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 iyadaon sp. nov. from Mindoro Island, Philippines; Phyllium samarense sp. nov. from Samar Island, Philippines; Phyllium ortizi sp. nov. from Mindanao Island, Philippines; Pulchriphyllium heracles sp. nov. from Vietnam; Pulchriphyllium delislei sp. nov. from South Kalimantan, Indonesia; and Pulchriphyllium bhaskarai sp. nov. from Java, Indonesia. Several additional specimens of these species together with a seventh species described herein, Pulchriphyllium anangu sp. 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.