Rhodomantis macula, Milledge, Graham A., 2014

Milledge, Graham A., 2014, A revision of Rhodomantis Giglio-Tos, 1917 (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 39-64 : 48-49

Rhodomantis macula sp. nov.

( Figs. 14–16 , 35–36 , 44–46 , 54 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂, Northern Territory, Bukalara Range , 47 km SSW of Borroloola, 16°28’S 136°09E, 23 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al, 11-000011 . Paratype 1♀, same data as holotype, 11-000012 (both ANIC) .

Other specimens examined. Northern Territory. 1♂, 2♀, same data as holotype . 1♀, 15 km N of Renner Springs , 22 Jul 1960, M.J.D. White (all ANIC) .

Western Australia. 1♂, Tunnel Creek , E of Derby, W.A., 1 Nov 1978, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ( ANIC) .

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be distinguished from others in the genus by being only slightly brachypterous and having a large dark patch near the tip of the hindwing ( Fig. 15 ). Females by being brachypterous and by the medially incised, scoop like sixth abdominal sternite ( Fig. 46 ).

Description. Body ( Figs. 14, 16 ) moderately elongate, more robust than other members of the genus. Colour brown. Frontal shield with subanntenal ridge not prominent. Ocelli of male well developed, of female poorly developed. Antennae of male about same length as prothorax, of female about one half to two thirds the length of prothorax. Prothorax moderately elongate, metazone of pronotum without distinct dorsolateral carinae. Foreleg with coxa about same length as metazone and blackish coloured at base, femur with claw groove situated at about mid point. Hindlegs relatively short for genus. Male volant but slightly brachypterous, wings ( Fig. 15 ) reaching caudal margin of fifth abdominal tergite; tegmen with costal area opaque; discoidal area semi opaque; anal lobe infumate; hindwing with costal and discoidal areas semi opaque, reddish brown toward base, discoidal area with large dark patch toward wingtip; anal area infumate, darker proximally, with contrasting transparent areas at cross veins creating speckled appearance. Female brachypterous, wings reaching to about two thirds the length of second abdominal tergite; wings ( Fig. 17 ) with tegmen opaque, discoidal area often with dark patch toward wingtip and sometimes flecked with darker spots, anal lobe strongly infumate; hindwing opaque, costal area yellowish or reddish brown in proximal two thirds, discoidal area with dark blackish patch about two thirds of length toward wingtip, anal area dark brownish black with bluish sheen, with contrasting transparent areas at cross veins. Abdomen elongate, supraanal plate transverse, cerci much reduced, reaching tip of abdomen in male but far short of tip of abdomen in female. Caudal margin of sixth abdominal sternite of female extended, forming a scoop like structure ( Fig. 46 ).

Male genitalia ( Figs. 35–36 ) with dpr short, broad and truncate, with short blunt anterior and posterior projections, the anterior one with finely cuspulate margin; pa compact, shagreened, with blunt projection posteriorly; medial lobe of vph prominent and curved dorsally, anterior portion of vph broad, apr of left phallomere relatively compact. Female ovipositor without hooks ( Figs. 44–46 ).

Measurements (mm). Body length, ♂ 41.5, ♀ 57.3. Head width, ♂ 4.1, ♀ 6.8. Head depth, ♂ 2.3, ♀ 3.8. Pronotum length, ♂ 10.8, ♀ 18.1. Pronotum width, ♂ 1.8, ♀ 3.2. Forecoxa length, ♂ 5.6, ♀ 9.5. Forefemur length, ♂ 7.5, ♀ 12.5. Tegmen length, ♂ 19.8, ♀ 10.8. Abdomen length, ♂ 21.5, ♀, 28.1.

Immature stages. Unknown.

Etymology. Specific name refers to the dark patch on the discoidal area of the hindwing of the male in this species.

Distribution and habits. Known only from the north of Northern Territory and Western Australia ( Fig. 54 ).

Figures

FIGURE 54. Rhodomantis species distributions. R. rentzi n. sp. (black circle); R. macula n. sp. (black triangle); R. microptera n. sp. (square with black centre).

FIGURES 14–17. Rhodomantis macula n. sp., dorsal habitus: 14, male holotype; 15, male wings; 16, female paratype; 17, female wings.

FIGURES 35–36. Rhodomantis macula n. sp., male genitalia. 35, dorsal aspect, left and ventral phallomeres; 36, ventral aspect, right and ventral phallomeres. Scale = 1mm.

FIGURES 41–52. Rhodomantis, terminal abdominal segments of females and oothecae. R. pulchella (Tepper) abdomen: 41, dorsal; 42, dorsolateral; 43 ventral. R. macula n. sp. abdomen: 44, dorsal; 45, dorsolateral; 46, ventral. R. microptera n. sp. abdomen: 47, dorsal; 48, dorsolateral; 49, ventral. Oothecae: 50, R. pulchella; 51, R. queenslandica (Sjöstedt); 52, R. queenslandica, laid in soil.