Paraoxypilus verreauxii 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 : 73-74

Paraoxypilus verreauxii Saussure, 1870

Figs. 1 C–E ; 3 D–E ; 8 A–F ; 14C ; 16A–B ; 20A

Paraoxypilus verreauxii Saussure, 1870: 155 .

Exparoxypilus africanus Beier, 1929 ( Connors, 2023)

Type material. The holotype, which is in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, was not examined (see remarks below).

Material examined. Queensland. 3♂, Abattoir Swamp Environmental Park, Mossman – Mt Molloy Rd., 16°38'08"S 145°19'29"E, 30 Apr 1998, G. Milledge (w). 1♂, Almaden, Chillagoe district, Jun–Oct 1931, W.D. Campbell. 2♀, Almaden, Chillagoe district, Nov 1929, W.D. Campbell, K57397. 1♂ juv., Blackdown Tableland, Expedition Range, 9 Jan 1976, G. Daniels. 1♀, Brisbane, Illidge, K43784. 2♂ juv., Bundaberg, Moore Park, 21 Apr 1973, KRB-CV. 1♀, Byfield, near Yeppoon, Oct 1924, A. Musgrave. 1♀, Byfield State Forest, 1 Jan 1976, G. Daniels. 1♂, Byfield State Forest, 1 Dec 1979, G. Daniels. 1♂, Carnarvon Range, Dec 1941, N. Geary. 1♀, Clairview, 22°07'S 149°32'E, 17 Apr 1998, G. Milledge (w). 1♂, 1♀, Clermont, Jan 1928, K.K. Spence, K63531 & K63532. 1♂, Dawson R., N of Injune, 25°23'02"S 148°38'44"E, 11 Jan 1999, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 1♀ juv., Eungella area, road to Eungella Dam, at junction of Freegards Rd., 21°12'S 148°29'E, 21 Apr 1998, G. Milledge (w). 1♂ juv., Grants Ck, Dawes Range,SW of Gladstone, 24°28'S 151°08'E, O.Griffiths. 1♂, Ingham, 8 Aug 1983, N.W. Rodd. 1♀, Kamerunga, near Cairns, 3 Apr 1975, M.S. Moulds. 1♀, Kuranda, 25 Dec 1958, D.K. McAlpine. 1♂ juv., Marlborough Rd, 2km N of junction with Apis Creek Rd, 22° 52'50"S 149° 32'19"E, 29 Nov 2008, G. Milledge (w). 1♀, Marlborough Rd., 7.4km W of Bruce Hwy., 22°52'15"S 149°50'04"E, 29 Nov 2008, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w). 1♀, Stradbroke Island, Brown Lake, 1 Mar 1980, G. Daniels. 1♀, Warwick, 1950, E. Miller (all AM). 1♂, 23km E of Almaden, 17°21'S 144°54'E, 31 Mar 1984, A. Calder & T. Weir. 1♀, Balgal Beach, 50km N of Townsville, 19°01'S 146°24'E, 6 Nov 1991, L. Weight (w). 5♂, 4♀, Barron Falls, near Kuranda, Jan 1976, W. Walford-Huggins. 1♀, Bin Bin Ra., near Didcot, 7 Jan 1975, H. Frauca. 1♂, 17km SE of Black Mtn Rd, on Toll Road, 16°46'S 146°25'E, 6 Dec 2010, D.C.F. Rentz & B. Richardson. 1♂, 8♀, 1 juv., Bluff Ra., near Biggenden, Jan 1972, H. Frauca. 1♀, same data except Aug 1971. 3♂, 1♀, same data except 3 May 1972. 1♀, same data except Aug 1971. 1♀, same data except 21 Apr 1977. 1♀, same data except 13 Mar 1977. 1♂, Brisbane, 25 Feb 1941, C.F.Ashby. 1♂, Burnett R. crossing, 10km NE of Eidsvold, 9 Jan 1970, Britton et al. 3♂ 1♀, Cairns, 24 Nov 1971, R. Hardie. 1♂, 0.8km SE of Camp Milo, Cooloola NP, 26°00'S 153°05'E, 16 Apr 1982,D.C.F.Rentz. 1♂, Camp Milo, Cooloola NP, 26°00'S 153°05'E, 16–20 Oct 1978, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Balderson. 1♀, near Clohesy R., 12km SW of Kuranda, 16°54'S 145°34'E, 7 Feb 1988, D.C.F. Rentz. 1♀, 2km W of Cunninghams Gap, 25 Dec 1982, J. T. Doyen (w). 1♀, Davies Ck., ca. 14km NE of Mareeba, 20 Jan 1977, B.P. Moore. 1♂, 3.3km SE of Eidsvold, 26 Oct 1967, M.J.D. White et al. 2♀, Electra, S of Bundaberg, 19 Mar 1977, H. Frauca. 1♀, 3–10 km SW of Electra, 25°01'S 152°09'E, 2Aug 1977, J. Balderson. 1♂, Emu Ck., 27km SW of Dimbulah, 25 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 1♀, 7km W of Emu Park, 23°15'S 150°45'E, 15 Oct 1973, K.H.L. Key. 1♀, Eureka Ck., 9km SW of Dimbulah, 17°11'S 145°02'E, 25 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 1♀, Forty Mile Scrub NP, 55km SSW of Mt Garnet, 18°06'S 144°50'E, 29–30 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 1♂, Flinders R., 59km SW of Normanton, 18°10'S 140°51'E, 1 Dec 1981, J. Balderson. 