Labial palp segments wide, maxillary palp segments slightly wide. Clypeus wide, short, sinuous with ventral margin slightly emarginate. Antennae filiform, reaching tergum II, not exceeding front legs. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, large, very wide, longer than wider in dorsolateral view. Scapus with a dorsolateral carina separating dorsal and lateral surfaces, internal margin narrower at posterior edge, posteriorly slightly round and then straight, external margin wide and round through all its length. Pedicel less than half the length of scapus, longer than wide. Antennae with 32–40 articles.
Thorax (Figs 19–22A). Surface smooth with sparse round short granules and presenting irregular carinae (Figs 20–21A). Pronotum longer than wide, slightly constricted premedially, slightly narrower anteriorly; with paramedial granules at posterior half (Fig. 21A–C). Probasisternum with longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly narrow, posterolateral margins round; with short stiff setae mainly near lateral edges (Fig. 21D). Profurcasternum round with an anterior trapezoidal region somewhat in “D” shape, densely covered with short stiff setae (Fig. 21D). Mesothorax 5.0–5.4x longer than prothorax. Mesonotum, metanotum, mesosternum and metasternum with distinct pair of lateral carinae. Meso and metafurcae in “Y” shape, metafurca wider and shorter than mesofurca. Mesothorax 1.9–2x longer than metathorax. Metathorax with irregular sinuous paramedial carinae. Metanotum 4.8–5.4x the length of median segment.
Legs (Figs 19A–B, 22B–E). Hind legs longer than anterior legs; mid legs shortest. Hind legs considerably exceeding end of the abdomen. Coxae smooth. Profemur slightly shorter to slightly longer than mesothorax. Mesofemur around 0.9x the length of profemur. Profemur with distinct basal curvature occupying around one fourth of the segment (Fig. 19A–B). Metafemur with a basal swelling occupying slightly more than one seventh of the length of the segment (Fig. 19A–B). Carinae of femora and tibiae with sparse setae between them and bearing row of short porrect spiniform setae larger and conical in the tibiae (Fig. 22B–E). Carinae of tibiae presenting small short spines at the apex, one to two in dorsal carinae of mid and hind tibiae, three to seven in all lateroventral carinae and five to 12 in all ventral carina, with more spines in mid and hind tibiae (Fig. 22E). Basitarsi short, around the same size of the respective following three tarsomeres combined; ventrally with dense tuft of spiniform, thick setae (Fig. 22B–D). Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.
Abdomen (Figs 19–20, 22–23). Surface slightly rugose, with granules and with several carinae (Fig. 23). Median segment well marked by a sulcus, around 0.2x the length of the metanotum, bearing two sinuous pairs of paramedial carinae. Tergum II–III and VIII as long as wide or slightly longer than wide, terga IV–VII longer than wide, and IX– X around as long as wide. Terga II–IX with four to five pairs of paramedial longitudinal carinae, X with two pairs and a single medial longitudinal carina. Some individuals with two small fused round granules near posterior margin of tergum II and IV–V, continuous and between the centralmost pair of paramedian carinae, and with thick, wide round lobe at the posterior margin of tergum III (Fig. 23C). Tergum X with posterior margin irregularly serrated in five to seven serrate lobes, two to four smaller laterally and three dorsally being one medial, in some specimens the three dorsalmost lobes are larger (Figs 23A–B, 24A); laterally somewhat straight, posterolaterally sinuous and shorter not covering the cerci (Fig. 24B). Sterna with more setae than terga, bearing two pairs of paramedial carinae (Fig. 19C). Praeopercular organ developed, swollen, rugose, slightly sclerotised (Fig. 24C). Subgenital plate gently convex, with two strong paramedial carinae in posterior four fifths, with round apex, reaching around half the length of tergum X (Fig. 24B–C). Cerci short, somewhat elongate, centrally gently widened, with roundly lanceolate apex, ventrally concave, reaching the posterior margin of tergum X (Fig. 24C–D). Paraprocts divided posteriorly, each with round posterior margin. Epiproct wide. Gonapophyses and gonoplac covered by the subgenital plate, all elongate and gradually tapering to a somewhat pointy apex; gonapophyses VIII the longest, gonoplac slightly shorter, gently upcurving, gonapophyses IX shorter than both (Fig. 24D).
