Eubulides blaan, Hennemann, 2023

Eubulides blaan View in CoL n. sp.

( Fig. 25-26 & 72E)

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ FB4EA8A6-C258-4FAB-96D2-7D1B8B7F526A

HT, ♀: Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Agusan del Sur Prov., Esperanza Munip., Kalabuan, 385 m, local collector VII.2002 [ RBINS, ex coll. FH] .

PT, ♀: Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Agusan del Sur Prov., Esperanza Munip., Kalabuan, 385 m, local collector XI.20011 [ FH, No’s 1259-1] .

PT, 3 ♀, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (penultimate instar): Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Agusan del Sur Prov., Esperanza Munip., Kalabuan, 385 m, local collector VII.2002 [ FH, No’s 1259-2 to 6] .

PT, 3 ♀, 4 ♂, 1 ♀ (juvenile): Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Agusan del Sur Prov., Esperanza Munip., Kalabuan, 385 m, local collector VIII-IX.2011 [ FH, No’s 1259-7 to 14] .

PT, 1 ♀, 1 ♂, 1 egg: Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Agusan del Sur Prov., Sibagat Munip., ca. 50 m, local collector III.2002 [ FH, No’s 1259-15, 16 & E] .

PT, 3 ♂: Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Agusan del Sur Prov., Sibagat Munip., ca. 50 m, local collector IX.2002 [ FH, No’s 1259-17 to 19] .

PT, 1 ♀: Philippinen, Mindanao Id., Lanao del Sur Prov., Kapatagan Munip., local collector III.2002 [ FH, No’s 1259-20] .

Differentiation.– Thisnewspeciesmostcloselyresembles E.lumawigi n. sp. from the island of Luzon with which it shares the reduced body armature.Bothsexescanhoweverreadily be separatedfromthatspecies by the distinct, obtuse medio-longitudinal carina of the meso- and metanotum and sterna, which thereby are notably tectate longitudinally ( Fig. 26 A-F). Females may also be differentiated from those of lumawigi by having the almost parallel lateral margins of the mesothorax (notably narrowing towards the anterior in lumawigi ), notably more expanded meso- and metapleurae, distinct posteromedian indention of the anal segment ( Fig. 26H, rounded in lumawigi ), narrower slit of the praeopercular organ ( Fig. 26J), somewhat shorter – A. Habitus dorsal view. – B. Habitus lateral view. – C. Habitus ventral view. – D. Head and thorax in dorsal view. – E. Head and thorax in lateral view. – F. Terminalia in dorsal view. – G. Terminalia in ventral view. – H. Terminalia in lateral view.

ovipositor which is slightly less than 2x the length of the analsegment ( Fig. 26 G-H) and just weakly developed posteromedian protrusion of abdominal terga VIII and IX, which may occasionally be wanting on VIII ( Fig. 26G). Males have the mesonotum slightly shorter (3.1x vs. 3.3x longer than prothorax in lumawigi ), the mesosternals very prominent ( Fig.26F,only low tubercles in lumawigi ), the spines on the ventral carinae of the meso- and metafemora are somewhat more pronounced,the posterior marginof the analsegment merely has a small median indention ( Fig. 26L, distinctly bilobed with a deep triangular excavation in lumawigi ), the poculum is comparatively smaller and the vomer has a distinctly arched terminal hook ( Fig. 72E, a straight and conical terminal point in lumawigi ).

The egg differs fromthat of timog by the somewhat larger dimensions, being cylindrical in cross-section (oval in timog ), having the anterior portion of the micropylar rather rounded than angular and the apex of the two posterior extensions fairly acute, as well as by lacking the setae of the operculum seen in timog .

Etymology. – Named after the Blaan people, indigenous people of Southern Mindanao and neighbours of the T’boli. They are famous for their brass works, beadwork as well as their tabih weave and people of these tribes wear colourful embroidered native costumes and beadwork accessories.

Description

A medium sized species for the genus with the general form rather slender and uniform in body width, the body surface densely granulose but just sparsely tuberculate; the legs relatively slender and elongate. Thorax with dorsal and ventral side distinctly tectate medio-longitudinally. The colouration is described solely from dried specimens.

♀ ( Fig. 25 A-D)

Form and colouration. – Medium sized (body length 69.0-84.0 mm), rather slender and body fairly uniform in diameter. Colour varying from light to mid yellowish to reddish brown and fairly uniform. Upper margins and apex of subgenital plate blackish.

Head. – Subcylindrical, about 1.5x longer than wide with the vertex flattened; surface rough and granular, the median and lateral coronals moderately developed and obtusely spinose, the 3-4 gulars small ( Fig. 26 A-B). Eyes slightly oval and their length contained 2.3x in lengthof genae.Antennae with 28 joints and reaching to posterior of median segment. Scapus flattened dorso-ventrally with interior margin noticeably rounded, pedicellus scarcely shorter than scapus and tapering towards apex, III longer than IV and V.