1♀, Fraser I., 20–26 Apr 1975, V.B. Brown. 2♂, 25km E of Georgetown, 26 Apr 1996, J. & P. Hasenpusch. 1♀, Great Keppel I., 23°11'S 150°58'E, 1 Jul 1980, Balderson & Vickery. 1♂, Heathlands, 11°45'S 142°35'E, 24–28 Feb 1993, P. Zborowski. 1♀ juv., same data except 15–26 Jan 1992, I. Naumann & T.A. Weir, (w). 1♂, Hogback Ra., near Gin Gin, 11 Apr 1972. 1♂ juv., 1♀, same data except 3Apr 1972. 1♂, 1♀, 14km NW of Hope Vale Mission, near Cooktown, 15°16'S 144°59'E, 9 Oct 1980, T.A. Weir & R.A. Barrett. 3♂, 1♀, 14km NW of Hope Vale Mission, near Cooktown, 15°16'S 144°59'E, 7–10 Oct 1981, D.C.F. Rentz. 3♀, 8juvs., same data except (w). 1♂, Horseshoe Lookout, Blackdown Tableland, SW of Dingo, 23°46'S 149°06'E, 1–2 Feb 1981, D.C.F. Rentz & D. T. Gwynne. 1♂ juv., 6km SE of Ilbilbie, SSE of Sarina, 7 Jul 1980, Balderson & Vickery. 1♂, Ingham, 14 Mar 1961, R. Straatman. 1♂, Ingham, 29 Mar 1961, K.L. Harley. 2♂, Ingham, 27 Apr 1961, K.L. Harley. 1♂, 8.3km ENE of Ingham, 26 May 1961, R. Straatman. 1♂, 22km N of Ingham, 18°27'S 146°08'E, 28 Sep 1979, J. Balderson. 1♂, 20km N of Ingham, 14 Sep 1956, M.J.D. White. 2♂, Isabella Ck., 32km WNW of Cooktown, 15°18'S 145°00'E, 22 May 1977, I.F.B. Common & E.D. Edwards. 1♀, Lake Tinaroo, 18 Jun 1962, R. Taylor. 1♂, Magnetic I., 1 Aug 1966, B.P. Moore. 1♂, 10km SW of Mareeba, 25 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 1♂, 24km NW of Mareeba, 16°47'S 145°22'E, 24–25 Nov 1981, J. Balderson (w). 1♂, Mckinnon Ck., 1km S of The Lynd H.S., 18°57'S 144°30'E, 12 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 2♂, Mimosa Ck., Expedition Ra., SW of Dingo, 23°48'S 149°04'E, 1 Feb 1981, D.C.F. Rentz & D. T. Gwynne. 2♀, 10km SE of Mt Carbine, 16°37'S 145°12'E, 24 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 1♀, 4km S of Mt Coolon, 1 Apr 1977, R.C. Lewis. 1♂ 2♀, 16.6km SWS of Mt Faulkner, Clermont distr., 7 Jan 1965, M.J.D. White. 1♀, 5km SW of Mt Garnet, 26 Jan 1996, B.P. Moore. 1♂, 1km N of Mount Molloy, 16°40'S 145°20'E, 24 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 3♂, 1♀, Mt Walsh NP, Bluff Ra., near Biggenden, 8 May 1972, H. Frauca. 1♂, 3km NE of Mt Webb, near Cooktown, 15°03'S 145°09'E, 3 Oct 1980, T.A.Weir & R.A. Barrett. 1♀, Mulgrave R. Valley, SW of Gordonvale, 17°13'S 145°45'E, 15 Nov 1981, J. Balderson. 1♂, Pine Creek, 19km S of Bundaberg, 11 Dec 1975, H. Frauca. 2♂, 8.3km SE of Planet Downs H.S., E of Rolleston, 25 Oct 1967, M.J.D. White et al. 1♂, Repulse Ck., 23km NE of Bauhinia Downs, 24°24'S 149°23'E, 22–23 Apr 1981, I.D. Naumann. 1♂, same data except D.C.F. Rentz. 3♂, 1♀, 1km N of Rounded Hill, near Cooktown, 15°17'S 145°13'E, 5–7 May 1981, D.C.F. Rentz. 2♀, 3juv., same data except (w). 1juv., same data except 6 Oct 1980, T.A. Weir & R.A. Barrett. 1♀, 9km WSW of Seaforth, 1 Oct 1979, J. Balderson. 1♀, Shipton Flat, near Cooktown, 15°47'S 145°14'E, 18 Oct 1980, T.A. Weir & R.A. Barrett. 1♂, Shiptons Flat, near Cooktown, 15°47'S 145°14'E, 16–18 May 1981, D.C.F. Rentz. 1♂, Silverwood Dam, via Warwick, 27 Dec 1938. 1♀, Smithfield, 13km NW of Cairns, 30 Jun 1982, N. Quick. 1♂, 80km NNE of St George, 21 Nov 1986, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 1♂, Stockyard Ck., 61km NW of Malborough, 2 Oct 1979, J.Balderson. 1♂, Tannum Beach, near Gladstone, 22–23 Dec 1955, M.J.D. White. 1♂, Townsville, 15 Nov 1967, P. Ferrar. 1♀, Townsville, Dec 1981, Preston-Maffam. 2♀, 11.7km NE of Twin Hills H.S., 7 Jan 1965, M.J.D. White. 2♀, Watalgan Ra., near Bundaberg, Apr 1971, H. Frauca. 1♂, 45km NE of Windorah, 14 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis (all ANIC).

