Trachyaretaon negrosanon, Hennemann, 2023

Trachyaretaon negrosanon View in CoL n. sp.

( Fig. 67-68, 72L & 74 L-M)

ZooBank: https://zoobank.org/ D6020213-FB38-4827-8FD4-02EDFD5D7270

HT, ♀: Philippines, Negros Occidental, Mt. Kanlaon , V.2008, leg. Arimas [ RBINS] .

PT, 8 ♀, 9 ♂: Philippines, Negros Occidental, Mt. Kanlaon , V.2008, leg. Arimas. Ex Culture Bresseel, 2010 [ RBINS] .

PT, 20 ♀, 29 ♂, 50 eggs: Philippinen, Philippinen, N-Negros Island, Mt. Kanlaon & Mt. Mandalangan, leg. J. Arimas V.2006; Ex Zucht: F. Hennemann 2011-12, Herkunft: Philippinen, N-Negros Island, leg. J. Arimas V.2008 [ FH, No’s 0716-1 to 49, E] .

Differentiation. – This pretty and very distinctive new species is morphologically nearest and apparently most closely related to T. tumandok n. sp. from the island of Panay, with which ♀ share the basically greener overall colouration if compared to other congenerics, and with which ♂ have the characteristic black abdominal sterna II-VII in common ( Fig. 67G). The mossy colour pattern of ♀ is also shared with T. maliit n. sp. from Luzon, but this species differs considerably in numerous morphological aspects. A close relation of negrosanon and tumandok is moreover supported by the distribution on the central Visayan islands of Negros and Panay, which are the two main islands of the centralPhilippine biogeographic region termed Greater Negros-Panay. This new species however is notablysmaller than tumandok , has the cephalic and thoracic armature comparatively more developed and the head has the vertex more prominently inflated and tumescent ( Fig. 67H). Females are slenderer in overall shape than those of tumandok and may also be separated by the entire and not medially notched posterior margin of the anal segment ( Fig. 67N) and longer subgenital plate, which projects notably beyond the tip of the epiproct ( Fig. 67 M-O). Males have the pair of black markings on the abdominal terga II-V more prominent, the mesothorax is relatively shorter and only 2.25x longer than the prothorax (2.6x in tumandok ), the antennae are comparatively longer and reach to abdominal segment VII (IV in tumandok ) and the anal segment is much more narrowed towards the posterior and lacks the two posterolateral impressions seen in tumandok ( Fig.67K). The eggs ( Fig.74 L-M) resemble those of T.mangyan n. sp. and T.tumandok n. sp. in having the posterolateral extensions of the micopylar plate expanded into a large oval and up-curved lobe, but they may be separated from the eggs of both species by the slightly smaller dimensions, notably smaller median portion of the micropylar plate in relation to the lateral extensions as well as the very densely setose anterior portion of the capsule and operculum.

Etymology. – Named after the indigenous Negrosanon people (Cebuano for Negrense), who are native to the Philippine provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Description

The colouration is described from numerous colour photographs live captive reared specimens ( Fig 68).

♀ ( Fig. 67 A-D)

Form and colouration. – Size average(body length72.0- 80.5 mm) form rather slender for the genus with strongly developed body armature with distinct conical, multi-tuberculated posterior meso- and metanotals; body surface unevenly tuberculate and with a fine but defined medio-longitudinal carina dorsally. Colour various tones of light to dark green or olive and irregularly flecked with brown or black; general appearance mossy to lichenose. Ventral surface mostly plain light greenish cream to fawn. Abdominal tergum IV often with a variably shaped and sized bright green medio-anterior marking ( Fig. 67A, C & 68A). Pronotum with a dark brown medio-longitudinal streak on pronotum, mesonotum with a more or less defined cream-coloured triangular median marking at anterior margin and abdominal terga III and IV with an inversely V-shaped blackish marking on lateral surfaces. All femora with a broad brown and a somewhat narrower green median transverse band. Frons with two weakly defined brown triangular markings; eyes dark yellow flecked with brown. Antennae blackish brown with some narrow yellowish annulae.

