On seven undescribed leaf insect species revealed within the recent “Tree of Leaves” (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae)

Abstract

With the recent advance in molecular phylogenetics focused on the leaf insects (Phasmatodea, Phylliidae), gaps in knowledge are beginning to be filled. Yet, shortcomings are also being highlighted, for instance, the unveiling of numerous undescribed phylliid species. Here, some of these taxa are described, including Phyllium iyadaonsp. nov. from Mindoro Island, Philippines; Phyllium samarensesp. nov. from Samar Island, Philippines; Phyllium ortizisp. nov. from Mindanao Island, Philippines; Pulchriphyllium heraclessp. nov. from Vietnam; Pulchriphyllium delisleisp. nov. from South Kalimantan, Indonesia; and Pulchriphyllium bhaskaraisp. nov. from Java, Indonesia. Several additional specimens of these species together with a seventh species described herein, Pulchriphyllium anangusp. nov. from southwestern India, were incorporated into a newly constructed phylogenetic tree. Additionally, two taxa that were originally described as species, but in recent decades have been treated as subspecies, are elevated back to species status to reflect their unique morphology and geographic isolation, creating the following new combinations: Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. from Bangladesh and northeastern India, and Pulchriphyllium crurifolium (Audinet-Serville, 1838) stat. rev., comb. nov. from the Seychelles islands. Lectotype specimens are also designated for Pulchriphyllium scythe (Gray, 1843) stat. rev., comb. nov. and Pulchriphyllium crurifolium (Audinet-Serville, 1838) stat. rev., comb. nov. from original type material.