Philippine mossy forest stick insects : first record of the genus Otraleus Günther , 1935 in the country , with four new species , and the new genus Capuyanus gen . nov . ( Phasmida , Diapheromeridae , Necrosciinae )

Abstract. The genus Otraleus Günther, 1935 is recorded from the Philippines for the first time. Four new species, Otraleus bellemansae sp. nov., O. applai sp. nov., O. christianae sp. nov. and O. elizabethae sp. nov., are described from the highlands of Northwestern Luzon. The characters allowing separation from O. hypsimelathrus Günther, 1935 and O. labanrataensis Soew-Choen, 2016, are given. A new genus closely related to Otraleus, Capuyanus gen. nov., is described with a single species, C. magwilangi sp. nov., as type-species. An identification key and distribution maps are provided for all species.


Introduction
The genus Otraleus was established by Günther (1935) to accommodate Otraleus hypsimelathrus Günther, 1935.The species was described based on a single male collected by the late German entomologist and ornithologist Gerd Herrmann Heinrich  in the mossy forest of the Latimodjong Mountains, Sulawesi (Weems 1986).Since the original description of O. hypsimelathrus, the genus remained unaltered until recently, when a new species from Sabah, Borneo, O. labanrataensis Soew-Choen, 2016, was described (Seow-Choen 2016).The female of O. hypsimelathrus still remains unknown.
Study of recent material collected in the mossy forests between 1800 and 2200 m a.s.l., in northwestern Luzon (Mountain, Ifugao and Benguet Provinces), revealed five new species of Otraleus-like phasmids.Four of them belong to Otraleus while the fifth one represents a new genus close to Otraleus, which is here described as Capuyanus gen.nov.These high altitude forests in Luzon are cold and wet environments due to low-level clouds that submerge the forest in a constant mist.The main vegetation consists of small trees densely covered with mosses, ferns, lichens and orchids.Phasmids occurring in mossy forests are poorly studied and the species collected by Gerd Heinrich in 1930-1932 are some of the few that are described from this habitat in South-East Asia.The distance between the two records of the genus exceeds 2000 km, mirroring our poor knowledge of Phasmida species in these habitats.Most stick insects occurring in mossy forests are small and incapable of flight.
The present paper aims to describe the new taxa and provide a key allowing their identification.

Material and methods
Due to their nocturnal behaviour, the specimens at hand for the present study, were collected at night.A light-weight and water-proof head torch, Petzl MYO RXP, was used during the search of the vegetation.The specimens caught in the wild were euthanized with ethyl acetate fumes.The specimens were then stored in airtight plastic "zip" bags in wood chips (used in rodent cages) and sprinkled with ethyl acetate (EtOAc) to prevent rotting and mould, and to keep the specimens flexible.The bags were then frozen on arrival and the specimens were mounted and labelled later on.
Morphological observations were made with a Leica MZ8 stereo microscope.Pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 700 D camera with a Sigma DG Macro lens and optimized with Photoshop CS3.
Acronyms used for the collections RBINS = Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium UPLB = University of the Philippines Los Baños, Los Baños, Philippines MFNB = Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany
Otraleus -Bradley & Galil 1977: 182 (list).-Hennemann 1998: 122  The exact systematic position and the most closely related genera are still unknown.The Necrosciinae of the Philippines and Sulawesi are poorly studied and more material is needed to resolve its systematic position.To supplement Günther's (1935) original description, we provide illustrations of the holotype along with a distribution map for the species which is so far known from a single location in Sulawesi (Fig. 1).

Species included and distribution
Currently only the male is known.