Head. – Slightly longer than wide with vertex strongly inflated, roundly conical and slightly projecting over anterior margin of pronotum ( Fig. 67H); practically all cephalic spines present that are typical for Obriminae . Supraantennalsveryprominent,spiniform andconnectedbya transversebulge;supra-orbitals small, the supra-orbital series consisting of about4-5small rather node-like tubercles and 3-4 small gulars present. Occipital medials rather irregularly dispersed and somewhat unequal in size with the posterior pair largest. Median coronals prominent and represented by fairly strong, conical spines; the lateral coronalsmuch smaller and blunt. Eyescircular inoutline, moderately projecting and their diameter contained about 2x in length of genae.Antennae with about 27 joints and reaching to posterior margin of abdominal segment IV;the median antennomeres in particular strongly elongated.

Thorax. – Pronotum scarcely longer than wide, shorter and somewhat narrower than head with the lateral margins notably concave; the transverse median sulcus fairly shallow, weakly curved but expanding over entire width of segment. Anteriors only represented by small tubercles with the antero-laterals slightly more pronounced; posterior mesal pronotals represented by moderately distinct conical spines; posterior half with four small medial pronotals thar roughly form a quadrate; inter-posterior pronotals only represented by rather low conical tubercles and the posterior pronotals much more pronounced and spiniform but blunt-tipped ( Fig. 67H). Mesothorax strongly gradually ascendant and widened towards the posterior, shape strongly trapezoidal with posterior margin almost 2.5x wider than anterior margin; 2.2x longer than prothorax. Mesonotum also trapezoidal and unevenly tuberculated, central portion with six rather low but strong and conical median mesonotals; the posterior mesonotals prominent, compound, conical in shape and multi-tuberculated to multi-spinose with a just moderately enlargedandshort, conical medianspine ( Fig. 67H). Mesopleurae increasingly deflexed towards posterior and with a fairly strong and conical multi-tuberculated mesopleural; the antero-lateral, medio-lateral and one of the supra-coxals somewhat enlarged and bluntly spiniform; surface otherwise denselyandunevenly tuberculated.Metanotum trapezoidal in outline, general surface as tuberculated as mesonotum and posterior metanotals basically like the corresponding posteriors of the mesonotum. Metapleural small, the lateral margin unevenly tuberculated and with a strong median supra-coxal; a much smaller supra-coxal present in front and near posterior margin. Meso- and metasternum with an obtuse and granulose medio-longitudinal keel and each with a small closely spaced pair of small spiniform tubercles subposteriorly; general surface sparsely granulose to nodulose (the mesosternum more so); mesosternum with six paired rather low but very prominent, conical mesosternals; metasternum only with about six small node-like tubercles.

Abdomen. – Median segment trapezoidal with posteriorsonly represented by small tubercles. Segments II-V slightly sub-uniform in width VI-X narrowing; II-VI slightly increasing in length, V as long as IV, proceeding segments decreasing in length; IV and V about 2x wider than long. Lateral margins of terga III-VII somewhat deflexed and rounded posteriorly, the deflexion weak on II but gradually more pronounced towards VII; surface with median carina represented by two faint, subparallel and closely spaced carinae and with a few small scattered tubercles; the five posteriors represented only as small spinose tubercles; in front with a somewhat more pronounced but blunt pair of lateral anteriors. The posterior mesal on V-IX enlargedto form a laterally compressed lobe that isroundedandrather low on V-VIIand obtusely dentiform onVIII and IX ( Fig.67M);thelateral margins of VIII and IX not notably deflexed and very weakly rounded. Sterna II-V fairly smooth and only with a widely spaced anterior and posterior pair of small tubercles. Sternum VII with posterior margin somewhat inflated, deflexed and bi-lobes with a shallow, concave medianexcavation; a small pit within the excavation (praeopercular organ, Fig. 67O). Anal segment distinctly tectate medio-longitudinally, strongly declining towards the apex and essentially triangular in dorsal aspect with the lateral margins gently deflexed anteriorly; the posterior rounded portion rounded with the margin almost wholly entire andweaklylabiate ( Fig. 67N). Epiproctstraightin lateral aspect, about 1.8x longer than anal segment, weakly tectate longitudinally and slightly gradually narrowing towards an obtusely rounded to weakly notched apex ( Fig. 67N). Subgenital plate long, lanceolate and distinctlykeeled in the apical half ( Fig. 67O); base with an obtuse medial protuberance; the apex narrowing, pointed and surpassing tip of epiproct ( Fig. 67 M-N).

