Liturgusa trinidadensis, Svenson, Gavin J., 2014

Svenson, Gavin J., 2014, Revision of the Neotropical bark mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 (Insecta, Mantodea, Liturgusini), ZooKeys 390, pp. 1-214 : 71-75

Liturgusa trinidadensis sp. n.

Liturgousa maya (partim): Rehn 1935: 202.

Type.

Holotype Male, pinned. Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Type locality.

Trinidad, 17 I‚ 52, F. Schrader, 709 (Lat. 10.240326, Long. -61.217020).

Material examined.

Liturgusa trinidadensis sp. n.

Diagnosis.

Most similar to Liturgusa maya and Liturgusa kirtlandi , exhibiting similar size, coloration and pronotum shape, Liturgusa trinidadensis is distinct from the other two by a few characteristics. First, the supra-anal plate in both males and females is nearly square with a broad and blunt terminus. Second, the central ocellus is the same size as the lateral two while Liturgusa maya and Liturgusa kirtlandi have larger central ocelli. Finally, Liturgusa trinidadensis has numerous tubercles in the posterolateral corners of the metazone. The species is also entirely restricted to the island of Trinidad, not extending into mainland South America.

Description.

Male. (Fig. 17A) N=15: Body length 20.29-23.06 (21.63); forewing length 13.29-15.43 (14.09); hindwing length 11.61-11.90 (11.75); pronotum length 5.89-6.85 (6.19); prozone length 1.73-2.11 (1.87); pronotum width 2.30-2.80 (2.42); pronotum narrow width 1.53-2.06 (1.74); head width 4.70-5.43 (5.01); head vertex to clypeus 1.87-2.23 (2.00); frons width 1.71-1.97 (1.82); frons height 0.59-0.71 (0.65); prothoracic femur length 5.74-6.70 (6.10); mesothoracic femur length 6.87-7.89 (7.45); mesothoracic tibia length 5.49-6.39 (5.93); mesothoracic tarsus length 4.79-5.51 (5.22); metathoracic femur length 7.05-7.82 (7.48); metathoracic tibia length 7.65-9.08 (8.40); metathoracic tarsus length 6.95-7.91 (7.42); pronotal elongation measure 0.29-0.31 (0.30); pronotal shape measure 0.38-0.41 (0.39); head shape measure 0.38-0.41 (0.40); frons shape measure 0.34-0.39 (0.36); anteroventral femoral spine count 14-16 (15); anteroventral tibial spine count 10-11 (10); posteroventral tibial spine count 7.

Head (Fig. 43A): Transverse, the juxta-ocular protuberances small, but pronounced, the apex just lateral to the midline; the vertex is straight, but sometimes dips just prior to the parietal sutures, even with the dorsal margin of the eyes. Frontal suture with a slight medial carina forming a continuous arc, the entire carina depressed into the head. Ocelli small, the central ocellus the same size as the lateral, all are protruding on small cuticular mounds; the lateral ocelli oriented outward. The carina on the frons not very pronounced, the medial region just ventral to the carina sloped. Clypeus transverse, the upper margin convex, the lower margin concave; the central, transverse carina pronounced and straight. Antennae mostly pale, fading to a darker brown distally. Black band extending straight over the medial carina of the frontal suture, pale medially; two black bands lateral to the lateral ocelli; two black marks just dorsal to frontal suture. Black band extending across the lower region of the frons, but separate from the ventral margin; brown markings in the dorsolateral corners for the clypeus that extend medially along the central carina; the mandibles and labrum with pale and brown markings; the vertex and juxta-ocular protuberances mostly pale with fine, disperse black speckling; the area immediately adjacent to ocelli black. Palpi are pale.

Pronotum (Fig. 48C): A little less than three times long as wide with a moderately defined supra-coxal bulge; some tubercles in the posterior third, but otherwise smooth. Prozone square with slightly convex margins that gradually taper to an evenly rounded anterior margin; margins smooth or with very few blunt tubercles. Metazone with concave lateral margins, the nadir of the margins in the posterior half almost parallel for a short distance before widening to the posterior margin; margins with small tubercles; posterior margin with a medial emargination; the dorsal surface of the posterior third of the metazone slightly depressed; tubercles present in the posterolateral corner. Mostly dark with pale and black marking across the surface, faint swirls present on the metazone just posterior to the supra-coxal sulcus.