Etymology
The species epithet refers to the Applai tribe to which belong the people living in Sagada, where the type specimens were collected, in acknowledgement of their support to our research in Sagada.It is used as a noun in apposition and is indeclinable.Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Behind notch a raised area between eyes.Dorsally with a longitudinal median furrow.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae with scapus flattened dorsoventrally.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus, setose and varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum slightly shorter than head, with anterior margin slightly concave.Behind anterior margin a V-like groove and a longitudinal groove.Centrally a second transverse, concave groove and a small impression anteriorly of transverse groove.Mesonotum elongate, scarcely granulose, with a longitudinal median line.Metanotum about the same length as pronotum.
aBdoMen.Median segment about as long as metanotum, slightly widening towards the posterior.Abdominal terga smooth, terga III-VI about the same length.Following segments gradually decreasing in length.Tergum IX slightly compressed laterally.Tergum X with longitudinal carina and posterior edge notched.Posterolateral angles triangular but blunt.Ventral surface of posterior margin of tergum X armed with few, small black spines.Vomer well developed, visible as an elongated, flattened spine.Poculum triangular in ventral view, fairly flattened.Poculum narrowing towards the posterior, apex rounded, reaching apex of tergum IX.Cerci cylindrical in cross section, apices rounded, projecting over apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth.
Legs.Long in comparison to body, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Basitarsi longer than the following tarsomeres combined.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length and with dorsal carina well developed, resulting in a posteromedian spine projecting over next tarsomere.Claws small.Female (Fig. 3) MeasureMents.See Table 1.
Body.Mottled brown and green.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Behind notch a raised area between eyes.Dorsally with a fine longitudinal median furrow.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae with scapus flattened dorsoventrally.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus.Antennomeres varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum shorter than head, granulose, with anterior edge slightly concave.Behind anterior edge a transverse groove and a longitudinal groove.Pronotum slightly constricted in anterior half.Centrally a second transverse, concave groove and a small, oval impression anteriorly of transverse groove.Mesonotum elongate, scarcely granulose, with a longitudinal median line.Metanotum about same length as pronotum.Medially with a tubercle subapically.
Legs.Long, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae slightly compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Meso-and metafemora slightly widening towards the posterior.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length and with dorsal carina well developed, resulting in a posteromedian spine projecting over next tarsomere.Claws small.

Distribution
The species has so far only been recorded from Luzon, Mountain Province and Benguet Province (see map Fig. 4).

Etymology
This species epithet is dedicated to Nathalie Bellemans (Zemst, Belgium) for her support and help with the first author's research for several years.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens.
Body. Brown to green with black patches scattered over body and legs.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Vertex with a prominent blunt elevation.Elevation split by a shallow longitudinal depression.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae slightly setose, widely projecting over apex of abdomen.Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally, subcylindrical in cross section.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Following segments narrower than pedicellus and varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum with anterior margin slightly concave, followed by a transverse groove.A longitudinal median groove starting at anterior edge, not reaching posterior tubercle.Centrally a definite transverse depression.Posteromedially with a small, blunt tubercle.Mesonotum scarcely granulose, slightly widening towards the posterior.Posteromedially with a definite blunt spine, posterolateral edges humped.Metanotum about as long as pronotum.Posteromedially with a definite blunt spine.Posterolateral edges humped.
aBdoMen.Median segment slightly widening towards posterior with a blunt spine posteromedially.Terga II-VIII with short, tapered lobes posterolaterally and with a blunt elevation posteromedially.Tergum IX slightly laterally compressed.Tergum X with posterior edge incised, posterolateral angles rounded, armed ventrally with small black spines.Vomer well developed, visible as an elongated, flattened spine.Apex of vomer visible dorsally between lateral edges of tergum X. Poculum triangular in ventral view, fairly flattened.Poculum narrowing towards posterior, apex rounded, reaching apex of tegum IX.Cerci cylindrical in cross section, apices incurved and blunt, projecting over apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth.
Legs.Long, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Basitarsi longer than following tarsomeres combined.Claws small.Female (Fig. 7) MeasureMents.See Table 2    Body.Brown to green with black patches scattered over body and legs.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Vertex with a prominent blunt elevation.Elevation split by a shallow longitudinal depression.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae slightly setose, almost reaching apex of abdomen but broken.Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally, subcylindrical in cross section.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Following segments narrower than pedicellus and varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum with anterior edge incurved and raised, followed by a transverse groove.
A longitudinal median groove starting behind anterior edge, not reaching posterior tubercle.Slightly constricted submedially, with a second transverse impression.Posteromedially with a small, blunt tubercle.Mesonotum scarcely granulose, slightly widening towards posterior.Posteromedially with a definite blunt spine.Lateral margins projecting posterolaterally.Metanotum shorter than pronotum.
aBdoMen.Median segment widening towards posterior with a blunt spine posteromedially.Terga II-VIII with posterolaterally well developed lobes and posteromedially with a curved, slightly laterally compressed spine.Abdominal terga IV-V widest.Terga VIII-X laterally compressed.Tergum X with posterior edge incurved, posterolateral angles rounded mediolaterally with a small lobe.Epiproct small, visible as small, posteriorly rounded plate; not projecting over posterolateral angles of tergum X. Cerci small, cylindrical in cross section, apex rounded, slightly projecting over apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth.Subgenital plate compressed laterally, rounded posteriorly, not reaching apex of abdomen.
Legs.Long when compared to body.Profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Meso-and metafemora slightly widening towards the posterior.Basitarsi longer than following tarsomeres combined.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length and with dorsal carina well developed, resulting in a posteromedian ridge.Claws small.