– A. ♀ paratype, dorsal view [ FH 0716-7 ]. – B . ♀ paratype, dorsal view [ FH 0716-8 ]. – C . ♀ paratype, dorsolateral view [ FH 0716-7 ]. – D . ♀ paratype, dorsolateral view [ FH 0716-3 ]. – E . ♂ paratype, dorsal view [ FH 0716-8 ]. – F . ♂ paratype, dorsolateral view [ FH 0716-3 ]. – G . ♂ paratype, ventral view [ FH 0716-3 ]. – H. Head, pro- and mesothorax of ♀ paratype in lateral view [ FH 0716-22 ]. – J. Terminalia of ♂ paratype in lateral view [ FH]. – K. Terminalia of ♂ paratype in dorsal view [ FH]. – L. Terminalia of ♂ paratype in ventral view [ FH]. – M. Terminalia of ♀ paratype in lateral view [ FH]. – N. Terminalia of ♀ paratype in dorsal view [ FH]. – O. Terminalia of ♀ paratype in ventral view [ FH] .

Legs. – Moderately long and of average shape for the genus with the armature fairly distinctbut pro- and mesotibiae wholly unarmed.Basal flexure and constriction of profemora weakly developed; the anteroventral carina with three distinct triangular teeth in apical one-third; posteroventral carinae only with three small denticles;dorsal carinae each with five wide teeth that slightly increase in size towards the apex. All four carinae of meso- and metafemora with five low and wide teeth that become notably larger towards the apex of femur; those on the ventral carinae more spiniform and often there are a few much smaller intercalated teeth; medioventral carina only indicated by an irregular row of granules.Central carinaeof metatibiae witha fewrather small dentations in the apical two-thirds. Basitarsus slender and somewhat longer than proceeding three joints taken together.

♂ ( Fig. 67 E-G)

Form and colouration. – Small and general form average for the genus (body length 45.5-55.0 mm), body armature rather moderately developed with the posterior meso- and metanotals conical and multi-tuberculated to subspinose; body surface except for abdomen granulated to minutely tuberculate; dorsally with a weakly indicated medio-longitudinal carina which is most visible on abdominal terga. Colour essentially dark green to olive or rather brownish, the head and legs rather greenish brown. Meso- and metanotum with a broad pastel green medio-longitudinalstreak that is laterally bordered by a narrower brown line, the lateral surfaces and pleurae greenish with more brownish tones posteriorly, the posterior meso- and metanotals reddish brown ( Fig. 68B). Abdominal terga II-VI in particular with a pair of variably shaped and defined black median markings (notably decreasing in size on V and VI, Fig.67 E-F & 68B)) and the lateral surfaces with an almost semi-circular pastel green marking. Ventral surface of thorax fawn to ochre, abdominal sterna II-VII black ( Fig. 67G). All femora with a weakly indicated light post-median transverse band. Eyes and antennae coloured like in ♀.

Head. – Shape and armature essentially as in ♀ but the vertex somewhat more conical in shape and all spines slightly more spinose; gulars wanting.

Eyes relatively much larger, projecting more than hemispherically and their diameter contained less than 1.5x in length of genae. Antennae like in ♀ but reaching to abdominal segment VII.

Thorax. – Prothorax generally as in ♀ but armature comparatively less developed. Mesothorax rather short for the genus and only 2.25x longer than the prothorax;anterior two-thirds slender and roughly parallel-sided, posterior portion strongly widened and inflated. Mesonotum unarmed except for the six paired low median tubercles also seen in the ♀; compound posterior mesonotals more prominent than in ♀ with the central spine in particular notably longer and pointed. Metanotum with the posteroior metanotals generally like the posteriors of the mesonotum and similar in size. Pleurae with armature essentially like in ♀, butthe antero-lateralof mesopleurae more prominent and spiniform. Meso- and metasternum ( Fig. 67G) weakly tectate medio-longitudinally and the flat medio-longitudinal keel set with glossy granules; armature as in ♀ but with all tubercles less developed.

