Eubulides constanti, Hennemann, 2023

Eubulides constanti View in CoL n. sp.

( Fig. 27)

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ 1ED39608-0ED7-4C24-B475-476789C3B5A0

HT, ♂: Philippines, Mindanao , Mount Apo, 2008 [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – Most closely resembling the second Mindanaoan species E. blaan n. sp. but ♂ (the only sex known) differing by the notably larger head, which is more 1.5x longer than the pronotum ( Fig. 27D), relatively shorter mesothorax that is just scarcely longer than the head and prothorax taken together ( Fig. 27 D-E), less pronounced pronotal tubercles, less distinctly tectate mesosternum ( Fig. 27B), more numerous, slender and pointed ventral spines of the femora and much more distinctly bilobed and medially indented posterior margin of the anal segment ( Fig. 27F).

Etymology. – Named in honour of Jérôme Constant (RBINS) for his generosity and permitting use of several plates that he had compiled for an unpublished paper on the genus Eubulides . Moreover, Jérôme, who has published numerous papers on Indochinese Phasmatodea, shall be thanked for kindly arranging loans of specimens from the RBINS collection and his tremendous efforts in organising the annual phasmid meeting in the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels since 2016.

Description

♂ ( Fig. 27)

Form and colouration. – Medium sized (body length 46.6 mm) and rather stocky for the genus witha very large head if comparedto congenerics; body armature weakly developed and body surface densely granular (the granules more distinct on thorax). Colour of the unique holotype plain greyish drab withthe abdomen andtibiae buff andallgranulationsandtuberclesof the body as well as the armature of the limbs ochre. Vertical portion of the poculum light grey. Antennae buff with some irregular, dark straw-coloured annuli and gradually becoming darker towards the apex.

Head. – Large, subcylindrical, parallel-sided and about 1.4x longer than wide with the vertex flattened ( Fig. 27 D-E); surface densely granular, the lateral coronals moderately developed, the median coronals broadly conical but low and posterior directed to give the posterior margin of the head a bi-dentate appearance; only two somewhat pronounced posterior gulars present. Coronal line noticeablyimpressed in posterior half of vertex ( Fig. 27D). Eyes rather small, oval in outline, moderately projecting and length of eye fitting 2.1x in length of genae. Antennae with 26 joints and reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment II. Scapus flattened dorso-ventrally with interior margin moderately rounded and about 1.5 longer than wide; pedicellus two-thirds the length of scapus and slightly tapering towards apex, III noticeably longer than pedicellus, IV and V; proceeding segments first increasing and in the apical one-quarter of antennae decreasing in length.

Thorax. – Pronotum onlytwo-thirdsthelength of head, alittlewiderthan long with the anterior margin somewhat widened and the lateral margin gently concave; the transverse median furrow deeply impressed and distinctly arched;surface unevenly tuberculose and granulose ( Fig. 27D). Anterior half with a small pair of posterior mesal tubercles and a moderate pair of conical medial tubercles just in front of transverse furrow; the anterior margin set with a small pair of median tubercles and the anterior-lateral pronotals small ( Fig. 27E). Mesothorax slightly widened posteriorly; the mesonotum about 3.2x longer than wide and rectangular, only with a few slightly more pronounced granules close to lateral margins ( Fig. 27D). Metanotum slightly narrowed medially and lacking the enlarged lateral granules seen on the mesonotum. Sensory areas of prosternum distinct. Meso- and metasternum weakly tectate longitudinally, the mesosternum with four somewhat enlarged tuberculiform mesosternals on each side; three similar tuberculiform nodes on metasternum ( Fig. 27B). Mesopleurae weakly expanded posteriorly and both pleurae with a row of obtuse tubercles along the mid-line.

Abdomen. – Median segment roundly trapezoidal with anterior margin rounded. Segments II-VII very slightly gradually decreasing in length with II-II weakly narrowing and V.VII roughly uniform in width;IV 1.4x longer tan wide, VII subquadrate.All terga simply and densely granular. Sterna II and III with a fine medio-longitudinal carinae, the proceeding ones simple; all densely granular. Terga VII and IX somewhat wider than preceding and scarcely wider than long. Anal segment with lateral margins roundly deflexed and obtusely dentiform in anterior half ( Fig. 27H); the posterior margin deeply indented medially and bi-lobate ( Fig. 27F); ventral surface of posterior margin set with some black teeth. Epiproct very small, roundly triangular and concealed under anal segment. Vomer with basal portion triangular and with some transverse furrows, the apex distinctly arched towards the right by about 30° and forming a moderately long terminal hook. Poculum small, moderately bulgy, cup-shaped with a prominent median keel inposterior half, the surface otherwise weakly granulated; posterior margin entire, broadly rounded and slightly labiate ( Fig. 27G); merely reaching on-third the way along anal segment.

Legs. – All coxae with a ventral spine at posterior margin, this small on pro- and mesocoxae but particularly distinct on metacoxae which bear another minute spiniform tubercle at the base. Profemora strongly compressed and arched in basal half; smooth dorsally and with 2-3 short spines in apical half of two outer ventral carinae. Posterodorsal carinae of meso- and metafemora with about three (mesofemora) to five (metafemora) small teeth in basal half; anterior carina unarmed. Medioventral carina of meso- and metafemora only indicated by a few small granules. Two exterior ventral carinae of mesofemora with 7-8 slender but pointed spines that gradually increase in size towards the apex of femur. Metafemora armed with 9-10 rather strong spines on two exterior ventral carinae, which gradually increase in size towards the apex; usually a 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 slightly less than half as long as corresponding tibiae; basitarsus somewhat longer than second joint.

Measurements [mm]. – Body 46.6, pronotum 3.3, mesonotum 9.0, metanotum 4.6, median segment 2.0, profemora 9.8, mesofemora 8.2, metafemora 10.7, protibiae 9.1, mesotibiae 7.5, metatibiae 9.8, antennae 33.0.

Remarks. – Females and eggs unknown.

Distribution. – Mindanao, Province South Cotabato (Mount Apo [RBINS]).