Jeremiodes guianensis, Hennemann & Conle, 2007

Hennemann, Frank H. & Conle, Oskar V., 2007, Studies on Neotropical Phasmatodea IV. Jeremiodes, gen. nov., a new genus of the subfamily Cladomorphinae, and the description of two new species, Spixiana 30 (1), pp. 1-11 : 6-9

Jeremiodes guianensis , spec. nov.

Figs 4-10, 12-13

Types. Holotype: Ƌ, Guyane Française, Montagnes de Kaw , Piste de Kaw, Roubaud rec. ( MNHN) . – Paratypes: 1♀, Guyane Française, Montagnes de Kaw , Piste de Kaw, Roubaud rec. ( MNHN) ; 1♀ (subadult nymph),

Guyane Française, Montagnes de Kaw, Piste de Kaw, Cerdan leg., J. Solard, Roubaud Coll. (MNHN).

Differentiatial diagnosis. The ƋƋ are similar to J. pachycercus (Redtenbacher) from Peru but easily distinguished by: the distinctly larger size; relatively shorter mesothorax and granulose mesonotum; brown instead of yellowish brown abdomen; green instead of reddish brown meso- and metatibiae and the slightly longer alae which reach as far as to the posterior margin of tergite V. The ♀♀ are easily distinguished from J. pachycercus by: the distinctly larger size; slightly more elongate and completely smooth head; slightly broader meso- and metathorax; strongly raised posterior margin of the mesonotum and distinct sub-apical spine of the antero- and posteroventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora.

Description

The following descriptions of the ♀ and Ƌ are based on the almost perfect HT & PT in MNHN. The Ƌ HT is complete except for the left mesotarsus, the left hind claw and the apical segments of the left antennae. The ♀ PT has the right hind leg regenerated and considerably shorter than the left .

♀♀. Medium-sized (body length 129.5 mm excluding subgenital plate) rather slender (maximum body width 6.6 mm) and apterous, with a long and lanceolate subgenital plate (30.9 mm); large for the genus. General colouration of body pale greyish brown with some lighter dots on the abdomen and a bold bright green lateral marking on the tergites II-V. Ventral surface of thorax greenish brown and with very indistinct, darker markings. Ventral surface of abdomen slightly whiteish and with white markings. Head creamish grey-brown with several darker brown longitudinal bands, especially the postocular one being very broad and distinct. Antennae greyish brown basally but becoming darker and almost black towards the apex. Profemora yellowish brown, protibiae slightly darker brown; meso- and metafemora as well as meso- and metatibiae green. Apices of all femora and tibiae brown. Tarsi and operculum dark brown. Fila ovipositoris brown and shiny black towards apex.

Head. Elongate, 1.3 × longer than wide, parallel-sided, oval in cross-section. Vertex almost flat and destitute of granules or tubercles. Eyes dark greyish brown, of moderate size, circular and strongly convex. Between the eyes with an almost circular, slightly raised and distinctly boardered area. Antennae slightly longer than head, pro- and mesonotum combined (42.4 mm), antennomeres very short and distinctly decreasing in length towards apices of antennae. Scapus dorsoventrally flattened, rectangular and about 1.5 × longer than wide. Pedicellus cylindrical, broader than following antennomeres and about 2 / 3 the length of scapus.

Thorax. Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head, less than 1.5 × longer than wide, constricted medially and smooth except for four central granules and some very minute granules along lateral margins.Anterior margin slightly raised and concave, posterior margin low and slightly convex.Transverse median depression very distinct, slightly curved and reaching lateral margins of segment. Median line very indistinct. Prosternum slightly trapezoidal and densely granulose. Mesothorax about 2 × longer than head and pronotum combined, constricted at anterior margin, widened afterwards and prominently broadened posteriorly; complete surface densely covered with rounded granules, those on the pleurae and sternum dark green. Mesonotum with posterior margin prominently raised and forming a transverse carina. Metathorax structured like mesothorax. Metanotum about 1.3 × longer than wide, medially constricted and with anterior margin broader than posterior margin.

Abdomen. Median segment more than 1.5 × longer than wide, longer than the metanotum, constricted medially and all over covered with minute rounded granules. Segments II-VI parallel-sided, smooth and increasing in length, II 1.3 × longer than wide, VI 2 × longer than wide. Tergite VII as long as VI but distinctly narrower and about 2.5 × longer than wide. VIII slightly more than half the length of VII, strongly convex and with a slight median keel; anterior half parallel-sided and as broad as VII, posterior half distinctly widened towards posterior margin. IX about 2 / 3 the length of VII slightly transverse and with a slight median keel. Anal segment slightly longer than IX, with a fine median carina, slightly tapered and with a rounded posterior margin. Supraanal plate very short, transverse, pointed towards the apex and slightly tectiform. Cerci small, oval in cross-section and tapered towards a distinctly pointed apex; clearly projecting over posterior margin of anal segment. Gonapophyses very elongate, filiform, up-curving at the apex and projecting over the anal segment by the combined length of tergites IX and X. Subgenital plate lanceolate and tapered towards a pointed tip, strongly keeled basally and projecting over anal segment by the combined length of tergites VII-IX.

