Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis Saussure, 1870

Milledge, Graham A., 2024, Review of the genera Glabromantis, Paraoxypilus, and Phthersigena (Mantodea: Nanomantidae: Fulciniinae), Records of the Australian Museum 76 (2), pp. 69-103 : 71-72

Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis Saussure, 1870

Figs. 1A–B ; 3A–B ; 6 A–F ; 14 A–B ; 15A–D ; 19A

Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis Saussure, 1870: 155 . Paraoxypilus flavifemur Sjöstedt, 1918: 3 , syn. nov. Paraoxypilus distinctus Beier, 1929: 129–131 , syn. nov.

Type material. Not examined but good quality images of the holotypes of Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis , and Paraoxypilus distinctus examined. Sjöstedt (1918) provides good description and illustrations of Paraoxypilus flavifemur .

Material examined. Australian Capital Territory. 1♀, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve , 35°25'05"S 148°55'20"E, 1980, P. Ormay ( AM) . 1♂, Blundell’s , 33.3km W of Canberra, 20 Feb 1953, I.F.B. Common . 1♀, Canberra , Nov 1949, Wylie . 1♀, Canberra , 2 Mar 1952, K.H.L. Key . 1♂, Coppins Crossing, Murrumbidgee R ., 16 Apr 1982, J.C. Wombey. 1♂, Mt Franklin Chalet , 1 Apr 1953, K.H.L. Key . 1♂, Mt Franklin , Brindabella Ra., 35°30'S 148°47'E, 15 Mar 1982, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♀, Mt Franklin , Brindabella Ra., 16 Feb 1975, R .C. Lewis. 1♀, Wamboin , ca 11km NE of Queanbeyan, 11 Feb 1985, G. Greig (all ANIC) .

Queensland. 1♂, Binna Burra , Lamington NP, 4 Dec 1985, H. Imai & M. Kubota . 1♀ juv., Blackdown Tableland, Expedition Range , 8 Jan 1976, G. Daniels. I ♂, Bluff Ra., near Biggenden , 3 May 1972, H. Frauca . 1♀, Camp Milo , Cooloola NP, 26°00'S 153°05'E, 16–20 Oct 1978, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Balderson . 1♀, Carnarvon Gorge NP, Mossvale Gardens , 30 Nov 1993, G. Cassis . 1♂, Finch Hatton Gorge , W of Mackay, 14–15 Dec 1982, G. Theischenger (w) . 1♀, ‘ Gwinganna’, Lookout Junction , 6km SSW of Tallebudgera, 28°11'S 153°23'E, 18–23 Apr 1995, D.C.F. Rentz et al. (w) . 1♀, Highvale , 23km NW of Brisbane, 24 Jan 1960, R . Straatman . 1♂, Kenmore , 23 Oct 1927, M.A. Schneider (both AM) . 1♀, Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane , 19 Jul 1952, K.H.L. Key . 3♂, Nth Tamborine , 10 Jan 1961, M.S. Upton . 1♂, Parkhurst, Rockhampton , 23°18'S 150°31'E, 18 Sep 1979, I.F.B. Common . 1♀, 13km N of Quinalow , 23 Dec 1982, J. T . Doyen (w) . 1♀, Rainbow Falls, Expedition Ra. , SW of Dingo, 23°51'S 149°06'E, 1 Feb 1981, D.C.F. Rentz & D. T . Gwynne (w) . 3♂, 13.7km NNE of Ravenshoe , 22 Apr 1969, I.F.B. Common & M. Upton (all ANIC) .

