Fig. 2

The variability (morphotypes) of dorsal plate sculpturing in V. viridissimus; in every row (a–d), the first column shows all dorsal plates, whereas the second, third and fourth columns show close up views of the scapular, second paired, and the caudal plates, respectively: (a) the most common morphotype described in the original description of the species with epicuticular granules present only in the anterior portions of the paired segmental plates, the anterior portion of median plate 2 and on the median plate 3 (the viridissimus morphotype; Indochina), (b) epicuticular granules extend toward the posterior portion of paired segmental plate 2 (indicated by the white frame) (morphotype intermediate between the viridissimus and miraviridis morphotypes; North America), (c) compared to morphotype “a”, epicuticular granules present on both median and paired segmental plates (indicated by filled arrowheads; intermediate morphotype; North America), (d) epicuticular granules dominate the dorsal armor, and 2–4 neighboring pores merge into large irregular pores, especially on the caudal plate (indicated by empty arrowheads; miraviridis morphotype/V. miraviridis syn. nov.; North America). PCM photomicrographs; scale bars in μm, scale in all columns the same as indicated in the first row