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| Pseudomicrophyllium faulkneri Cumming
in Cumming, Leong & Lohman, 2017.
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Abstract
Examination of unidentified Phylliidae specimens revealed a number of undescribed species from the island of Luzon, Philippines. Morphological and molecular study of specimens from the obscure phasmid genus Microphyllium Zompro, 2001, revealed a new species, which we describe as Microphyllium haskelli Cumming sp. nov.. It is here described and differentiated from the two other species in the genus, both currently only known from adults of a single sex. Pseudomicrophyllium Cumming gen. nov. is described as a new genus within Phylliidae with the type species Pseudomicrophyllium faulkneri Cumming gen. et sp. nov. as the sole known species in the genus. As is unfortunately often the case in the leaf-mimicking family Phylliidae, this new genus and species is only known from a single specimen. In addition to the new genus, two new Phyllium (Phyllium) species from the siccifolium species-group are named and described as Ph. (Ph.) antonkozlovi Cumming sp. nov. and Ph. (Ph.) bourquei Cumming & Le Tirant sp. nov.. In addition to the newly described species, Phyllium (Phyllium) geryon Gray, 1843 is redescribed from a nearly perfect specimen, completing some of the morphological knowledge gaps currently missing because of the severely damaged holotype specimen. A key to all known species of Phylliidae from Luzon is included. Holotype specimens for all four new species will be deposited in the National Museum of the Philippines type collection and paratype specimens will be deposited into the San Diego Natural History Museum collection or retained within the first author’s collection.
Keywords: Phasmatodea, DNA barcodes, Philippines, Luzon, new species, Phylliinae, holotype, Phyllium, Mountain Province, leaf insect
Microphyllium haskelli Cumming, gen. nov.
Etymology. This new species is a patronym named in honor of world famous forensic entomologist Dr. Neal H. Haskell of Rensselaer, Indiana, United States. Dr. Haskell has been an invaluable mentor to the first author as he works on his master’s degree.
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| FIGURE 3. Microphyllium haskelli Cumming sp. nov., PT [Coll. RC 16-128]. A: dorsal view; B: ventral view. |
Microphyllium haskelli Cumming, gen. nov.
Etymology. This new species is a patronym named in honor of world famous forensic entomologist Dr. Neal H. Haskell of Rensselaer, Indiana, United States. Dr. Haskell has been an invaluable mentor to the first author as he works on his master’s degree.
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| FIGURE 8. Male Pseudomicrophyllium faulkneri Cumming gen. et sp. nov., HT [Coll.RC 16-129], A: dorsal view; B: ventral view |
Pseudomicrophyllium Cumming gen. nov.
Type Species: Pseudomicrophyllium faulkneri Cumming gen. et sp. nov.
Etymology: The genus is named because it was thought for several years to be a new Microphyllium species because of its size and it was not until closer examination that it was revealed it to be a new genus evading detection right under the first author’s view because of those similarities.
Diagnosis. ♂: Appearing closely related to Phyllium (Phyllium) with characteristics such as the antennae, thorax, but the body size and spination of the legs are reminiscent of Microphyllium. The combination of the below morphological features characterize males of the new genus and differentiate it from the other known phylliid genera.
Antennae: Long and filiform with long setae, similar to Phyllium (Phyllium).
Profemora: Completely lacking an exterior lobe, interior lobe greatly reduced, similar to Microphyllium.
Protibia: Lacking both exterior and interior lobes, similar to Microphyllium.
Thorax: Similar to Phyllium (Phyllium) with a distinct mesopraescutum.
The most evident feature that differentiates Pseudomicrophyllium gen. nov. from Microphyllium Zompro, 2001 are the long filiform antennae. Abdominal shape in the walking leaf family is a feature that has proven to be very variable in female Phyllium and more stable in male Phyllium. However not enough is known about the male variation of abdominal shape in the small phylliid genera of Luzon to use abdominal shape as a strong morphological feature in their differentiation and identification. Antennae structure is a feature that has proven much more stable throughout the family and this emphasis is reflected in the dichotomous key at the end of this work.
Pseudomicrophyllium faulkneri Cumming sp. nov.
Etymology. This new species is a patronym named in honor of David Faulkner of California, USA. Faulkner has been a mentor to the first author over the years and was the first to introduce him to forensic entomology.
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| FIGURE 12. Phyllium (Phyllium) antonkozlovi Cumming sp. nov., HT, [Coll. RC 16-122], A: dorsal view; B: ventral view. |
Phyllium (Phyllium) antonkozlovi Cumming sp. nov.
Etymology. This new species is a patronym named in honor of Anton Olegovich Kozlov, long time friend to the first author and well-known Russian field entomologist.
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| FIGURE 14. Phyllium (Phyllium) bourquei Cumming & Le Tirant sp. nov. HT female [Coll. RC 17-203], A: dorsal view; B: ventral view; C: left foreleg. |
Phyllium (Phyllium) bourquei Cumming & Le Tirant sp. nov.
Etymology. This species is dedicated to Mr. Pierre Bourque. He was mayor of the City of Montreal from 1994 to 2001. Mr. Bourque was also one of the most innovative directors of the Montreal Botanical Garden from 1980 to 1994. Among other things, he was responsible for the creation of new greenhouses, the Floralies Internationales de Montréal, the Japanese Garden, the Chinese Garden, the Tree House, the Montreal Biodome and the Montreal Insectarium. Thanks to Mr. Bourque, the Montreal Botanical Garden has become the second largest in the world.
Checklist of Phylliidae species currently confirmed from Luzon, Philippines, and their recorded ranges. See figure 21 for an illustrated map of the distributions.
Phylliidae, Phylliinae, Phylliini:
• Microphyllium Zompro, 2001
Microphyllium pusillulum (Rehn & Rehn, 1933) [Central Luzon (Mountain* & Nueva Vizcaya Prov.)]
Microphyllium spinithorax Zompro, 2001 [Luzon (Benguet Prov.**)]
Microphyllium haskelli Cumming sp. nov. [Luzon (Mountain Prov.)]
• Pseudomicrophyllium Cumming gen. nov.
Pseudomicrophyllium faulkneri Cumming gen. et sp. nov. [Central Luzon (Ifugao Prov.)]
• Phyllium Illiger, 1798
Phyllium (Phyllium) ericoriai Hennemann, et al., 2009 [Luzon (Manila, Aurora*, Quirino*, & Quezon Prov.); Batan Is.; Marinduque Is.; Cantanduanes Is.*]
Phyllium (Phyllium) bonifacioi Lit & Eusebio, 2014 [Northern Luzon (Cagayan Prov.* & Northern Luzon***)]
Phyllium (Phyllium) philippinicum Hennemann, et al., 2009**** [Western Luzon (Bataan Prov.)]
Phyllium (Phyllium) antonkozlovi Cumming sp. nov. [Eastern Luzon (Isabela Prov.)]
Phyllium (Phyllium) bourquei Cumming & Le Tirant sp. nov. [Luzon (Nueva Vizcaya Prov.)]
Phyllium (Phyllium) geryon Gray, 1843 [Luzon (Aurora Prov.)*]
Royce T. Cumming, Jing V. Leong and David J. Lohman. 2017. Leaf Insects from Luzon, Philippines, with Descriptions of Four New Species, the New Genus Pseudomicrophyllium, and Redescription of Phyllium (Phyllium) geryon Gray, 1843, (Phasmida: Phylliidae). Zootaxa. 4365(2); 101-131. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4365.2.1