New South Wales. 1♀, 3km W of Baerami, Wollemi NP, 32.38430° S 150.43741° E, 9–19 Jan 2012, J. Gollan & M.Ashcroft (w). 1♂, Bombala, 4 Mar 1932,A.J. Barrett, K64965. 1♀, Cessnock, 14 Feb 1947, M.Cooke. 1♀, Collaroy, 11 Feb 1949, C.W. Offner. 1♀, Como, 14 Dec 1952, J. Freeland. 1♂, Coogee, 3 Dec 1922, G.P. Whitley. 1♀, Dungog State Forest, 3 Dec 1966, J. Walsh & G. Holloway. 1♂ juv., Glenorie, 9 Oct 1992, A. Leask. 1♀, Gunning, 1949, L. Stevens. 1♀, Heathcote, Mar 1962, R. Witchard. 1juv., Jannali, 14 Mar 1976, G. Levot. 1♂, Kilarney Gap, Kaputar NP, 30.138°S 150.007°E, 14 Nov 2009, D. Britton & J. Rescei (w). 1♂, 1♀ juv., Kunderang Trail, 50m s of Wonga Gully, 30°48'S 152°07'E, 4 Feb–9 Apr 1993, M. Gray & G. Cassis (w). 1♀, Leura, Jan 1932, K.K. Spence. 1♀, Longueville, 5 May 1930, E.B. Taylor, K64207. 1♀, Main Ck., track of Mt Tindal Rd., Ramornie SF, 4 Feb–9 Apr 1993, 29°43'S 152°38'E, M. Gray & G. Cassis (w). 1♂, Maroubra, Nov 1921, T.A. Murphy. 1♂ juv., Middle Cove, Apr 1992, M. Guider. 1♂ juv., Mooney Mooney Ck., Nov 1980, B.J. Day & W.Loh. 1♀, 4km SW of Mt.Tomah,Blue Mountains, 3 Mar 1979, G. Daniels. 1♂, ‘Mudaridge’, Gloucester River Rd., 32°03'17"S 151°44'42"E, 3 Mar 2016, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w). 2♀, Newnes SF, Blackfellows Hand R., 5.9km from Sunnyside Rd., 33°21'26"S 150°08'40"E, 6–20 Mar 2006, G. Milledge & M. Beatson (w). 1♀, Padstow, 2 Oct 1961, Roehmer. 1♂, Port Macquarie, 2 Dec 1961, McAlpine & Lossin. 1♀, Royal National Park, 21 Aug 1957, J. Dole. 1♀, 7km NW of Rylstone, 32.73996° S 149.92805° E, 9–19 Jan 2012, J. Gollan & M. Ashcroft (w). 1♀, Smiths Lake, 20 Aug 1971. 2juv., Spirabo State Forest, 29°17'S 152°05'E, M. Gray & G. Cassis, 4 Feb–9 Apr 1993 (w). 1♂, Sydney, C.F. Kelaher, K42268. 1♀, Vaucluse, Jan 1928, R.S. Watsford, K57455. 1♂, vicinity of Spring Ridge, 17km NW of Gulgong, 5 Apr 1979, D.K. McAlpine & B.J. Day. 1♂, Wahroonga, 1 Apr 1922, Nicholson. 1♀, Wahroonga, 23 Apr 1943, A. Musgrave. 1♂, 3km E of Wedderburn, 34°08'S 150°49'E, 13 Mar 2006, D. Britton. 1♀, 0.5km from Wheatly Rd., on Camp Creek Rd., 28°47'S 152°19'E, 4 Feb–9 Apr 1993, M. Gray & G. Cassis (w). 1♀, Woy Woy, 12 Nov 1921, Nicholson (all AM). 1♂, Arrawarra, 3 Apr 1968, C.W. Frazier. 1♀, Balls Head, Apr 1923. 1♀, Bundjalung Reserve, 5km SW of Evans Head, 8 Mar 1981, H.M. Cameron. 3♀, Barrington Tops, 1946, H.M. Cane. 1♂, Boyd Creek Crossing, 16.8km SE of Jenolan Caves, 33°58'S 150°03'E, 31 Jan 1969, J. Balderson. 1♀, Broulee, 31°51'S 150°11'E, 25 Feb 1979, K.H.L. Key. 1♀, same data except 28 Jan 1984. 1♂, Broulee, 27 Feb 1962, M.S. Upton. 1♂, Broulee, 24 Feb 1962, M.S. Upton. 1♀, Brown Mt., 12 Mar 1969, D.F. Waterhouse. 1♂, Congo, 8km ESE of Moruya, 35°58'S 150°09'E, 12 Mar 1983, M.S. Upton. 1♂, same data except 6 Jan 1983. 1♂, same data except 26 Jan 1980. 1♂, same data except 5 Jan 1981. 1♀, same data except 29 Dec 1979. 1♂, same data except 15 Mar 1980. 1♂, same data except 16 Mar 1980. 1♂, same data except 27 Oct 1979. 1♂, Cudgera Ck., near Byron Bay, 14 Dec 1985 (w). 1♂, Dandahra Ck., Grafton Rd., 100km from Glen Innes, 12 Oct 1962,A. Stock. 1♀, 3km SE of Evans head, 29°07'S 153°27'E, 7 Jan 1971, K.H.L. Key. 1♀, 7.2km N of Evans Head, 29°03'S 153°25'E, 17 Dec 1971, Key & Balderson. 3♂, Gibraltar Range State Forest, 8 Dec 1964, C.W.Frazier. 2♀, Guyra, 5 Jan 1949,A.Dyce. 1♂, Guyra, 27 Dec 1949, A. Dyce. 1♀, Littledale Stn., near Cootamundra, 19 Mar 1978, R.C. Lewis. 2♂, 8.3km SSW of Macksville, 9 Nov 1967, K.H.L. Key. 1♂, Merimbula, 36°54'S 149°56'E, 15 Mar 1998, E.C. Zimmerman. 1♀, Mongarlowe, near Braidwood, 22 Mar 1986, R. Whitten. 1♀, Paddy’s R., 11.6km NE of Marulan, 29 Mar 1959, K. R. Norris. 3♂, Pilot Hill, Bago Forest, Batlow, 1 Mar 1957, T.G.Campbell. 1♂, Sawtell, 5 Dec 1939, CRW. 1♂, Slaty Ck., 31km ENE of Tenterfield, 16 Nov 1982, D.C.F.Rentz & C.D. MacNeill. 1♂, Tea Tree Creek, Armidale, 25 Jan 1962, C.W. Frazier. 1♀, Yetman, 22 Nov 1964, J. Frazier. 1♂, Walla Lake, 15 Mar 1981, H. Black. 1♀, ‘Wamboin’, 11km NE of Queanbeyan, 5 Dec 1982, J.M. Walker. 2♀, Wilton ( CSIRO Field Station), 7 Jun 1965, CSIRO staff. 1♀, Wingham, 3 Feb 1964, J.S. McKay (all ANIC).

