Obrimus bufo (Westwood, 1848)

Obrimus bufo (Westwood, 1848) View in CoL

( Fig. 42, 70 T-U & 73P-Q)

Phasma (Acanthoderus) bufo Westwood, 1848: 77 , pl. 38: 3.

LT (by present designation), ♀: W16; Phasma acanthoderus Bufo Westw. Cab Orient. Pl. View in CoL 38: 3, Phil. Islands D. Cuming; Type. Westwood. Phasma (Acanthoderus) bufo . Cab. Orient. Entom. 1848, p.77, pl.38,f.3.; Type Orth: 492. Phasma View in CoL Acanthoderus bufo Westw., Hope Dept. Oxford [UMO];

PLT, ♀: Syntype; Phil Isla; Acanthoderus Bufo Westw. , Philippine Isl. ; BMNH(E) #845223 [NHMUK].

PLT, ♀: Syntype; Phasma (acanthoderus) bufo Westw. Orient. Ent. t38 f3; BMNH(E) #845224 [NHMUK];

– A. ♀ dorsal view (S-Luzon, Bicol , Sorsogon Province) [ FH 0730-42 ]. – B . ♀ dorsolateral view (S-Luzon, Bicol , Sorsogon Province) [ FH 0730-42 ]. – C . ♀ dorsolateral view (reared from S-Luzon, Bicol, Sorsogon Province, Pocdol Mts. ) [ FH 0730-5 ]. – D . ♂ dorsal view (Mindanao, Agusan del Sur Prov., Sibagat ) [ FH 0730-40 ]. – E . ♂ dorsolateralview (Mindanao, Agusan del Sur Prov., Sibagat )[ FH 0730-40 ]. – F. Mesosternum of ♀ [ FH 0730-42 ]. – G. Mesosternum of ♂ [ FH]. – H. Terminalia of ♂ in dorsal view [ FH]. – J. Terminalia of ♂ in ventral view [ FH]. – K. Terminalia of ♀ in dorsal view [ FH]. – L. Terminalia of ♀ in ventral view [ FH] .

PLT, ♀ (nymph): Syntype; Phil Isla, 44-22; Acanthoderus bufo Westw. Type.; Acanthoderus bufo Westw. ; BMNH(E) #845222 [NHMUK].

Acanthoderus bufo, Westwood, 1859: 51 , pl. 2: 6. - Elera, 1895: 200.

Obrimus bufo, Stål, 1875: 92 View in CoL .

- Kirby, 1904: 398.

- Redtenbacher, 1906: 40.

- Bruner, 1915: 229.

- Rehn & Rehn, 1939: 425.

- Zompro, 2004: 215, fig.

- Otte & Brock, 2005: 228.

- Brock et al., 2016: 163. (Type data) - Brock & Büscher, 2022: 521.

Material examined

1 ♀, 1 ♂, 1 egg (ex ovipositor): Philippinen, N-Luzon Id., Provinz Ilocos Norte-Far , Pagudpod, sealevel, local collector, 8.VI.2010 [ FH, No’s 1351-1, 2, E] ;

1 ♀, 1 ♂: Coll. R.I.Sc.N.B., Philippines, Luzon, Ilocos, Leg. T. Heitzmann & A. Kang [ RBINS] .

Differentiation. – This is the largest species in the genus and thus both sexes are readily separated from the other congenerics by the notably larger size.In the distinctbody armature ♀ resemble bicolanus but they differ by the somewhat slenderer shape ( Fig. 42 A-B), presence of a small but notable pair of anterior pronotals ( Fig. 42B), lack of second paired posteriors on abdominal terga II-VI, and differently shaped praeopercular organ, which is a transverse and slightly bi-gibbose swelling at posterior margin of abdominal sternum VII ( Fig.42L).The previouslyunknown ♂ stronglyresemblethoseof bicolanus butcanbe distinguished by the shape of the anal segment, which is transverse and rather rectangular in shape and has the posterior margin broader, weakly bilobed and with a shallow pit near each posterolateral angle ( Fig.42H), as well as the much broader, basically triangular vomer, that has just a short terminal hook (apex strongly narrowed with terminal hook long, slender and spiniform in bicolanus ). The eggs ( Fig. 73 P-Q) differ from those of bicolanus by the inflated micropylar plate, which is notably raised above the capsule surface, and the smaller opercular angle (-15° vs. -25° in bicolanus ).

