Candovia byfieldensis, Forni & Cussigh & Brock & Jones & Nicolini & Martelossi & Luchetti & Mantovani, 2023

CANDOVIA BYFIELDENSIS View in CoL BROCK & JONES SP. NOV.

(SUPPORTING INFORMATION, FIG. S5A, B)

[Byfield stick insect]

Z o o b a n k r e g i s t r a t i o n: u r n: l s i d: z o o b a n k. org:act: C7C16BF6-C376-4D18-AB0B-B3770398D2CE.

Type material: Holotype: ♀, QUEENSLAND, Byfield , 22.847˚S, 150.650˚E, 13.i.2013, N. Tweed, DNA project PB-0327 ( QM) . Paratypes: QUEENSLAND: 1 ♂, same data, except 09.i.2013, DNA project PB-0324 ( QM) ; 1 ♂, same data, 09.i.2013, DNA project PB-0325 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same data, 18.i.2013, DNA project PB-0330 to PB-0331 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♀, same data, 15.i.2013, DNA project PB-0328; ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Rossmoya Road, The Caves , 23.159˚S, 150.457˚E, 15. i.2012, DNA project PB- 0271 to PB-0272 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♀, same data, 22.i.2012, DNA project PB-0258 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♀, same data, 04.ii.2012, DNA project PB-0261 ( NHMUK) ; 1 ♀, Pistol Gap , 10 km SSE of Byfield, 10.i.1970, Britton, Holloway & Misco ( ANIC). (Note, all DNA project data was provisionally labelled Candovia sp. F .) Eggs also deposited in NHMUK (not paratypes) .

Overview of both sexes: Female body fairly elongate, plain brownish green, head yellowish, mesonotum with sparse whitish tubercles, mainly laterally. Head with suffused blackish band from eyes to back of head. Antennae dark brown. The male has a dark greenish mesonotum and metanotum with pale yellowish brown head, pronotum and abdomen, both with black lines and streaks, including broad, black, median line on whole body, which may be broken in places. Antennae black. Both sexes have eyes with two horizontal, dark mauve to black lines.

Female (Supporting Information, Fig. S5A): Head: longer than wide. Antennae longer than forelegs, with numerous indistinct segments; basal segment broad and much longer than segment 2. Thorax: pronotum slightly shorter than head, with central impression. Mesonotum about 6 × length of pronotum. Mesonotum 1.7 to 2.0 × combined length of metanotum and short median segment. Wingless. Abdomen: elongate eighth segment longer than ninth; the latter and tenth (anal) segment are of similar size. Operculum tapered to pointed tip, reaching up to half length of segment, which has rounded tip. Cerci short. Legs: moderately long, hindlegs sometimes exceeding tip of abdomen.

Male (Supporting Information, Fig. S5B): Apart from being much slenderer, similar in general appearance, e x c e p t d i s t i n c t i v e d a r k c o l o u r. A n a l s e g m e n t subtruncate at tip, cerci short, curved. Poculum reaching about half length of ninth abdominal segment.

Egg (Supporting Information, Fig. S3C): Dark brown, with a modest amount of pale brown sculpturing, almost oval capsule. Micropylar plate central, broad and pointed at tip, slightly lighter shade of brown than capsule ground colour, surrounded by broad pale whitish brown area, as on opercular rim. Operculum with sculptured paler inner circle.

Measurements (mm). Length of body: 74–88 (holotype 76), male 59–68. Head: female 4–4.5, male 2.5–2.7. Antennae: female 60–70, male 55–65. Pronotum: female 3, male 2.3. Mesonotum: female 18–20, male 14–16. Metanotum: female 5.5–6.0, male 4–5. Median segment: female 3.5–4.0, male 2.7–3.0. Femora, fore, mid, hind: female 21–23, 16–18, 20–24, male 18–22, 18–20, 20–22. Tibiae, fore, mid, hind: female 24–26, 16–18, 24–27, male 20–28, 15–21, 22–29. Cerci : female 0.5, male 0.5. Eggs: capsule length 1.8, width 1.2, height 1.4.

Distribution ( Fig. 2): This species is fairly widespread in the Byfield area and also recorded 84 km away at The Caves.

Habitat and foodplants: The species is found in rainforest edge and more open areas with saplings, foodplants include Acacia Mill. and Eucalyptus L’Hér. species.

Etymology: Named after the main type locality, Byfield, which has some superb rainforest habitat, in gardens as well as national parks.