Descriptions of two new stick insect species of Cnipsomorpha Hennemann, Conle, Zhang & Liu (Phasmatodea) from China based on integrative taxonomy

Accurate taxonomical identification is an extremely important basis for stick insect research, including evolutionary biology but also applied biology such as pest control. In addition, genetic methods are a valuable identification auxiliary technology at present. Therefore, this paper used morphological and molecular data to investigate five stick insect specimens from the genus Cnipsomorpha in Yunnan, successfully identifying two new species: Cnipsomorpha yunnanensis Xu, Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. and C. yuxiensis Xu, Jiang & Yang, sp. nov. A phylogenetic tree was constructed through their 28S and COI genes in order to infer the phylogenetic position of the two new species. Photographs of the new species and a key to all known Cnipsomorpha species are provided.

Automated summary

This study investigated stick insect specimens from the genus Cnipsomorpha in Yunnan using morphological and molecular data. Two new species were successfully identified and their phylogenetic position was inferred through the construction of a phylogenetic tree. Photographs of the new species and a key for identifying all known Cnipsomorpha species were provided.