Description of ♂ ( Fig. 42 C-D)

Form and colouration. – Size large (body length 68.5-73.0 mm), form moderately stocky for the genus; body surface slightly glossy, minutely granular but appearing rather smooth and with fairly prominent spination. General colour of the unique dried specimen at hand ochraceous mid brown with the terminal five abdominal segments and the ventral surface of the abdomen rather fawn; median portions of meso- and metanotum dark green; major spines of the body fuscous to blackish. Antennae brown basally and gradually becoming buff towards the apex.

Head. – Roundly rectangular, a little longer than broad, vertex rather flattened and with a fine coronal fissure; surface sparsely granulose. Median coronalsand occipitals prominent,acutelyspinose and roughly equal insize, the supra-orbitalssimilar insize;twopairs of smalloccipitalmedials present andthe lateral coronals distinctbut somewhat smaller than the median coronals.Genae with a fairly distinctposterior gular and a much smaller one in front.Antennae very long and reaching to abdominal segment VIII, the median joints strongly elongated,the scapus just slightly compressed dorso-ventrally.

Thorax. – Pronotum slightly longer than head, the anterolateral angles deflexed and with a shallow narrowing pre-medially; the transverse median sulcus faint;just behind it a very prominent pair of slender, upright and acutely pointed medial spines, in front with a small rather tuberculiform pair of posterior mesal prtonotals. Antero-lateral and inter-posterior pronotals subobsolete. Mesothorax moderately slender and prominently inflated posteriorly; about 2.7x longer than prothorax, the mesonotum about 4x longer than wide. Anterior mesonotals distinct simple spines, the posterior mesonotals large and compound with two smaller spines at the base, that are roughly half the size and accompanied by a few small tubercles. Posterior metanotals essentially alike but a little larger than the mesonotals and the two spines at the base much smaller; metanotum strongly trapezoidal in shape. Mesopleurae with a distinct spinose antero-lateral, a small but acute medio-lateral and two medium-sized spinose supra-coxal; mesopleural very prominent and stronger than all other mesothoracic spines. Metapleurae with an even larger metapleural spine, which is the largest of all body spines; margin with one small lateral as well as four small supra-coxals in front and two noticeably larger ones posteriorly. Mesosternum fairly smooth with only very indistinct and low mesosternals and a pair of node-like swellings anteriorly ( Fig. 42F). Metasternum only with six granular metasternals; the lateral folds shallow and very narrow ( Fig. 70U).

Abdomen. – Mediansegment withanteriormargin stronglynarrowedand rounded, almost semi-circular in shape. Segments II and IV slightly trapezoidal, III-VI uniform in width, rectangular and an average 1.4x longer than wide; II-IV slightly decreasing, V-VII decreasing in length. All smooth except for a prominent pair of slender, upright and acutely pointed anterior spines on II-IV ( Fig. 42D). Sterna smooth. Terga VIII and IX with lateral margins somewhat deflexed and rounded and the posteromedian portion obtusely inflated. Anal segment notably shorter than IX and wider than long, the lateral margins gently convex basally then concave; posterior portion notably narrowed and the posterior margin roundly angular to weakly bi-lobate with a small indention medially; dorsally there is a prominent impression near each outer angle ( Fig. 42H), which are set with black denticles ventrally. Epiproct scale-shaped and transverse. Cerci somewhat compressed laterally and tapering towards a blunt tip. Vomer basically triangular, wider than long and with a short rather conical terminal point. Poculum large, bulgy, cup-shaped and reaching to posterior of anal segment ( Fig. 42G); the posterior margin strongly labiate and forming a somewhat narrowed flange ( Fig. 42J).

Legs. – All long, slender and femora with all carinae densely set with small but acutely spinose teeth (ventral carinae of meso- and metafemora in particular), the terminal three or so of which are much elongated and spiniform;teeth generally less pronounced dorsally. Medioventral carina faint and set with a few small spines. Curvature of profemora indistinct. Tibiae smooth dorsally and minutely denticulated ventrally. Basitarsi elongate and as long as proceeding three joints taken together.

Measurements [mm]. – Body 68.5-73.0, pronotum 5.2-5.4, mesonotum 13.9-14.1, metanotum 6.2-6.5, median segment 4.8-4.9, profemora 17.8-18.5, mesofemora 14.2-15.4, metafemora 20.5-22.3,protibiae19.2-19.3, mesotibiae 15.1-15.8, metatibiae 22.7-23.5, antennae 67.0.

