Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915

Holwell, Gregory I., 2014, Four new species of Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Mantodea: Liturgusidae, Liturgusinae) from the Northern Territory, Australia, Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 29-38 : 32

Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915

Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915: 64

Type species Nanomantis biseriata Westwood 1889 , by original designation.

The external morphology is highly conserved in this genus, and as per the original description of Ciulfina by Giglio-Tos (1915) there are no diagnostic external morphological characters useful for species discrimination. The original distinction of C. biseriata and C. liturgusa is based on colour and size, both highly variable and therefore dubious characters in delineating species of Ciulfina (see above). Ciulfina spp. are slender and long-legged. Adult body length (mm) ranging between 23-30 (males) and 28-38 (females). Body markings are generally brown with mottled lighter patches in multiple patterns. This variation often reflects the color of the tree trunks that individuals inhabit. For the most recent detailed description of the genus, please refer to Ehrmann (2002). The dorsal habitus of both male and female Ciulfina is depicted in Fig. 2 (in this case, C. ianrichardi n. sp.)

Figures

FIGURE 2. Habitus images of a male (left) and female (right) Ciulfina ianrichardi n. sp. (scale bar = 1 cm).