Pericentrus cryptopetalus Gao & Wu, sp. nov.

(Figs. 1–3)

Materials. Holotype. 1♀, CHINA, Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet), Nyingchi City, Mêdog County, Hanmi [ñẕ], 29.3647°N, 95.1284°E, alt. 2300m, 20.VII.2013, Chao Wu leg. Paratype. 1♂, same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from Medaurini Hennemann & Conle, 2008 (Clitumnidae Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893) by antennae exceeding the profemora, and from moss stick insect genus Cnipsomorpha Hennemann, Conle, Zhang & Liu, 2008 —the most similar genus within Medaurini —by possessing a lamellate median carina on the abdominal tergites. Based on the lamellate median carina of the abdominal tergites, the arrangement of spines on the swollen area of the mesonotum, the indistinctly divided anal segment into two semi-tergites in male, and in combination with geographical distribution, we prudently assign the new species to the genus Pericentrus within the tribe Lonchodini.

The new species is similar to P. pinnatus but can be easily distinguished by the following characteristics: apex of operculum triangularly excised in P. pinnatus but acuminate in new species; P. pinnatus without distinct supra-occipitals spines; posterior margin of tergites II–IX of P. pinnatus lacks a large median crest-like structure; cercus of P. pinnatus short, apices not distinctly surpassing end of body; the paired anterior-mesal pronotals spines of P. pinnatus are remarkably smaller and shorter than those of the new species. The new species can also be easily distinguished from congeners by its short antennae, which do not exceed the forelegs.

Etymology. The specific epithet cryptopetalus is a Latin compound adjective derived from the Greek kryptos = “hidden, concealed” and petalon = “petal”, together meaning “with hidden petals”. It refers to the type locality, Mêdog County, which is poetically known in Tibetan culture as “the hidden lotus”.

Description. Female (♀). Small-sized; body and head covered with distinct spines; mesothorax obviously swollen (Fig. 1A, B, F).

Head. Oval, globose. Supra-occipitals spines median-long, distinct and strong, apices pointing forwards laterally; supra-orbital spines median-long, distinct and strong; occiput convex, distinctly armed with four occipital spines on each side of the median longitudinal furrow: pro-coronals spines median-long, distinct and strong; anterior coronals spines longest. Compound eyes small, rounded, and project hemispherically. Ocelli absent. Antennae filiform, surpassing apices of profemora; consisting of about 25 segments, some antennomeres may be fused; scapus flattened and constricted basally, longer than pedicellus; antennomeres elongate, club-like apically (without in the last five segments); increasing in length towards apex of antennae until the last five segments; the last five segments fusiform, with approximately equal lengths; a small swelling present on a single side at the base of 14 th segment; antennomeres increasing in length from 3 rd to 15 th towards apex; 15 th segment is the longest except for the pedicellus and scapus; gradually shortening after the 15 th segment (Fig. 1C).

Thorax. Pronotum slightly shorter and narrower than head, rectangular and spinose dorsally: a pair of anterior-mesal pronotals spines long and strong; pre-median pronotals spines short; inter-posterior pronotals spines long and strong; postero-angle pronotals spines short; antero- and postero-lateral pronotals spines short. Mesonotum longer than combined length of pronotum and metanotum, distinctly swollen medially, covered with numerous prominent and composite spines: anterior-mesal mesonotals spines absent; centrally elevated with a hump bearing three pairs of prominent clusters of spines; postero-mesal mesonotals spines present but short (Fig. 1F). Metanotum with two pairs of posterior medial spines along longitudinal line, the anterior pair is smaller than the the posterior pair. Mesopleurae and metapleurae with a short and small supra-coxal spine. Mesosternum and metasternum covered with several small tubercules.