South Australia. 1♀, Whyalla , Mar 1951, H. Mincham ( AM) . 1♀, Ardrossan , 28–29 Dec 1954, M.J.D. White . 1♂, Buckaringa Gorge, Flinders Ranges , ca 30km NNW of Quorn, 18 Dec 1985, C. Reid . 1♀, Normanville , 25 Dec 1974, M.J.D. White . 1♀, Oakland Park, Adelaide , 24 Dec 1966, M.S. Upton . 1♀, 79km NNW of Renmark , 33°31'S 140°24'E, 12–21 Dec 1995, S. Dominelli & K. R . Pullen (w) . 1♂, same data except 11 Oct–9 Nov 1995, K. R . Pullen . 1♂, 14km NNW of Yalata Mission , 31°22'S 131°47'E, 10 May 1983, E.S. Nielsen & E.D. Edwards (w) (all ANIC) .

Tasmania. 2♂, 1km SSE of Gladstone , 40°58'S 148°01'E, 6 Feb 1983, J.C. Cardale (w) . 3♂, Freycinet National Park , 28 Feb 1963, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton (all ANIC) .

Victoria. 1♂, Blairgowrie, near Sorrento , 16 Feb 1963, J.C. LeSouef . 1♀, Millgrove , 3.3km W of Warburton, 1 May 1964, R . Crozier . 1♂, Omeo , 26 Feb 1980, J.C. Cardale . 1♀, Skyline Rd., Kangaroo Ground , 12 Feb 1982, I.A.E. Bayly (all ANIC) .

Western Australia. 3♂, N of Cave Rock Camp , 28.6km S of Burra Rock, 31.640°S 121.209°E, 17 Nov 2007, D. R. Britton & D.J. Bickel ( AM) . 2♂, 1.7km WNW of Balladonia Motel , 3 Nov 1969, Key & Upton . 1♀, Crawley , 15 Jan 1936, K. R. Norris . 1♀, Darlington , 20 Sep 1964, G.I. Bush . 1♀, 3.3km NE of Fraser Ra. H.S., 4 Nov 1969, Key & Upton . 1♀, Kalgoorlie , 8 Jan 1986, A.J. Graham . 2♂, 40km WSW of Madura , 30 Apr 1968, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton . 1♂, Nedlands , 17 Mar 1961, M.M.H. Wallace . 1♂, same data except 18 Mar 1963 . 1♂, same data except 21 Feb 1961 . 1♀, Thomas R., 23km WNW of Mt Arid, 7 Nov 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan . 1♀, Vasse at Boyaturup Drain ( Highway 10), 33°40'S 115°14'E, 29 Oct 1999, D.C.F. Rentz & Y.N. Su (w). Near Warriup Hill , 63km ENE of Albany, 34°44'S 118°28'E, 14–17 Jan 1991, Rentz et al (all ANIC) .