Variability. – The six known ♀ of this species show slight variability in the development of the thoracic armature and size of the spines on the abdominal terga. While the lectotype is rather buffy brown one of the paralectotypes in NHMUK is dark ferruginous brown and the example in the authors collection ochraceous mid brown with a slight olive wash. The specimen from “ Manilla ” in the collection of NHMW has the body armature somewhat more distinct than all other examined specimens. Body lengths: ♀ 106.0-109.0 mm, ♂ 68.5-73.0 mm .

Remarks. – Westwood (1848) originallydescribed thisspeciesfrom four specimens, three adult ♀ and an immature ♀. The specimen in the collection of UMO is here chosen as the lectotype to guarantee stability of Westwood’s taxon. Apparently, this is the specimen that Westwood (1848) illustrated. The two specimens at hand from the authors collection provide the first definite record of O. bufo since the original type material. The ♂ was previously unknown and is described herein and an egg extracted from the ovipositor of the ♀ serves to present a description.

The collection of RBINS contains a ♀ and three ♂ from Santa Ana, Province Cagayan and a ♀ from Isabela Province. These specimens generally key outas bufo , but the ♂ are notably slenderer in shape than the types and examined additional specimens from the Ilocos Province. These ♂ have the mesonotum 5.4x longer than wide compared to 4.2x in the Ilocos examples and whereas the mesonotum is 3.25x longer than the pronotum it is only 2.75x longer than the pronotum in the Ilocos specimens. Otherwise ,there are no morphological differences except for – A. ♀ dorsal view (N-Luzon, Ilocos Norte - Far Province , Pagudpod ) [ FH 1351-1 ]. – B. ♀ dorsolateral view (N-Luzon, Ilocos Norte - Far Province , Pagudpod ) [ FH 1351-1 ]. – C. ♂ dorsal view (N-Luzon, Ilocos ) [ RBINS]. – D. ♂ dorsolateral view (N-Luzon, Ilocos) [ RBINS]. – E. Mesosternum of ♀ [ FH 1351-1 ]. – F. Mesosternum of ♂ [ FH 1351-2 ]. – G. Terminalia of ♂ in lateral view (N-Luzon, Ilocos) [ RBINS]. – H. Terminalia of ♂ in dorsal view (N-Luzon, Ilocos) [ RBINS]. – J. Terminalia of ♂ in ventral view (N-Luzon, Ilocos) [ RBINS]. – K. Terminalia of ♀ in dorsal view [ FH 1351-1 ]. – L. Terminalia of ♀ in ventral view [ FH 1351-1 ] .

the Santa Anan specimens being more greenish in colour. The ♀ from Santa Ana shows no morphological differences from the typical Ilocos specimens and the large ♀ from Santa Isabel Province (114.0 mm) merely differs by having the posterior margin of the anal segment less distinctly indented and the body segments scarcely longer in relation. Although it is believed that these specimens are likely to represent a distinct species, they are for now not further treated herein and it is hoped that more fresh material from throughout northern Luzon and perhaps DNA barcoding will solve clarifying their identity and taxonomic status. Therefore, the localities are not included in the distribution of bufo .

Egg ( Fig. 73 P-Q). – The unique egg that could be extracted from the ovipositor of the ♀ in the author’s collection is undamaged but discoloured. While the entire left side is mostly black, much of the right side is ochraceous mid grey. Comparison with other eggs of Obriminae but the congeneric O. bicolanus in particular suggest the leftside tobe darkenedand greytobethe natural colour.

Large, bulgy and of typicalshape forthe genus;capsule slightly arched,witha conspicuous constriction anteriorly and posteriorly and the polar area indented transversely; the dorsal surface more convex than ventral surface. Surface smooth but very sparsely and minutely pitted. Micropylar plate inflated and noticeably raised above capsule surface, sculptured like capsule; shape broadlyT-shaped with the median portionas wellas the two lateral extensions broadly rounded at the apex; posteromedian portion widely excavated triangularly and with a small bowl-shaped micropylar cup. Median line an obtuse keel that reaches to the anterior protrusion of polar area. Operculum circular, flat and pitted like capsule; opercular angle ca. -15°. Colour ochraceous mid grey, the outer margin of the micropylar plate buff and the outer margin of the operculum blackish. Measurements [mm]: Length 5.3, width 3.0, height 3.8, length of micropylar plate 3.9.

Distribution. – Luzon, endemic. Luzon: Province Manila [NHMW]. North Luzon: Ilocos Norte-Far Province (Pagudpod [FH]).