Phanocloidea incompta Hennemann & Conle 2024, comb. n.
Creators: name: Hennemann, Frank H.
name: Conle, Oskar V.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Phasmida
Diapheromeridae
Phanocloidea
Phanocloidea incompta

description: Phanocloidea incompta (Rehn, 1904) comb. n.   
(Figs. 69D, 74R, 76N–P, 100P, 107C, 128D)  
 Bostra incompta Rehn, 1904: 57.   
Kirby, 1904: 350.  
Shelford, 1909: 362.  
Otte & Brock, 2005: 72.  
Eilmus, Dernbach & Sturmo, 2012: 41.  
Brock & Büscher, 2022: 511.  
 Bostranova incompta, Villet, 2023: 150.   
 Further material examined [7 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀]:   
 COSTA RICA: 1 ♂: Siquirres, C.R., VII.3.1905; M.A. Carriker Jr.; Bostra incompta Rehn; Det. Hebard 1932, Hebard Collection [ANSP]; 1 ♂: Carillo, Costa Rica; Heb. Cln [ANSP]; 1 ♂: La Emílía, near Guápiles, Costa Rica, 1000 ft. (R.), VIII.24.1923 [ANSP]; 1 ♂, 1 ♀: Costa Rica, F. Waldeck b. Matina, 14.VI.’30., Reimoser [NHMW]; 2 ♀♀: Costa Rica, F. Waldeck b. Matina, 11.–13.V.’30., Reimoser [NHMW]; 1 ♂: Est. Hitoy-Cerere, 100m, R. Cerere, Res. Biol. Hitoy Cerere, Prov. Limón, Costa Rica, G. Carbalo, ul. 1991 L-N–184200, 643800 [MNCR-A]; 1 ♂: Río Sardinas, R.N. F.S. Barra del Colorado, Prov. Limón, Costa Rica, 25 ago. 1992, F. Araya, L-N–291500, 564700 [MNCR-A]; 1 ♂: Costa Rica, Prov. Limón, P.N. Fortuguero, Pococi, Estac. Sierpe, Send. Real. Hacia Agua Frìa, 100m, 15 AGO 2004, B. Cimboa, Red de Golpe, L N 26724 [MNCR-A].   
 Diagnosis. Females of this species (Fig. 69D) are similar to those of P. baculus (Olivier, 1792) comb. n. from Guyana and P. globocephala Conle et al., 2011 with which they share the general proportions and appearance as well as the globose head. They however readily differ from both these species by the presence of prominent cephalic horns. From baculus these ♀♀ can also be distinguished by the lack of tubercles on the meso- and metanotum, having the median segment shorter than the metanotum (slightly longer than metanotum in baculus), differently shaped praeopercular organ and longer subgenital plate, that projects considerably beyond the tip of the abdomen (Fig. 74R). From the ♀♀ of globocephala they can be frequently separated by the greater size (body length including subgenital plate only 132.0–142.0 mm in globocephala), presence of tubercles on the meso- and metapleurae (body wholly smooth in globocephala) and dorsally crested basitarsi (dorsal carina slightly lamellate but uniform in height in globocephala). Males of P. incompta comb. n. most closely resemble those of P. laticauda (Bates, 1865) comb. n., which is distributed in NW-Brazil. They however differ by the strongly globose head, yellow postocular streak of the genae, distinctive black lateral transverse band along the posterior margin of abdominal terga II–VI much larger, bulgier and angular poculum (Fig. 76N) as well as the wholly unarmed medioventral carina of the meso- and metafemora (with a few small spiniform, sub-apical denticulations in laticauda).   
 Description. ♀♀ (Fig. 96D): Fairly large (body length including subgenital plate 157.0–172.0 mm) and moderately slender species for the genus with a globose, distinctly bi-cornute head, very sparsely and minutely tubercular meso- and metapleurae and sterna, a median segment that is scarcely shorter than metanotum and a short subgenital plate, that projects beyond the apex of the abdomen by about the length of the anal segment. General colouration variable and ranging from pale grey to ochreous brown and irregularly flecked with darker tones; sometimes with a greenish wash. Granules of the thorax pale drab. Eyes reddish mid brown. All femora and tibiae ± annulated with pale grey and with greyish mottling particularly on profemora (relatively more distinct in grey specimens). Antennae except for scapus and pedicellus greyish brown dorsally, black ventrally and towards the apex.   
Head: Fairly globose, about 1.2x longer than wide with the vertex roundly convex. Frons with two small, shallow impressions between bases of antennae. Vertex smooth but behind the eyes with a pair of prominent and acute, slightly carinate, lateral and anteriad directed conical horns; these extending by about half the height of head capsule. Eyes strongly projecting, circular in outline and their diameter contained about 2.5x in length of genae. Antennae slightly projecting over posterior margin of median segment. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, very slightly constricted towards the base and with the lateral margins straight; 2x longer than wide. Pedicellus round in cross-section, weakly inflated and roughly half the length of scapus.  
