Ciulfina rentzi Ginn & Holwell, 2007

Holwell, Gregory I., Ginn, Scott G. & Herberstein, Marie E., 2007, Three new species of Ciulfina Giglio-Tos (Mantodea: Liturgusidae) from north-eastern Australia, Zootaxa 1583 (1), pp. 23-35 : 31-34

Ciulfina rentzi Ginn & Holwell sp. nov.

( Figures 2 : 7–8; 5 a–b)

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr David Rentz, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Australian entomology, and particularly to the study of the Australian Mantodea .

Type. Holotype male, Flecker Botanic Gardens , Edge Hill, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 16°54’S 145°44’E, 26.ix.2003, G. Holwell, S. Ginn, A. Gaskett ..

Material examined. Paratypes: 5♂ Flecker Botanic Gardens , Edge Hill , Cairns, Qld, 16°54'S 145°44'E, 26.ix.2003, G. Holwell, S. Ginn, A. Gaskett ; 3♂ Babinda Boulders , Qld, 17°20'S 145°52'E, 24.ix.2002, G. Holwell ; 1♂ Barron Falls , Qld, 16°50'S 145°38'E, 23.ix.2002, G. Holwell ; 5♂ Babinda Boulders , Wooroonooran N.P., Qld, 17°20'S 145°52'E 15.i.2004, G. Holwell ; 5♂ Lacey Creek , Tam O’ Shanter S.F., Qld, 17°51'S 146°03'E 16.i.2004, G. Holwell .

Diagnosis. The distinguishing male genital features of C. rentzi are the long sclerotised phalloid apophysis and the generally stout shape of the right dorsal phallomere.

a

b

Description of genitalia. Right dorsal phallomere typical (see C. baldersoni ), thumb-shaped but stouter and broader than other types, rounded tip of phallomere bent inwards, covered with long hairs; anterior apodeme typical spoon-shaped; phalloid apophysis heavily sclerotised, long and slender, approximately half the length of the right phallomere; process projects posteriorly, tapering apically with last one quarter bent outwards towards right phallomere; apical process of left phallomere with robust base, process slightly sinuate, process very slender throughout length, apex terminates in fine rounded tip, moderately sclerotised, process projects away from right phallomere more or less parallel to base of ventral phallomere, process projects as far as pubescent triangular membrane at base of left dorsal phallomere; pubescent triangular membrane flattened at tip: ventral sclerotised process slender, medium length, heavily sclerotised, more or less straight; distal process of ventral phallomere moderately broad basally, tapering apically, gently curved inwards, terminating in 1–2 small heavily sclerotised teeth; inner lateral apex of ventral phallomere gently rounded, about 3–4 times wider than distal process, not produced beyond apex of distal process, outer lateral apex of ventral phallomere distinctly lobed.

Description of subgenital plate. Sternite very broad, distinctly widened and angled medially on lateral margins; posterior margin strongly concave, base stalks vestigial, reduced to terminal angles; styli slender, pubescent, distinctly longer than length of basal stalk.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus images of four Ciulfina species: C. biseriata (1. male, 2. female); C. baldersoni (3. male, 4. female); C. klassi (5. male, 6. female); C. rentzi (7. male, 8. female). Scale bar = 25 mm