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: Cnipsomorphayunnanensis 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.
Keywords: 28S; Biodiversity; COI; morphology; stick insects; taxonomy.
Fangling Xu, Yingjie Jiang, Maofa Yang.