Diagnosis. Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis can be separated from other species in the genus by the possession of distinct par-ocular spines and pointed vertical apophyses on the head and possession of a unique contrasting colour pattern on the inner face of the foreleg.

Description. Body colour mottled brown, peppered with darker spots. Head ( Fig. 6A–B ) with vertical apophyses prominent, pointed and lightly tuberculate; par-ocular spines pronounced; ocelli at base of pointed projections (lateral ones more prominent); frontal shield with subantennal ridge produced into small tooth at mid-point.

Prozone of thorax ( Fig. 6C–D ) with low diagonal ridge, either side of carina, which is produced into a point near saddle groove; metazone with two pairs of spiny projections posterior to saddle groove, second pair less prominent in male; median carina distinct and undulating with several blunt projections; pronotal margin tuberculate, expanded and produced into a point above coxal insertions; prosternum black with white markings, with small pre-acetabular spine.

Wings with tegmina translucent, peppered with darker and lighter spots and blotches; hindwings with costal margin brownish tinged, tip similar colour to tegmina, remainder hyaline.

Forecoxa ( Fig. 6E–F ) with 6–8 distinct spines on anterior margin and a larger adjacent pair near coxal base, posterior margin with double row of fine tubercles; inner face with scattered small tubercles and a larger pair of tubercles near coxal base posteriorly, colour cream or yellowish to orange with blackish brown bands proximally and distally; outer face with anterior half similar to inner face, posterior half similar in colour to rest of body. Inner face of fore femur ( Fig. 6E–F ) with broad cream or yellowish to orange central band bounded by broad dark band distally (with pale transverse bands in male) and narrow dark band proximally, femoral brush somewhat raised; outer face body coloured or slightly lighter than rest of body, with central longitudinal ridge. Inner face of fore tibia blackish, with white spot near tarsal insertion and proximal white band in male. Fore tarsus dark with white banding.

Dpr of male genitalia ( Fig. 15A–D ) with broad truncate central process and narrow dextral process with shagreened tip. Pa with single spinose, knob-like anterior projection and broad sclerotized region between it and ml. Ml squat, stout and shagreened.

Immature stages. Juveniles similar in appearance to adult females; ootheca ( Fig. 14A–B ) cream coloured, short and narrow.

Distribution and habits. Widespread, found from east coastal Queensland through southeastern Australia to southwestern Australia ( Fig. 19A ). Most often found at ground level but also sometimes on tree trunks. Males attracted to lights at night.

Remarks. Specimens from the northern end of the distribution have less pronounced protuberances on the head and thorax than southern populations but are otherwise indistinguishable. This is the form described as P. flavifemur by Sjöstedt, 1918. The morphological differences used by Beier (1929) to distinguish P. distinctus from both P. tasmaniensis and P. flavifemur are minor and fall well within the range of variation for this species.

Figures

Figure 1. Live photographs of representative species of Paraoxypilus. A. P.tasmaniensis, male (Helen Smith). B. P. tasmaniensis, female (Thomas Mesaglio). C. P.verreauxii, female (Ged Tranter). D. P. verreauxii, male (Dave Rentz). E. P. verreauxii, female, showing colour pattern on inner face of foreleg (Jessa Thurman). F. P.kimberleyensis, male (Colin Trainor). G. P. kimberleyensis, female (Glenda Walter).

Figure 3. Preserved specimens of Paraoxypilus species. P. tasmaniensis, A. male, B. female.P. armatus, C. male, F. female. P. verreauxii, D. male, E. female.

Figure 6. Paraoxypilus tasmaniensis, frontal view of head, A. female, B. male, lateral view of head and pronotum, C. female (arrow indicates par-ocular spine), D. male, internal face of foreleg, E. female, F. male.

Figure 14. Oothecae of Paraoxypilus and Phthersigena species. P. tasmaniensis, A. dorsal view, B. lateral view. P. verreauxii, C. lateral view. Ph. conspersa, D. lateral view.

Figure 15. Male genitalia of P. tasmaniensis, A. dorsal view of left dorsal and ventral phallomeres (pa = phalloid apohysis, ml = median lobe, dpr =distal process), B.ventral view of same, C. dorsal view of right dorsal phallomere, D. ventral view of same.Scale bars = 0.5mm.

Figure 19. Distribution maps for Paraoxypilus species, A. P. tasmaniensis, B. P. armatus.