Thorax: Pronotum a little shorter but noticeably narrower than head, 1.4x longer than wide and roundly rectangular in dorsal aspect, with the lateral margins gently concave in the median portion. Anterior margin with a pair of small, conical median tubercles. Transverse median sulcus moderately distinct, curved and almost reaching lateral margins of segment. Mesothorax 6.5x longer than pronotum, slightly constricted anteriorly and the posterior portion gently expanded; otherwise roughly uniform in diameter. Mesonotum with a few small, scattered granules in anteriorly and a distinct granulose longitudinal carinae close to lateral margins and with the medio-longitudinal carinae fairly well-developed; otherwise smooth. Metanotum about 0.4x the length of mesonotum, 3.3x longer than wide and parallel-sided, sculpturing alike but destitute of granules. Mesopleurae with a longitudinal marginal row of node-like tubercles, the metapleurae with a row of about ten small tubercles. Meso- and metasternum with an indistinct medio-longitudinal carina, sparsely granulose and supplied with a few small, irregularly dispersed tubercles.  
Abdomen: Median segment four-fifth the length of metanotum, gently constricted medially and about 2.8x longer than wide. Segment II about equal in length to median segment and 2.2x longer than wide. II–V noticeably increasing in length; V and VI equal in length, longest segments and 2.7x longer than wide. Terga IV–VI with a small, obtuse posteromedian protuberance. Tergum VII narrower than preceding and three-fifth the length of VI, lateral margins parallel-sided but forming a small, weakly rounded lobe posteriorly. Sterna smooth. Praeopercular organ formed by a pair of fairly distinct, angular lobes near posterior margin of sternum VII, that are formed by the two lateral longitudinal carinae; in between with a small verrucose swelling (Fig. 74R). Tergum VIII half the length and narrower than VII, about 1.8x longer than wide, somewhat narrowed in anterior half and strongly convex longitudinally; lateral surfaces with a prominent longitudinal keel close to lateral margins. IX a little more than half the length of VIII, rectangular in dorsal aspect. Anal segment about equal in length to IX, tectate longitudinally with the posterior portion rounded, the posterior margin with a shallow median indention and the lateral margin roundly deflexed. Cerci very small and tapered towards a narrow apex. Gonapophyses VIII elongate, upcurved and notably projecting over anal segment. Subgenital plate distinctly keeled longitudinally with the apex pointed, gently downcurved and projecting beyond apex of abdomen by ± the length of anal segment (Fig. 74R).  
Legs: All moderately long and slender and unarmed. Profemora a little longer than mesothorax, mesofemora about as long as metathorax, metafemora almost reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV and metatarsi ± reaching to apex of abdomen. Two outer ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora ± roundly deflexed sub-basally and the apex of these carinae forming a fairly distinct triangular tooth All basitarsi with a prominent, roundly triangular dorsal crest; all slightly longer than the corresponding following three tarsomeres taken together.  
 Egg (Fig. 200P). The following description is based on photographs of eggs taken by Sascha Eilmus (Germany) and laid by a ♀ found at Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica. Unfortunately, the eggs were not saved and measured, why no measurements can be provided at this place.   
Capsule somewhat compressed laterally, notably higher than wide and about 1.6x longer than wide with the dorsal surface strongly convex in the anterior half and the polar-area flattened and somewhat indented; roundly angular with the polar end narrowed in lateral aspect. Capsule surface minutely coriaceous, slightly glossy and covered by an irregular, coarsely meshed raised sculpturing, which is somewhat less pronounced on lateral surfaces. Micropylar plate surrounded by an obtusely inflated collar that is connected to the mesh-like structure. The plate about 0.6x the length of capsule, narrowed in the anterior two-thirds with the posterior portion notably widened and rounded; surface flat and minutely coriaceous and with a longitudinal ridge in posterior half, which has an obtuse, verrucose swelling suB-posteriorly. Micropylar cup small, rounded and in a narrow posteromedian gap of plate. Median line distinct but short. Anterior margin of capsule set with short hairs. Operculum oval, flat and with a prominent, hollow and anteriorly unevenly crenulate structure, that is formed by membranous extensions of the outer margin. Capsule mid brown, the anterior margin blackish brown and the polar area black. Micropylar plate coloured like capsule with the median ridge and micropylar cup black. Raised sculpturing of the capsule straw. The opercular extension with crest-like ochre colour and the more membranous portions in between dark yellow.  
 Comments. The previously unknown ♀♀ and eggs are here described for the first time. The colouration is partly described from photos of live specimens taken at Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica by Sascha Eilmus in 2016 (Fig. 107C). These photos and pictures of the eggs were kindly provided by Eilmus, Dernbach & Sturmo (2012).   
 Table 57: Measurements of Phanocloidea incompta (Rehn, 1904) comb. n.
description: Published as part of Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2024, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea XXVI: Taxonomic review of Cladomorformia tax. n., a lineage of Diapheromerinae stick insects, with the descriptions of seven new genera and 41 new species (Phasmatodea: Occidophasmata: Diapheromerinae), pp. 1-454 in Zootaxa 5444 (1) on pages 247-249, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5444.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/11071464