Abdomen. Posterolateral angles of tergites II–IX with distinct dentate lobes. The anterior and posterior corners of tergites II-VI bear a small spine. Posterolateral angles of tergites II–IX each with distinct dentate lobes. Posterior margin of tergites II–IX each with a median crest-like structure; this structure gradually increases in size from tergites II to IV, gradually decreases from tergites V–VIII, and suddenly big size again on tergum IX. A pair of small spines is present on the anterior portion of the crest-like structure corresponding to tergites II–VII. Anal segment longer than tergum IX, with a distinct median carina and a raised marginal emargination. Sternite II with a pair of tubercules posteriorly; Sternites III-VII with two pairs of tubercules: one pair located in the anterior two-thirds, one pair located at the median of the posterior margin. Praeopercular organ on sternite VII present as a raised tubercule. Subgenital plate boat-shaped, posterior margin acute, not surpassing posterior margin of supra-anal plate; median carina indistinct. Cercus short and flat, apices surpassing end of body (Fig. 1D).

Legs. Slender and long. Femora thicker and shorter than corresponding tibiae.All coxae armed with short spines. Profemora incurved basally. All carinae of femora (anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral) with lamellar serrations. Only dorsal carinae of tibiae with lamellar serrations. Tarsi composed of five tarsomeres (4th shortest); claws distinctly setose.

Male (♂). Small-sized; body and head covered with distinct spines; mesothorax swollen obviously (Fig. 2 A, B, F).

Head. Generally similar to the female. Supra-occipitals spines median-long, distinct and strong, apices pointing forwards laterally; supra-orbital spines median-long, distinct and strong; occiput convex, distinctly armed with four occipital spines on each side of the median longitudinal furrow: pro-coronals spines median-long, distinct and strong; anterior coronals spines longest. Compound eyes small, rounded, and projecting hemispherically. Ocelli absent. Antennae filiform, surpassing apices of profemora; consisting of about 23 segments, some antennomeres may be fused; scapus flattened and constricted basally, longer than pedicellus; antennomeres elongate, club-like apically (without in the last six segments); increasing in length towards apex of antennae until the last six segments; the last six segments fusiform, with approximately equal lengths; a small swelling present on a single side at the base of 13 th segment; antennomeres increasing in length from 3 rd to 15 th towards apex; 15 th segment is the longest except for the pedicellus and scapus; gradually shortening after the 15 th segment. (Fig. 2C).

Thorax. Generally similar to the female (Fig. 2F). Pronotum with a pair of anterior-mesal pronotals spines long and strong; pre-median pronotals spines short; inter-posterior pronotals spines long and long and strong; postero-angle pronotals spines short; antero- and postero-lateral pronotals spines short. Mesonotum longer than combined length of pronotum and metanotum, distinctly swollen medially. Mesonotum covered with numerous prominent and composite spines: anterior-mesal mesonotals spines absent; centrally elevated with a hump bearing three pairs of prominent clusters of spines; postero-mesal mesonotals spines present but short. Metanotum with two pairs of posterior medial spines along longitudinal line, front pair is smaller than the back pair.

Abdomen. Posterolateral angles of tergites II–IX with distinct dentate lobes. Posterior margin of tergites I–VIII each with a median crest-like structure; this structure gradually increases in size from tergites II to IV. Anal segment slightly tectiform, laterally compressed, split, and consisting of two semi-tergites. Poculum small, cup-like (Fig. 2E). Cercus short and flat, apices surpassing end of body.

Legs. Slender and long. Femora thicker and shorter than corresponding tibiae.All coxae armed with short spines. Profemora incurved basally. All carinae of femora (anterodorsal, posterodorsal, anteroventral and posteroventral) with lamellar serrations. Only dorsal carinae of tibiae with lamellar serrations. Tarsi composed of five tarsomeres (4th shortest); claws distinctly setose.

Egg. Unknown.

Measurements. See Table 1.

Biology. According to the collector, the specimens were obtained by sweeping through mosses growing on a large tree using a net with a minimum length of seven meters (Fig. 4A). The species likely inhabits epiphytic mosses on branches nearing the canopy in high-altitude cloud forests (Fig. 3). It remains unknown whether it descends from trees at night to feed on other plants.

Distribution. China: Xizang (Tibet). Currently known only from the type locality (Fig. 4B).

Chinese common name. Ṷ境DZ刺䗛.