Statilia Stål, 1877

Schwarz, Christian J. & Konopik, Oliver, 2014, An annotated checklist of the praYing mantises (Mantodea) of Borneo, including the results of the 2008 scientific expedition to Lanjak Entimau Wildlife SanctuarY, Sarawak, Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 130-168 : 152

Statilia Stål, 1877

Related to Mantis , this genus includes 10 species in S and SE Asia, one of which is widespread across most of the afrotropical, oriental and australo-papuan realms. Two species occur in Borneo. Members of this genus are generalist ambush hunters, exhibiting green/brown polyphenism. They are found on grass and weeds, in open, disturbed habitats, avoiding dense forests.

Statilia maculata maculata ( Thunberg, 1784)

Mantis maculata Thunberg, 1784

= Pseudomantis haani Saussure, 1871

= Statilia haani var. major Werner, 1922

Distribution. India ( Annam), Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Labuan, Palawan, Maluku Islands, New Guinea (?) ( Giglio-Tos 1912, 1927, Hebard 1920, Ehrmann 2002).

Bornean records. Sarawak: Mt. Santubong (SMNK), Batang Ai (SMNK), Mt. Dulit ( Beier 1937); Sabah: Labuan Island ( Hebard 1920), Sandakan ( Hebard 1920), Poring Hot Springs (SMNK), Maliau Basin (OK in situ), Kalabakan (OK in situ); Kalimantan: Mentawir ( Beier 1958), Tabang ( Beier 1958), Bengen River ( Beier 1958), Marah ( Werner 1933).

Remarks. We consider its occurrence in New Guinea ( Ehrmann 2002) doubtful; no specimens listed by Beier (1965).

Statilia nemoralis ( Saussure, 1870) §

Pseudomantis nemoralis Saussure, 1870

= Mantis orientalis Saussure, 1870

= Statilia nemoralis var. infuscata Giglio-Tos, 1927

= Mantis nobilis Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1892

Distribution. E India, S China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines ( Giglio-Tos 1912, 1927, Ehrmann 2002).

Bornean records. Sarawak: Kuching ( Giglio-Tos 1912), Mt. Matang ( Giglio-Tos 1912); Sabah: Mt. Kinabalu (SMNK).

Remarks. This species was described as Pseudomantis nemoralis after a female from the N Philippines ( Saussure 1870, page 229) and later (Saussure 1971) united “with some doubt” with a male from “Indes orientales” described as Mantis orientalis in the same work ( Saussure 1870, page 233). The male does not exactly fit the diagnosis of the female. Statilia nemoralis as currently conceived, particularly material from the Sunda Islands, needs to be re-evaluated.