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| Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae Delfosse, 2015 |
Abstract
A new species of leaf insect is described from Thailand, Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae n. sp., very close to P. (Pulchriphyllium) sinense Liu, 1990, but differs by various distinct characters such as the armature of the mesonotum, shape of the anterior legs, abdomen and abdominal apex. Like P. sinense, P. maethoraniae n. sp. is only known from the female. A table is given to distinguish between the two species.
Keywords: Leaf insect, new species, female, taxonomy, Thailand, identification key.
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| Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae n. sp., ♀ holotype. 1-2, Dorsal and ventral view. – 3, Head detail, dorsal view. – 4-5, Details of dorsal and ventral view of the abdominal segments VI-X. |
Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae n. sp.
Diagnosis. – Very broad, with a spectacular and unusual shape of the abdomen. Mesonotum
almost smooth. Legs with large foliaceous lobes, very large on profemora and mesofemora.
Protibiae with exterior and interior lobes. Lateral margins of tergum VIII strongly lobed, with the
posterior margin deeply curved inward and forming on each side a rounded posteriorly directed
lobe which distinctly surpasses the abdominal apex. Tergum X not surpassing distinctly tergum IX.
Differentiation. – Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae n. sp. and Phyllium (P.) sinense
are similar and obviously closely related species but can be separated by various characters
(tables I-II; Liu, 1990) even if some variation must be assumed for both species. Within the
bioculatum species-group of the subgenus Pulchriphyllium this new species is apparently closest
to P. sinense
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Etymology. – Named after Mae Thorani (sometimes noted Phra Toranee or Jao Meh Torani) who is the goddess of mother earth. She is the personification of Gaia and cited in old texts about the life of Buddha.
Emmanuel Delfosse. 2015. A New Giant Leaf Insect Species of the Genus Phyllium from Thailand (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France. 120(3); 411-415.
Résumé. – Une nouvelle espèce de phyllie géante du genre Phyllium, de Thaïlande (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae). Une
nouvelle espèce de phasme-feuille est décrite de Thaïlande, Phyllium (Pulchriphyllium) maethoraniae n. sp., très
proche de P. (Pulchriphyllium) sinense Liu, 1990, mais s’en distinguant par divers caractères marqués comme la
structure du mésonotum, la forme des pattes antérieures, de l’abdomen et de l’apex abdominal. Comme P. sinense,
P. maethoraniae n. sp. est seulement connu par le sexe femelle. Un tableau est donné pour différencier les deux espèces.