Measurements (in mm), N = 4. Body (without cerci) 73.0–77.4, head 5.1–5.3, antennae 43.3–50.8, pronotum 3.3– 3.4, mesonotum 19.3–21.2, metanotum 9.7–10.4, median segment 1.9–2.0, abdomen (excluding median segment) 33.5–35.3, profemur 20.5–22.5, protibia 24.1–24.5, mesofemur 17.6–20.3, mesotibia 19.5–21.3, metafemur 20.1– 24.2, metatibia 26.5–28.9.
Male (Figs 25–28, 30C).
Colour (Figs 25–28). Entirely beige, brown, dark brown, gray, or dark green, with or without whitish, blackish, or greenish spots. Head with a dark longitudinal band bordered by two beige bands behind the eye, with or without accompanying dark or beige bands that can also be at posterior half of dorsal surface.
Head (Fig. 26). Subrectangular tapering or not towards posterior, ca. 1.6–1.8x longer than wide, slightly dorsoventrally compressed, vertex flat; with irregular granules dorsally mainly in two paramedial rows (Fig. 26A– E). Frontal convexity developed, frontal suture deep and curved. Eyes large, hemispherical. Labial palp segments wide, maxillary palp segments slightly wide. Clypeus wide, short, sinuous with ventral margin slightly emarginate. Antennae filiform, reaching tergum VII, exceeding front legs. Scapus dorsoventrally compressed, large, wide, longer than wider in dorsolateral view. Scapus with a dorsolateral carina separating dorsal and lateral surfaces, internal margin narrower at posterior edge, posteriorly very slightly round and then straight, external margin wide and round through all its length. Pedicel more than half the length of scapus, longer than wide. Antennae with 43–52 articles.
Thorax (Figs 25–27). Surface smooth with sparse minute setae and few granules, two paramedian near posterior margin in the pronotum, three to eight irregularly scattered paramedially in the anterior two thirds of the mesonotum and two to four in the anterior three fourths of metanotum (Figs 25, 26A). Pronotum longer than wide, slightly constricted premedially, slightly narrower anteriorly; smooth (Fig. 26A–E). Probasisternum with longitudinal sulcus, anteriorly narrow, posterolateral margins round; with short stiff setae mainly near lateral edges (Fig. 26F). Profurcasternum sudquadrate, covered with short stiff setae (Fig. 26F). Mesothorax 7.1–7.3x longer than prothorax. Meso and metafurcae in ‘’Y’’ shape. Mesothorax 1.6–1.7x longer than metathorax. Meso and metanotum with faint longitudinal medial carina. Metanotum 7–8x the length of median segment.
Legs (Figs 25, 27B–C). Hind legs longer than anterior legs; mid legs shortest. Coxae smooth. Profemur considerably longer than mesothorax. Mesofemur around 0.8–0.9x the length of profemur. Profemur with distinct basal curvature occupying around one fifth of the segment (Fig. 25). Metafemur with a basal swelling occupying around one seventh of the length of the segment (Fig. 25). Carinae of femora and tibiae with sparse setae between them and bearing row of porrect spiniform setae larger in the tibiae, longer than those of the female (Fig. 27B–C). Carinae of tibiae presenting small short spines at the apex, zero to two in dorsal carinae, two to six in lateroventral carinae and four to 12 in the ventral carina, with more spines in mid and hind tibiae (Fig. 27B–C). Basitarsi short, around the same size than the respective following three tarsomeres combined; ventrally with dense tuft of stiff, porrect setae (Fig. 27B–C). Euplantulae well developed and present in all tarsomeres.