Abdomen. – Median segment distinctly trapezoidal in outline andscarcely wider than long. Segment II trapezoidal, III-V almost uniform in width and length, rectangular; VI-VII gradually widening and decreasing in length; III and IV about 1.4x longer than wide; VII shorter than all preceding. Terga II-VII unarmed except for a somewhatenlargedpair of latero-anteriornodes;VI-IX with the medio-longitudinal carina increasingly distinct and more so towards the posterior margin of each tergum, where it is rather keel-shaped and forms a flat, obtusely triangular protrusion at least on VI-IX. Sterna II-VII smooth but II-V with a small anterior and posterior pair of granules. Terga XIII and IX distinctly transverse with lateral margins fairly straight. Anal segment shorter and notably narrower than all preceding terga, strongly narrowing towards the posterior ( Fig. 67K), the lateral margins somewhat deflexed and angular anteriorly ( Fig. 67J); the posterior margin somewhat inflated, with a deep triangular excavation medially and bi-lobate; dorsally surface with a weak and obtuse medio-longitudinal bulge. Epiproct rather large, semi-circular and projecting notably beyond posterior margin of anal segment ( Fig. 67K).Vomer rather small,basic shape roundlytriangular, the terminal hook of moderate length, straight and dextral directed by about45° ( Fig. 72L). Cerci relatively large, strongly compressed laterally and obtusely triangular in lateral aspect. Poculum large, bulgy, obtusely cup-shaped ( Fig. 67J) and with an acute medio-longitudinal keel in the vertical posterior portion; the posterior margin rounded with the median portion somewhat more deflexed, generally labiate and forming a notable flange ( Fig. 67L, 72L).

Legs. – Basically, with armature like in ♀, but relatively longer and slenderer; hind legs projecting considerably over apex of abdomen. Basitarsus slightly longer and slenderer, the pro- and metabasitarsus notably longer than the following three joints combined.

Variability. – While ♂ are fairly homogenous in morphological and chromatic aspects and only range in colour from greenish to rather brownish tones, ♀ show noteworthy variability particularly in the colouration. The range of general colour comprises various tones of light to dark green and olive with pretty brown and blackish mottling, giving the insects a pretty moss-like colour pattern.About 50% of the specimens examined have a variably shaped and sized bright green, smooth medio-anterior marking on abdominaltergum IV ( Fig.67A, C & 68A), which ranges in shape from triangular over roundly trapezoidal to oval, or may even be medially divided into two oval markings. Morphologically slight variability is seen in the development of the head and body armature.

Egg ( Fig. 74 L-M)

Moderately sized and rather elongate for the genus; capsule barrel-shaped, almost round in cross-section with the polar-area slightly narrowed, almost 1.9x longer than wide. Surface generally smooth but minutely and unevenly pitted; the anterior one-quarter and operculum densely covered with short setae. Micropylar plate large and about 0.6x as long as capsule; median portion rather broad and the two posterolateral extensions very large, strongly up-curved and on lateral surfaces of capsule reaching to anterior one-third of median portion of plate; width of the two lateral extensions roughly equal to median portion; surface pitted like capsule and outer margin somewhat inflated. A deep and fairly narrow indention posteromedially; in its upper end a small bowl-shaped micropylar cup. Median line a weakly indicated bulge that almost reaches to polar area. Operculum almost round and weakly convex. General colour plain greyish mid brown, the setose anterior portion of capsule and operculum dark brown. Measurements [mm]: Length 4.5-4.6, width 2.2-2.3, height 2.5-2.6, length of micropylar plate 2.7-2.8.

Remarks. – Culture stock of this species has been collected on the two volcanoes Kanlaon and Mandalagan by Jeffebeck Arimas in 2006, first reared in by Bruno Kneubühler ( Switzerland) and is since being reared in captivity in Europe. It has proven easy to rear in humid conditions and frequently accepts bramble and raspberry ( Rubus spp. , Rosaceae ), roses ( Rosa spp. , Rosaceae ), hazel ( Corylus avellana , Betulaceae ), oaks ( Quercus spp. , Fagaceae ), ivy ( Hedera helix , Araliaceae ), beech ( Fagus sylvatica , Fagaceae ), hazel ( Corylus avellana , Betulaceae ) and hawthorn (Crategus spp., Rosaceae ) as alternative food-plants.

Distribution. – Negros, endemic.