Distribution
The species is recorded from Luzon, Mountain Province (see map Fig. 13).

Etymology
The species epithet is given in honour of Mrs Christiane Schneider, the mother of Mr Thierry Heitzmann, one of the collectors of the type specimens.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens.Male (Fig. 8) MeasureMents.See Table 3.
Body. Brown to green with black patches scattered over body and legs.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae, followed by a longitudinal groove reaching vertex.Between eyes, a raised circular area surrounded by a ring of granules.Vertex split, slightly elevated and rounded.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae slightly setose, projecting over apex of abdomen but broken.Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally, subcylindrical in cross section.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus and varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum with anterior edge incurved and raised, followed by a transverse groove.A longitudinal median groove starting behind anterior edge, reaching posterior margin.Pronotum slightly constricted, with a second transverse impression before centre.Mesonotum smooth, slightly widening towards posterior.Centrally with two definite tubercles.Posteromedially with a small hump.
Wings.Tegmina short, rounded, not reaching margin of median segment and with a small hump anterolaterally.Alae short, anal area transparent, projecting over apex of tergum III.
aBdoMen.Median segment widening towards posterior.Terga II-VII with posterolaterally small, but well developed lobes.Terga V-IX with a posteromedian hump.Tergum X with posterior edge incurved, posterolateral angles rounded, swollen and armed with small black spines ventrally.Cerci small, round in cross section; apices slightly incurved and rounded, projecting over apex of abdomen.Vomer well developed, visible as an elongated, black, flattened spine with paler apex.Poculum slightly flattened, triangular in ventral view, narrowing towards posterior; apex acute, reaching apex of tergum IX.
Legs.Long when compared to body, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Basitarsi longer than following tarsomeres combined.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length.Claws small.Female (Fig. 9) MeasureMents.See Table 3.   Body.Brown to green with black patches scattered over body and legs.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae, followed by a longitudinal groove reaching vertex.Between eyes a raised circular area surrounded by granules.Vertex slightly elevated and rounded.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae slightly setose, almost reaching apex of abdomen but broken.Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally, subcylindrical in cross section.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus and varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum with anterior edge incurved and raised, followed by a transverse groove.A longitudinal median groove starting behind anterior edge, reaching posterior margin.Pronotum slightly constricted subcentrally and with second transverse impression.Mesonotum scarcely granulose, slightly widening towards posterior.Centrally with two definite tubercles.Posteromedially with a small hump.
Wings.Tegmina short, rounded, not reaching posterior margin of median segment and with a small hump antero-laterally, veins thickened.Alae short, anal area transparent, not reaching apex of tergum IV.
aBdoMen.Median segment widening towards posterior.Terga II-VII with posterolaterally well developed lobes.Terga VIII-X laterally compressed.Tergum X with posterior edge incurved, postero-lateral angles rounded.Cerci small, round in cross section; apices slightly flattened and rounded, reaching apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth, sternum VII with a small ridge posteromedially.Subgenital plate compressed laterally, narrowing posteriorly, not reaching apex of abdomen.
Legs.Long when compared to body, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Basitarsi longer than following tarsomeres combined.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length.Claws small.