New South Wales. 1♂, Deriah Aboriginal Area , 20.9km E of Narrabri, 30.368°S 149.991°E, 11 Nov 2009, D. Britton & J. Rescei (w) . 1♂, Goonoo State Forest , 5 mi. S of Mendooran, 23 Mar 1971, D.K. McAlpine . 1♀, Goonoo State Forest , 5 mi. S of Mendooran, 1–3 May 1970, G. Daniels . 1♂, Moema NP, 36.5km NE of Narrabri, 30.064°S 149.965°E, 13 Nov 2009, D. Britton & J. Rescei (w) . 1♂, Moree , watercourse, Nov 1923, A. Musgrave . 1♀, Moree , 7 Apr 1975, N. Southwell (all AM) . 1♂, 5km E of Collie , 22 Sep 1977, R .C.Lewis. 6♂, 6♀, 3.3km SE of Gin Gin , 15 Feb 1962, Strautmanis & Chinnick . 1♀. Moree , 20 May 1952, A. Dyce . 1♀. Moree , Mar 1952, A. Dyce . 1♂, Pine Clump , NE of Warren, 31°23'S 148°09'E, 2 May 1978, R .C. Lewis. 1♀, Trangie , 4 May 1950, L.J. Chinnick . 5♂, 1♀, Trangie , 16 Feb 1962, J. Strautmanis . 4♂, 10♀, 5km NW of Trangie , 14 Feb 1962, Strautmanis & Chinnick (all ANIC) .

