Hyalomantis antsingica Svenson & Roy

Svenson, Gavin J. & Roy, Roger, 2011, Taxonomic treatment of the endemic Malagasy praying mantis genus Hyalomantis GIGLIO-TOS, 1915, with a new synonymy and the description of three new species (Mantodea, Iridopterygidae, Tropidomantinae), Zootaxa 2777, pp. 1-24 : 11-15

Hyalomantis antsingica Svenson & Roy , n. sp.

Examined specimens. Madagascar. Holotype 3—Province d’Antsiranana, Montagne des Français, elev 150 m, 15 Feb to 6 March 2001, 12 °19.5’ S 49°20’ E, R. Harin’Hala coll., malaise along forested limestone ridge, MA– 01–06–06, CASENT 3006649 (Locality H.a.1) ( CAS); Allotype Ƥ—Province d’Antsiranana, Réserve spéciale de l’Ankarana, 13.6 km 192° SSW Anivorano Nord, Elev 210 m, 16–21 Feb 2001, 12°51’49”S 49°13’33”E, at light in tropical dry forest, coll. Fisher, Griswold et al. (Locality H.a.2), collection code BLF3015, CASENT8008559 ( CAS).

Type locality. Madagascar, Province d’Antsiranana, Montagne des Français, 12°19.5’S 49°20’E Habits. Having not been observed alive by the authors, the habits are unknown.

Diagnosis. A small, pale colored species from northern Madagascar with a characteristic disposition of black

spots, particularly on the pronotum. This spotting differs from H. madagascariensis and H. whitingi by the pres-

ence of two symmetrical ovals flanking the midline of the prozone near the anterior margin. The body is slender

with narrow wings and a pronotum that exhibits the characteristic supracoxal bulge an a narrowed metazone.

Though the two specimens were preserved in ethanol making determination of overall body color difficult, we

believe the species to be a very pale green or brown color based on the patterning seen on the wings and the brown

mottling on the forelegs that is unique to this species. We believe that a mottling pattern would not be present in a

uniformly green mantis, which is the case with H. madagascariensis .

Description. Male. ( Fig. 2 A) Length of body measurement absent due to damaged specimen, of forewings 14 mm,

of pronotum 4.2 mm; width of pronotum 1.9 mm, of head 3.2 mm, of costal region of forewings 0.6 mm.

Head ( Fig. 3 E): Vertex nearly straight with a short, slightly convex medial region; region between the parietal sutures and the eyes convex, forming a distinct bulge. Frontal sclerite with lateral margins angled slightly off parallel, narrowing towards the lower margin; lower margin strongly concave. Frontal sclerite is uniformly pigmented with no black markings. The upper margin of the clypeus is convex; lower margin nearly straight with a very small medial lip; lateral margins angled with lower margin narrower than the upper. Labrum more than 2 times wide as high with a rounded terminus. Anterior margin of eyes slightly concave or straight. Antennae about 14 mm long, with pale base, then progressively darker distally.

Pronotum ( Fig. 5 C): Anterior margin and posterior margin nearly the same width with a slightly wider supracoxal bulge. Anterior margin slightly concave and posterior margin convex. Lateral margins of the prozone nearly parallel or slightly angled anterior to the supracoxal bulge. Lateral margins of the metazone concave, narrowing strongly before bulging outward towards the posterior margin. Keel present along medial line and a transversal groove present anterior to the supracoxal sulcus. Pronotum uniformly smooth. Anterior region of prozone with two elongate black markings flanking each side of the medial line along with two lateral marks symmetrically positioned just anterior to the supracoxal sulcus near the lateral margins. Posterior region of the metazone with numerous black spots symmetrically flanking the medial line.

Legs: Forefemora with 13 internal spines, foretibiae with 12 external and 11 internal spines. Forefemora and tibiae mostly pale with darker brown blotching that creates a mottled appearance. Internal face of the forecoxae with a series of small black spots. Meso- and metathoracic legs with black markings on the distal tips of the femora while the rest of the femora and tibiae are uniformly pale.