Distribution
The species is recorded from Luzon, Mountain Province (see map Fig. 13).

Etymology
The species epithet is named after Mrs Elizabeth Lumawig, the wife of Mr Thierry Heitzmann, one of the collectors of the type series.

Description
The colouration is described from photographs of live specimens.
Body. Brown to green with black patches scattered over body and legs.
Head.Slightly longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Notch followed by a median longitudinal impression.Between eyes a raised more or less circular area, surrounded by a group of granules.Elevation split by longitudinal line.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae slightly setose, projecting over apex of abdomen.Scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus and varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum granulose, about as long as head, anterior edge raised, with two granules centrally.Posteriorly of raised rim, a transverse groove and a longitudinal median groove not reaching posterior tubercle.Just before centre, a second transverse impression and a circular impression anteriorly of transverse impression.Posteromedially with a small, blunt tubercle.Mesonotum elongated and granulose, with a definite blunt spine posteromedially.Posterolateral edges rounded.Metanotum granulose, about same length as pronotum.Medially with a definite blunt spine subapically.
aBdoMen.Median segment granulose, about the same length as metanotum, with a blunt spine posteromedially.Terga II-VIII with posterolaterally well developed lobes and with a blunt spine posteromedially; slightly projecting over next segment.Tergum IX slightly laterally compressed and tectiform, with a hump posteromedially.Tergum X with an indefinite longitudinal ridge and with  posterior edge incurved, posterolateral angles rounded.Cerci small, round in cross section; apex rounded, projecting over apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth.Vomer well developed, visible as an elongated, black, flattened spine with paler apex.Poculum slightly flattened, narrowing towards posterior; apex rounded, reaching apex of tergum IX.
Body. Brown to green with black patches scattered over body and legs.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Behind notch, two small, black circular dots.Dorsally with a fine longitudinal median line.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae broken, scapus slightly flattened dorsoventrally.Pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus, slightly swollen and setose apically, varying in length towards apex.
tHorax.Pronotum granulose, shorter than head, with anterior edge slightly concave and raised, with several granules.Posteriorly of raised rim, a transverse groove and a longitudinal groove not reaching posterior tubercle.Pronotum slightly constricted just before centre and with a second transverse impression and a circular impression anteriorly of transverse impression.Posteromedially with a small, blunt tubercle.Mesonotum elongated and granulose, with a definite, blunt spine posteromedially.Metanotum about same length as pronotum.Medially with a definite blunt, spinose tubercle subapically.Metanotum laterally rounded, with widest part centrally.
aBdoMen.Median segment about same length as metanotum, with a blunt spine posteromedially.Terga II-VII with posterolaterally well developed lobes and terga II-IX with a blunt spine postero-medially.Abdominal terga IV-V widest.Terga VIII-IX slightly laterally compressed and tectiform.Tergum X with a longitudinal ridge and posterior edge notched, posterolateral angles rounded.Cerci small, round in cross section; apex rounded, slightly projecting over apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth.Subgenital plate slightly compressed laterally, acute posteriorly, reaching apex of abdomen.
Legs.Long, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Basitarsi longer than following tarsomeres combined.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length.Claws small.