Diagnosis. P. verreauxii can be separated from other species in the genus by the absence par-ocular spines, pointed vertical apophyses and a distinct colour pattern on the inner face of the foreleg with two prominent horizontal white bands on the femur.

Description. Body colour mottled brown to black. Head ( Fig. 8A–B ) with vertical apophyses prominent, pointed and lightly tuberculate; par-ocular spines absent; ocelli at base of only slight projections; frontal shield with subantennal ridge produced into small tooth at mid-point (very small in males).

Prozone of thorax ( Fig. 8 C–D ) with low tuberculate 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 relatively minor projections; pronotal margin tuberculate, expanded and produced into a small point above coxal insertions; prosternum black with white markings, with small pre-acetabular spine.

Wings ( Fig. 3D ) with tegmina translucent to semi opaque, peppered with darker and lighter spots and blotches; hindwings with costal margin brownish tinged, tip similar colour to tegmina, remainder hyaline.

Forecoxa ( Fig. 8E–F ) with 6–8 small 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 black proximally and distally, central section reddish orange with pale cross band and pale distal margin; outer face with anterior half similar to inner face, posterior half similar in colour to rest of body. Inner face of fore femur ( Fig. 8E–F )) black with narrow median longitudinal white band and similar band along line of inner spines, femoral brush somewhat raised; outer face body coloured, with central longitudinal ridge. Inner face of fore tibia with proximal two thirds blackish, distal third yellowish orange. Fore tarsus dark with white banding.

Dpr of male genitalia ( Fig. 16C–D ) with short narrow central process and narrow dextral process with shagreened tip. Pa with single moderate, distinctly spinose, anterior projection and narrow sclerotized section between it and ml. Ml squat, stout and shagreened.

Immature stages. Juveniles similar in appearance to adult females; ootheca ( Fig. 14C ) pale brown coloured, short to elongate, narrow.

Distribution and habits. Found from east coastal Queensland to north-eastern New South Wales ( Fig. 20A ). Most often found on tree trunks but sometimes at ground level. Males attracted to lights at night.

Remarks. The type specimen, a male, was described as being from Tasmania, however, as pointed out by Connors (2023), no further specimens of this species have been recorded further south than north-eastern New South Wales. Connors (2023) confirmed the identity of this species based on photographs of the holotype, which are available for examination on the MNHN website. The female of the species was described later by Saussure (1871) and clearly belongs to the species described here. I have examined photographs of the type of Exparoxypilus africanus and can confirm Connors (2023) conclusion that it is a synonym of P. verreauxii . The reddish orange colouration on the forelegs generally fades in preserved specimens. The black area on the inside face of these limbs often has a bluish metallic lustre.

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 8. Paraoxypilus verreauxii, frontal view of head, A. female, B. male, lateral view of head and pronotum, C. female, 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 16. Male genitalia of Paraoxypilus species, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres. P. armatus, A. dorsal view, B. ventral view. P. verreauxii, C. dorsal view, D. ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5mm.

Figure 20. Distribution maps for Paraoxypilus species, A. P. verreauxii, B. P. kimberleyensis.