Wings: Forewings are narrower than in other species with a narrow costal area that is slightly brown; discoidal area hyaline with brown pigmentation present at vein intersection points; brown pigment increasing at the distal terminus of the costal and discoidal areas; subcostal vein pigmented with alternating regions of dark brown and pale brown. Hindwings are mostly hyaline, but exhibit increased brown pigmentation in the distal regions of the costal and discoidal areas.

Genitalia: Male specimen was missing the last few segments of the abdomen making characterization of the genitalia impossible.

Female. ( Fig. 2 B) Length measurement from head to tip of abdomen 21 mm, of forewings 16 mm, of pronotum 4.6

mm; width of pronotum 2.1 mm, of head 3.6 mm, of costal region of forewings 0.8 cm.

Head ( Fig. 3 F): Vertex nearly straight as in males; region between the parietal sutures and the eyes convex as in males. Frontal sclerite as in males, but darker along the concave lower margin. The upper margin of the clypeus is convex; lower margin slightly concave with a larger medial lip than in males; lateral margins angled with lower margin narrower than the upper. Labrum less transverse than in males with a small darker spot present. Eyes as in males. Antennae about 9 mm long, very thin.

Pronotum ( Fig. 5 D): Anterior margin of prozone very narrow and almost forming a rounded terminus; lateral margins angled steeply, widening towards the supracoxal bulge. Posterior margin of metazone broad, but narrower than supracoxal bulge; straight or slightly convex. Supracoxal bulge evident and extending beyond the profile of the pronotum. Lateral margins of metazone concave creating a noticeably narrowed metazone. Keel present along medial line along with a noticeable supracoxal sulcus; a transversal groove just anterior to the supracoxal sulcus as in males. Anterior region of prozone with two elongate black marks flanking each side of the medial line; two large v-shaped markings symmetrically positioned just anterior to the supracoxal sulcus near the lateral margins; two very small black spots positioned medially on either side of the medial line between the later v-shaped markings. Posterior region of metazone with four black markings symmetrically flanking the medial line.

Legs: Forefemora with same spine numbers as males. Forefemora and tibiae colored as in males, but more pronounced. Internal face of the forecoxae with a series of small black spots as in males. Meso- and metathoracic legs with the distal tip of the femora with smaller black markings in comparison to the males while the rest of the femora and tibiae are uniformly pale.

Wings: Forewings with a slightly wider costal area than seen in males, but coloration patterns match male. Hindwings as in males.

Etymology. This species was collected in the Montagne des Français Reserve in northern Madagascar, which is comprised of deciduous dry forest. Much of the forest is on a calcareous massif that has been eroded into karst formations known locally as Antsingy, for which this species is named.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Hyalomantis, dorsal habitus. H. antsingica n. sp.: A, male holotype; B, female allotype. H. murzini n. sp.: C, male holotype; D, female allotype. H. whitingi n. sp.: E, male holotype; F, female paratype from Maroantsetra; G, living male paratype collected in Ranamafana National Park. (G. Svenson phot.).

FIGURE 3. Hyalomantis, illustrations of head from the anterior perspective. H. madagascariensis Saussure, 1870: A, male specimen; B, female syntype; C, male specimen with discrete frontal sclerite markings; D, female specimen with more pronounced frontal sclerite markings. H. antsingica n. sp.: E, male holotype; F, female allotype.

FIGURE 5. Hyalomantis, dorsal perspective of the pronotum. The supracoxal sulci are indicated by thicker transverse lines. H. madagascariensis Saussure, 1870: A, male; B, female. H. antsingica n. sp.: C, male holotype; D, female allotype. H. murzini n. sp.: E, male holotype; F, female allotype. H. whitingi n. sp.: G, male holotype; H, female paratype from Beanana.