Thorax. – Pronotum about as wide but notably shorter than head and somewhat constricted medially with the transverse median sulcus deeply impressed and widely W-shaped; surface unevenly tuberculose and granulose ( Fig. 26B). Antero-mesal pronotals spiniform, the antero-laterals small. A distinct pair of obtuse posterior mesal pronotal tubercles present just in front of median sulcus ( Fig. 26A). Meso- and metanotum granular and with a prominent, obtuse medio-longitudinal keel that is covered by somewhat more pronounced, shiny granules( Fig. 26B). Mesonotum with a small pair of anterior mesal tubercles, about 2.6x longer than wide and rectangular except for a slight narrowing post-medially. Metanotum subquadrate. Meso- and metasternum obtusely tectate medio-longitudinally and with about five (mesosternum, Fig. 26C) or two pairs (metasternum) of obtusely conical tubercles. Mesopleurae notablyexpanded andmore so towards theanterior;both pleurae withnumerous irregular tubercles along the mid-line, the three anterior ones of the mesopleurae more or less spiniform ( Fig.26 A-C).

Abdomen. – Median segment with anterior margin widely rounded and> 2x wider than long; surface with the same medio-longitudinal keel seen on meso- and metanotum. Segments II-VII roughly uniform in width, II and III equal in length, IV-VII slightly decreasing in length and becoming increasingly transverse; all terga with a weakly indicated medio-longitudinal bulge but withoutanyhintof tubercles. SternaII-VI eachwith twopairsof blunttubercles that roughlyform a quadrate. Praeopercular organ onsternum VII formed by a distinct, cingulate median pit near posterior margin, which is very weakly bi-labiate medially ( Fig. 26J). Terga VIII and IX with a weakly bi-globose posteromedian swelling, that is occasionally wanting on VIII ( Fig. 26G).Anal segment weakly tectate and narrowing towards a slightly indented posterior margin ( Fig. 26H); the lateral margins with a concave excavation medially ( Fig. 26G).Cerci smalland compressed laterally.Epiproctalmost2x longer than anal segment, up-curved, gradually narrowing towards a slender but blunt tip and weakly tectate medio-longitudinally. Subgenital plate elongate, lanceolate, navicular and up-curved with the median keel distinct and the apex acutely pointed( Fig. 26 G-H)and slightlysurpassing tip of epiproct;basalportionsetose and apical portion increasingly glossy in appearance.

Legs. – All coxae with a ventral spine at posterior margin, this particularly distinctonmetacoxaewhich bearanother but muchsmaller spiniform projection at the base. Profemora smooth dorsally andwiththree spinose teeth inapical half of two outer ventral carinae. Dorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora with about six (mesofemora) to nine (metafemora) teeth, which are much more pronounced with the three basal ones rather spiniform on metafemora. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora only indicated by a few small granules. Two exterior ventral carinae of mesofemora with 6-7 spiniform teeth that gradually increase in size towards the apex of femur. Metafemora armed with abouteight rather distinct but slender spines on two exterior ventral carinae, – A. ♀ paratype, dorsal view [ FH 1259-1 ]. – B . ♀ paratype, lateral view [ FH 1259-1 ]. – C . ♀ paratype, ventral view [ FH 1259-1 ]. – D . ♀ holotype, dorsolateral view [ RBINS]. – E . ♂ paratype, dorsal view [ FH 1259-16 ]. – F . ♂ paratype, lateral view [ FH 1259-16 ]. – G . ♂ paratype, ventral view [ FH 1259-16 ] .

which gradually increase in size towards the apex; a notably smaller intercalated spine is present between the three apical spines. Protibiae wholly unarmed, meso- and metatibiae only with a few small denticulations ventrally. Tarsi stout and about half as long as corresponding tibiae.

♂ ( Fig. 25 E-G)

Form and colouration. – Moderately sized for the genus (body length 52.0- 56.8 mm), form rather slender with the posterior portions of meso- and metathorax just weakly inflated. Body surface more distinctly granular than in ♀. Colour much as in ♀ but on average of slightly darker tones.

Head. – Basically,asin ♀ butthefour coronalsand gularsrelativelymore developed and acute ( Fig.26 D-E).Antennae reaching to abdominal segment II.