Legs. All rather short and stout, profemora shorter than mesonotum, mesofemora as long as metanotum and median segment combined and hind legs reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergite VII. All carinae undulate, destitute of teeth or spines but densely covered with minute tubercles. Antero- and posteroventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora with a distinct, black-sub-apical tooth (anteroventral carina of mesofemora with two black teeth). Medioventral carina of profemora elevated, ledge-like and unarmed. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora slightly raised and with a row of very minute granules. Basitarsi as long as following three tarsomeres combined, probasitarsus with a slightly raised dorsal carina.

ƋƋ. Medium-sized (body length 79.4 mm) and slender (maximum body width 2.9 mm) Cladomorhini with well developed alae (39.4 mm); large for the genus.Mesothorax,metapleurae and metasternum glabrous dark green, pronotum pale greyish with a longitudinal dark green marking on both sides of the median line. Head greyish brown with several darker brown longitudinal bands, which are identical to those in ♀♀, and an additional bold black marking between the eyes. Scapus and pedicellus blackish brown. Remaining part of antennae greyish brown and becoming black towards the apices. Abdomen plain brown with an irregular whitish anterior marking on tergite IX; sternite VIII almost entirely white. Ventral surfaces of all coxae glabrous black. Profemora yellowish brown, protibiae blackish brown, meso- and metafemora and meso- and metatibiae bright mid green. Apices of all femora and tibiae black. Tarsi yellowish to greenish brown. Tegmina and costal region of alae transparent yellowish brown with the veins dark brown and a bold white longitudinal band at the anterior margion. Costal region of alae with a further very fine longitudinal green line which begins at the base of the alae and covers almost 2 / 3 of its length. Anal region transparent.

Head. About 1.3 × longer than wide, oval, vertex slightly convex and entirely smooth. Eyes dark brown, circular, strongly convex and prominently projecting from head capsule. Between the eyes with a black, almost circular and distinctly marginated convex area. Antennae generally as in ♀♀ but relatively longer, reaching to posterior margin of abdominal tergite III.

Thorax. Pronotum generally as in ♀♀ but less distinctly medially constricted.Prosternum trapezoidal and covered with minute granules. Mesothorax very slender, elongate, more than 4 × longer than pronotum, parallel-sided; complete surface densely covered with small granules. Lateral margins of mesonotum raised and with a row of small, pointed tubercles. Mesosternum with a faint median keel. Metanotum prominently shorter than mesonotum and median segment, indistinctly longer than wide. Metapleurae and metasternum densely granulose; metasternum with a very faint median keel. Tegmina small, oval, tapered towards base and slightly convex; slightly longer than the metanotum. Alae reaching half way along tergite V.

Abdomen. Median segment about 4 × longer than metanotum, slightly narrowed towards the posterior and smooth. Segments II-VI very indistinctly granulose, parallel-sided and of equal width, II almost 4 × longer than wide, II-VI of equal length and about 3 × longer than wide. VII shorter than previous, less than 2.5 × longer than wide and medially constricted; of bone-like appearance. Sternites II-VII with a very faint median carina. Tergite VIII about 2 / 3 the length of VII and distinctly broadened medially. IX distinctly narrower than VIII, medially constricted and 2.5× longer than wide.Anal segment half the length of IX, strongly convex and prominently widened towards the posterior. Posterior margin raised and with a faint medial gap. Cerci very prominent, slightly dorsoventrally flattened with apices prominently broadened, truncate and angled inward. Vomer dark brown, elongate gradually narrowed and with a pointed tip. Subgenital plate large, rounded, strongly convex and reaching to posterior margin of tergite IX. Complete surface irregularely covered with ± distinct and pointed granules; posterior margin with a rounded median gap and a triangular tooth at each angle.

Legs. All long and slender, and less distinctly carinated than in ♀♀, completely destitute of spines or teeth. Profemora about as long as head, pro- and mesonotum combined, mesofemora slightly longer than mesonotum and metafemora projecting over posterior margin of tergite IV. All carinae covered with a row of very minute tubercles.All tarsi simple, basitarsi longer than remaining tarsomeres combined.

Nymph. The subadult ♀ nymph (PT) has the legs relatively broader, and the subgenital plate and gonapophyses shorter than the adult specimen. Due to a former preservation or killing in ethanol the colour has changed to dark yellow and pale brown on the abdomen. The specimen is believed to have been plain mid green when alive.

Etymology. The name refers to the type-locality French Guiana.

Comments. Egg unknown.