Compsothespis occidentalis Sjöstedt, 1930

Schwarz, Christian J., Pohl, Marius & Frank, Erik T., 2023, A preliminary checklist of the praying mantids of Comoé National Park, Ivory Coast (Insecta: Mantodea), Zootaxa 5373 (1), pp. 1-64 : 25

Compsothespis occidentalis Sjöstedt, 1930

Figs. 71–76

Compsothespis occidentalis Sj ̂stedt, 1930: 16–17, pl. 1, Figs. 5a–5d .

Type locality. Pundu , Burkina Faso .

Distribution. Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana ( Beier 1968; Chopard 1954; Gillon & Roy 1968; Prost & Roy 1986; Roy 1963, 1965a, 1971b; Roy & Leston 1975; Sĵstedt 1930; pers. obs.).

Records. CSC: ♁, new station, 22.IV.–06.VI.2018, M. Pohl leg. (genitalia preparation Schwarz No. 484); ♁ + juv. ♁ + 3 ♀♀, new station, 22.IV.–06.VI.2018, M. Pohl leg.

Remarks. A savanna species inhabiting grass tufts. Its ecology remains largely unknown, captive breeding efforts having remained mostly unsuccessful so far. Their peculiar foreleg morphology (e.g., Wieland 2013) could be an indication for certain prey preferences.

Figures

FIGURES 71–76. Compsothespis occidentalis Sĵstedt, 1930. 71–72, 75. Female. 73–74, 76. Male. 71, 73. Dorsal view. 72, 74, 76. Ventral view. 75. Anterodorsal view of head. 76. Genitalia.

FIGURES 5–7. Habitat types of the CNP. 5. Forest island. 6. Gallery forest. 7. Interior view of gallery forest.