Abdomen (Figs 25, 27A, 28). Surface smooth, without granules but with carinae. Median segment well marked by a sulcus, around 0.13x the length of the metanotum. Terga II–X longer than wide. Terga II–VII with two pairs of paramedial longitudinal carinae near lateral margins; IV–VII with further two pairs of faint carinae near centre; II– VIII with a further short longitudinal carinae near anterior margin. Tergum X with one pair of paramedial carinae and a longitudinal medial carina; posterior margin elevated and widely, roundely emarginate into two roundly triangular lobes bearing thorn pads at the apexes (Fig. 28A). Tergum X very slightly shorter than IX; both slightly shorter than VIII (Fig. 28A). Tergum VIII widening towards posterior and IX tapering towards posterior; X wider centrally. Sterna with pair of paramedial carinae near lateral margins and IV–VII with a further, faint pair (Fig. 28A, D). Poculum well developed with angulated posteroventral tip forming a laterally compressed lobe pointing backwards (Fig. 28B–E); anterior region of sternum IX short. Cerci elongate and dorsoventrally compressed, from mid length tapering towards the apex becoming slightly more cylindrical to a narrower apex (Fig. 28F–G). Thornpads apart, well developed with 12–13 incurved teeth varying in size. Vomer well developed, triangular, terminal hook short, thin, curved upwards (Fig. 28F).
Measurements (in mm), N = 5. Body (without cerci) 67.9–73.7, head 2.9–3.3, antennae 57.4–71.8, pronotum 2.5– 2.9, mesonotum 18.7–20.7, metanotum 10.9–12.8, median segment 1.4–1.6, abdomen (excluding median segment) 30.9–33.1, profemur 22.0–25.4, protibia 29.2–33.0, mesofemur 19.0–22.4, mesotibia 25.3–28.6, metafemur 24.0– 27.2, metatibia 33.3–38.1.
Egg (Fig. 29). Laterally flattened, oval in lateral view and ellipsoid in dorsal view, opercular collar gently constricted on the dorsal surface from the end of the micropylar plate to the operculum (Fig. 29A–B); 1.2–1.3x longer than tall and 1.6–1.7x longer than wide. Capsule surface densely covered with minute smooth irregular bumps. Micropylar plate ellipsoid, elongated, with parallel lateral edges. Micropylar plate internally flat with the same surface as the capsule. Edge of the micropylar plate raised, prominent and divided into a rougher inner part with a foamy appearance, interrupted by the micropyle, and a thicker, outer part, slightly rough, bordering the micropyle, with a smooth inner margin and a rougher outer margin with texture similar to the inner part; these two parts are interrupted by a narrow depression (Fig. 29A–B). Micropyle oval, with a rounded projection between the inner edges posteriorly bordered by a rounded depression. Median line very short, truncated, thick and continuous with the outer edge of the external part of the micropylar plate (Fig. 29B). Operculum round, border with an irregular, rough crest circling a raised and convex ring with a surface similar to the rest of the capsule in the outer half of the diameter and with a round, smooth central depression (Fig. 29C). Very shining, capsule and inner part of the operculum black sometimes with dark maroon tints, internal area of the micropylar plate dark caramel, crest of operculum and border of the micropylar plate beige with the innermost rim of the outer part of the border of the micropylar plate light caramel and with the depression between the parts dark beige.
Distribution (Fig. 31). Known only from the type locality, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, Itatiaia Massif, in Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil, part of the Mantiqueira mountain range. Specimens were found at 800–1500 m a.s.l.
Biology. Stick insects were only found at 0–120 cm above the ground, but mostly near the ground up to 40 cm (Fig. 30). Specimens present a still behaviour, never running quickly even when disturbed. If disturbed and even during handling, specimens assume camouflage position (Fig. 30D) and remain motionless. Specimens may also release a light minty scent from its prothoracic glands. In nature, specimens were observed eating a variety of plants, including undetermined Asteraceae and Malvaceae plants, and Synedrella cf. nodiflora (Asteraceae). In captivity, specimens ate Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), Hibiscus spp. and Malvaviscus arboreus (Malvaceae).
description: Published as part of Ghirotto, Victor Morais, Conle, Oskar, Hennemann, Frank, Valero, Pablo & Cancello, Eliana M., 2024, On the Brazilian Exocnophila stick insects (Insecta: Phasmatodea), with the description of a new species, pp. 59-98 in Zootaxa 5536 (1) on pages 82-96, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5536.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/14024019