Thorax. – All tubercles of pronotum notably more distinct and spinose thanin ♀ and withtwo or three pairs of medial pronotalsinfrontof transverse fissure ( Fig. 26 D-E). Mesothorax more narrowed in the anterior three-quarters, the mesonotum almost 4.3x longer than width at anterior margin and scarcely more than 3x the length of prothorax. Mesonotum granular and set with variably sized, enlarged obtuse tubercles that are roughly arranged in two longitudinal lateral rows; the anterior mesal and antero-lateral mesonotals moderately distinct, blunt and peg-like in shape ( Fig. 26 D-E). Metanotum subrectangular but without enlarged tubercles. Meso- and metapleurae with a medio-longitudinal row of obtuse tubercles which are less pronounced on metapleurae; the antero-lateral tubercle of mesopleurae rather spiniform. Mesosternum with six very prominent conical tubercles ( Fig. 26F), metasternum only with four notably smaller tubercles.

Abdomen. – Median segment trapezoidal with anterior margin gently rounded. Segments II-VI very slightly narrowing, VII weakly trapezoidal; II and III equal in length, IV-VI slightly decreasing in length; onaverage about 1.4x longer than wide. Terga II-VII unarmed except for a variably developed but always small pair of postero-mesal tubercles; V-VIII with a pair of weak and closely spaced medio-longitudinal carinae. Sterna as in ♀ but the four paired tubercles smaller and sterna II-III with a fine medio-longitudinalcarina. Analsegment hexagonal in dorsal aspect, wider thanlong, the lateralmargins somewhat deflexed and angular and the posterior margin roundly angular with a minute median indention ( Fig. 26L);outer ventral angles of posterior margin minutely dentate.Epiproct very small, broadly triangular. Cerci small, tapering towards a narrow tip and slightly compressed laterally. Vomer with basal portion broader than long and roundly triangular, the terminal hook moderately strong, rather short and weakly arched dextrally ( Fig. 72E). Poculum moderately bulgy with a median carina in posterior half, the surface otherwise unevenly tuberculated; posterior margin with a medially indented, bi-labiate flange ( Fig. 26M).

Legs. – Coxae as in ♀. Armature of limbs generally as in ♀ but the ventral spines of the meso- and metafemora in particular, relatively larger and stronger than in ♀.

– A. ♀ paratype, head, pro- and mesothorax lateral view [ FH]. – B . ♀ paratype, head, pro- and mesonotum dorsal view [ FH]. – C . ♀ paratype, head, pro- and mesosternum ventral view [ FH 1259 ]. – D . ♂ paratype, head, pro- and mesothorax lateral view [ FH]. – E . ♂ paratype, head, pro- and mesonotum dorsal view [ FH]. – F . ♂ paratype, head, pro- and mesosternum ventral view [ FH]. – G . ♀ paratype, terminalia lateral view [ FH]. – H . ♀ paratype, terminalia dorsal view [ FH]. – J . ♀ paratype, terminalia ventral view [ FH]. – K . ♂ paratype, terminalia lateral view [ FH]. – L . ♂ paratype, terminalia dorsal view [ FH]. – M . ♂ paratype, terminalia ventral view [ FH] .

Variability. – No noteworthy variability is seen in the type-series, other than slight variation in size and number and development of the pro- and mesonotal tubercles. The unique ♀ from Sibagat has the posteromedian tubercle of the abdominal terga somewhat more pronounced than all other specimens and the ♀ from Kapatagan is shorter than the other specimens (body length 69.0 mm).

Egg

One egg could be extracted from the ovipositor of the ♀ paratype from Sibagat but was unfortunately damaged during that progress in which the posterior portion broke off. Nonetheless, it can serve well for a description but is not illustrated.

Elongate, slightly bullet-shaped, round in cross-section with polar end slightly narrowing;2.8x longer than wide and 2.6x longer than high. Entire surface of capsule densely but finely pitted and somewhat rugulose anteriorly and posteriorly; the anterior margin with a slight bulge. Polar-area with a small protuberance in centre. Micropylar plate large and about 0.75x the length of capsule; shape basically roundly rectangular anterior end broadly rounded and posteriorly with a large and deep triangular medianindention;the outer angles forming twonarrowingand veryweakly laterally directedextensions;surface like capsule and outer margin marked by a fairly broad but low bulge. Micropylar cup a small bowl-shaped structure with a low and obtuse swelling anteriorly. Median line a prominent raised bulge, which reaches to the central protuberance of the polar-area. Operculum slightly oval and very weakly convex; surface unevenly rugulose. Opercular angle ca. 8°. Colour plain grey, the operculum slightly darker. Measurements [mm]: Length 5.3, width 2.0, height 2.0, length of micropylar plate 4.1.

Distribution. – Mindanao,endemic. Province Agusan del Sur (Esperanza, Kalabuan, 385 m [RBINS, FH]; Sibagat [FH]); Province Lanao del Sur (Kapatagan [FH]).