Distribution
The species is recorded from Luzon, Benguet Province (see map Fig. 13).

Etymology
The genus is named after Mr Benjamin G. Capuyan, the vice-mayor of Sagada, in acknowledgement of all his help, friendship and support during our fieldwork in Sagada.

Diagnosis
Closely related to Otraleus Günther, 1935 but easily distinguished by: 1. the strongly tapered subgenital plate in females, projecting over apex of tergum X. 2. the swollen and conical thornpads on the anal segment in males.3. abdominal terga without well developed lobes posterolaterally.
Head.Longer than wide, notched dorsally between antennae.Eyes circular and strongly projecting hemispherically.Antennae filiform, pedicellus shorter than scapus and round in cross section.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus, varying in length towards apex.tHorax.Pronotum granulose; behind anterior edge a transverse groove and a longitudinal groove not reaching the posterior m argin.Posteromedially with a small granule or tubercle.Mesonotum elongated and granulose, with a tubercle posteromedially.Metanotum granulose, medially with a spinose tubercle subapically.
aBdoMen.Median segment granulose and with a blunt tubercle or spine posteromedially.Terga II-VIII with a granule or blunt spine posteromedially.Females with subgenital plate slightly elongated and strongly tapered, projecting over apex of abdomen.Males with thornpads, strongly conically swollen and armed with spines.Vomer well developed, visible as a triangular black, flattened spine.Cerci small, round in cross section; apices rounded, projecting over apex of abdomen.
Legs.Long compared to body, profemora compressed and curved basally.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length.Claws small.projecting over apex of abdomen.Scapus and pedicellus damaged.Pedicellus shorter than scapus.Antennomeres narrower than pedicellus and varying in length towards apex.

Capuyanus magwilangi
tHorax.Pronotum granulose, about as long as head.Posteriorly of anterior edge, a transverse groove and a longitudinal groove not reaching posterior edge.Just before centre, a second transverse incurved impression and a minute, circular impression anteriorly of transverse impression.Posteromedially with a small tubercle.Mesonotum elongated and wrinkled, with a small tubercle posteromedially, at two thirds of the length with two oval, black markings.Metanotum granulose, about same length as median segment.Medially with a spinose tubercle subapically.
aBdoMen.Median segment granulose, with a spinose tubercle posteromedially.Terga II-VIII with a spinose tubercle posteromedially, decreasing in size towards posterior.Tergum IX slightly laterally compressed, with a hump posteromedially.Tergum X with posterior edge slightly incurved, posterolateral angles rounded.Ventral part of posterolateral portion of tergum X strongly swollen and conical; cone covered with small black spines.Cerci small, round in cross section; apices rounded, projecting over apex of abdomen.Abdominal sterna smooth.Vomer well developed, visible as a triangular black, flattened spine with paler apex.Poculum slightly flattened, narrowing towards posterior; apex slightly rounded, reaching apex of tergum IX.
Legs.Fore legs missing.Other legs long when compared to body.Femora and tibiae compressed laterally, with all carinae developed, slightly widening towards posterior.Tarsomeres gradually decreasing in length.Claws small.
Body.Uniformly brown with black markings.amateur naturalists whenever possible, as the critical key for observation of those insects is the amount of time spent in the field.Many areas and even islands of the Philippine Archipelago remain unexplored in terms of phasmids and more field work would probably also reveal more undescribed species.
The genus Otraleus Günther, 1935 can be distinguished from other genera in Necrosciinae by the combination of the following characters: 1. Legs long in relation to body length, all carinae developed and unarmed.2. Abdominal segments with lobes or extensions postero-laterally on at least terga III-VII in females.3. Body length not exceeding 50 mm in males and 55 mm in females.4. Subgenital plate in females not surpassing anal segment and laterally flattened at the base. 5. Anal segment notched posteriorly and rounded postero-laterally.6. Praeopercular organ absent in females.7. Vomer well developed, elongated, flattened and strongly tapered.