Nescicroa Karny, 1923

Genus Nescicroa Karny, 1923 View in CoL

Type species. – Necroscia terminalis Redtenbacher, 1908: 561 View in CoL , pl. 26: 6, by original designation.

Comments. – A new diagnosis of Nescicroa was presented by Hennemann (2021: 153), who removed it from synonym of Paranecroscia Redtenbacher, 1908 and re-established it as a valid genus. Next to covering the Sulawesian species of Nescicroa this author also provided a preliminary list of species and a detailed differentiation from related genera.

Distribution. – Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, Moluccas, New Guinea & Solomon Islands.

Nescicroa bonneaui n. sp.

( Fig. 12)

ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/ C0992EE0-D4B4-4147-ADD3-823208D9757B

Holotype, ♀, Morotai , Moluccas, March, 1945, Gilbert Banner [ AMNH].

Differentiation. – Females of this new species, the only sex known, are most similar to those of N. viridilineata ( Bates, 1865) from Seram, Ambon and Buru, and N. tumescens (Redtenbacher, 1908) from Bacan and N. smaragdula ( Bates, 1865) . From ♀ of viridilineata they share black colour pattern on the head pro and mesonotum, but in this new species only the posterior portion of the head bears some longitudinal black stripes (mostly black in viridilineata ), there are only black stripes on the pronotum (almost wholly black in viridilineata ) and only the lateral margins of the mesonotum are black (lateral portions broadly black and with a black medio-longitudinal streak in viridilineata ). Moreover, this new species has the apex of the anal segment rather broad and obtuse, whereas it is tapered and triangular in viridilineata , and is stockier in overall shape. From the two latter species these ♀ can readily be separated by their distinctive colouration, which includes the black lateral margins of the mesonotum as well as the distinctive black longitudinal stripes of the pronotum und posterior portion of the head.

Etymology. – This pretty new species is named after Mr. Mario Bonneau, technician at the Montréal Insectarium for over 25 years and currently in charge of the phasmid cultures and their display in the museum exhibition.

Description.

Fairly small (body length ca. 47.0 mm) and typical shape for the genus with long alae (length 32.8 mm) that cover almost the complete abdomen except for the terminal two abdominal segments. Colouration of the unique dried holotype specimen apparently somewhat faded but with the distinctive colouration well recognizable. Head, pro and mesothorax basically greyish to bluish green with distinct black patterns; mesosternum pale grey. Back of head with four black longitudinal parallel streaks, the two median ones short and the two outer ones almost reaching to posterior

A. PT from Daeo Majiko, dorsolateral view [FH, No. 1243-21]. B. PT (captive reared), dorsolateral view [FH, No. 1243-17]. C. PT terminalia in lateral aspect [FH]. D. PT terminalia in dorsal aspect [FH]. E. PT terminalia in ventral aspect [FH]. F. PT (captive reared), head with antennae and prothorax in ventral view [FH]. G. PT head, pro- and mesothorax in ventral view [FH]. H. PT metathorax in dorsal aspect showing the vestigial tegmina and alae [FH]. I. Live captive reared PT, detail of head and thorax [FH].. Live captive reared PT [FH].

margin of eyes; the eyes dark brown. Antennae ochre, gradually becoming darker towards the apex and weakly annulated. Pronotum with a broadly M-shaped black marking on the anterior portion and a similar but narrower black marking on the posterior portion; the inner portion of the marking is the broadest. Lateral margins of mesonotum marked by an irregular black streak.Tegmina and costal region of alae primarily dark brown with all veins dull yellow to light green; the median portion of the alae are lighter in colour with a yellowish grey wash. Anal fan transparent grey. Metathorax and abdomen ochraceous drab with the apical abdominal segments rather dark reddish ochre. Abdominal terga with an apple green stripe along lateralmargins, and lateral surfaces of terga VIII and IX each with a large black marking. Extremities ochre with the basal portion of all femora light green; front legs rather sepia in colour.All femora with a distinctive elongate black dorsal sub-apical marking.

Head ( Fig. 12 B-C). – Globose, slightly compressed dorsoventrally, as wide as long, broadest just behind the eyes and wholly smooth. Frons with two shallow impressions between bases of antennae. No ocelli. Vertex weakly rounded. Eyes large, weakly oval in outline, projecting almost hemispherical and eye 1.1x longer than gena. Antennae reaching to abdominal segment VI. Scapus compressed dorsoventrally, roughly rectangular in dorsal aspect and just slightly longer than wide. Pedicellus globose and notably shorter than scapus. Antennomere III narrowing towards apex and about equal in length to pedicellus.

Thorax ( Fig. 12 B-C). – Pronotum shorter and much narrower than head with the anterior portion slightly widened and the posterior margin somewhat narrowed; about 1.3x longer than wide. Transverse median sulcus notably shifted towards the anterior, distinctly impressed, weakly arched and expanding over entire width of notum. Mesothorax 2.25x longer than prothorax and weakly widening towards the posterior. Mesonotum about 3x longer than wide densely rugulose and with and acute medio-longitudinal carina in the median portion and a distinct longitudinal ridge close to lateral margins. Mesopleurae minutely and more sparsely rugulose. Mesosternum smooth but with a low and obtuse medio-longitudinal bulge. Metapleurae and metasternum smooth. Tegmina scale-shaped with the apical margin straight, diagonal and roundly angular; the central protuberance shallow. Alae reaching posterior of abdominal segment VIII.

Abdomen. – Segments II-VII on average 2.7x longer than wide and slightly sub-uniform in width with VI-VII somewhat narrowing. All terga and sterna smooth except for some minute rugulae on terga VIII-X. Praeopercular organ formed by a small posteromedian tubercle on sternum VII. Terga VIIIX progressivelydecreasing inlength.Anal segmenttapering towards anarrow but obtuse and weakly notched apex; the lateral margins notably deflexed and rounded sub-basally. Cerci small, tapering towards a narrow tip, very weakly up-curved and roughly reaching to tip of anal segment. Subgenital plate rather narrow, scoop-shaped, narrowed sub-basally with a bluntly triangular and somewhat peg-like apex that reaches about half the way along anal segment; basal portion bulgy longitudinally and apical portion setose.

Legs. – All as typical for the genus, being rather short, slender, weakly carinated and wholly unarmed. Profemora weakly curved and compressed basally and a little longer than pro- and mesothorax taken together. Mesofemora slightly longer thanmesothorax andmetafemora reaching about half the way along abdominal segment IV. Basitarsi slender and somewhat longer than following three tarsomeres combined.

Measurements of holotype [mm]:

- Body ca. 47.0,

- Pronotum 2.3,

- Mesonotum 5.8,

- Tegmina. 4.1,

- Alae 32.8,

- Profemora 9.3,

- Mesofemora 5.8,

- Metafemora 9.6,

- Protibiae 9.8,

- Mesotibiae 5.6,

- Metatibiae 9.3,

- Antennae ca. 37.0.

Comments. – So far only known from the unique holotype. The ♂ and egg remain unknown.

Distribution. – Morotai (endemic).