Prothoracic Legs: Femur robust with a slightly concave dorsal margin; strongly defined pale to dark banding on posterior (external) surface; anterior (internal) surface without a black band, but three thin dashes positioned medially, one in the proximal third, one in the middle and one next to the femoral brush; the ventral surface pale. Posterior surface of femur with few tubercles. A shallow femoral pit to accommodate terminal posteroventral tibial spine positioned medial to and slightly distal to the first most proximal posteroventral spine, in line with the most distal discoidal spine; pit is pigmented pale or brown. Posterior prothoracic femoral genicular spine much smaller than posteroventral spines, originating distal to the beginning of the genicular lobe. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first (proximal) smallest and the fourth through sixth of similar length, the second and third longer. Prothoracic coxae smooth, the anterior surface with a very small, black mark medially in the proximal half as well as a small, circular black spot medially towards the distal terminus.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: Femora with ventral (posterior) carina; dorsal (anterior) carina present. Mesotarsi with first segment as long or slightly longer than the remaining segments combined.

Wings: Forewings mottled with brown, pale and greenish coloration; the costal region without defined banding proximally, mostly brown and green mottling; the distal half of the costal region with regular banding; vein coloration mostly corresponding with surrounding colors; two pale spots are positioned in the proximal quarter of the discoidal region just posterior to the first radial vein; a larger pale area is positioned centrally. Forewings often, but not always asymmetrically colored; one being mottled as described the other is slightly darkened, the mottled pattern still visible; extending just beyond the abdomen. Hindwings with opaque discoidal region, colored rust proximally and along the anterior margin, otherwise black; the anal region smoky black and translucent; the terminus of the discoidal region projecting beyond the distal margin of anal region, the wing appearing elongate.

Abdomen: Slightly widened in the middle, the fourth tergite the widest region before a gradual posterior narrowing; a smooth, brown and black colored dorsal surface. Tergites without posterolateral tergal projections. Supra-anal plate square with rounded posterolateral corners and a blunt terminus. Subgenital plate irregularly rounded and without styli.

Genital Complex (Fig. 52A.1-A.5): The main body of ventral left sclerite (L4A) with rounded terminus, but with a distal process (pda) positioned just lateral to the middle that is short and tapering to a sharp point, projecting at an angle laterally, appearing like a small, well-sclerotized tooth (tooth absent in one examined specimen); sometimes a depression on the opposite lateral half from the pda is present. The apofisis falloid (afa) of the main body of dorsal left sclerite (L4B) short, barely present, quickly narrowing to a tiny, sharp point; the apical process (paa) elongate and thin, the terminus evenly rounded. The right dorsal phallomere (fda) of the first sclerite of right phallomere (R1) tapers to a rounded, membranous terminus, the end often folded; the ventral plate (pia) long, broad proximally with strongly defined grooves; the ventral process (pva) tooth-like and curved at the proximal base, the distal tip narrowing with a rapid constriction towards the end.

Female. (Fig. 17B) N=11: Body length 22.56-31.05 (26.47); forewing length 13.35-17.48 (15.29); hindwing length 12.61; pronotum length 6.55-7.78 (7.30); prozone length 1.91-2.37 (2.22); pronotum width 2.63-3.09 (2.91); pronotum narrow width 2.04-2.25 (2.14); head width 5.37-6.41 (6.08); head vertex to clypeus 2.27-2.77 (2.59); frons width 2.12-2.52 (2.36); frons height 0.76-0.94 (0.86); prothoracic femur length 6.34-7.65 (7.15); mesothoracic femur length 7.20-8.73 (8.14); mesothoracic tibia length 5.78-7.42 (6.75); mesothoracic tarsus length 4.95-6.42 (5.76); metathoracic femur length 7.16-8.80 (8.11); metathoracic tibia length 8.13-10.95 (9.68); metathoracic tarsus length 7.30-8.75 (8.02); pronotal elongation measure 0.29-0.32 (0.30); pronotal shape measure 0.38-0.41 (0.40); head shape measure 0.40-0.45 (0.43); frons shape measure 0.34-0.39 (0.37); anteroventral femoral spine count 14-16 (16); anteroventral tibial spine count 10; posteroventral tibial spine count 7.

Head (Fig. 43B): About as long as broad, the juxta-ocular protuberances large, the apex just lateral to the midline; the vertex is straight, but with two bulges just medial to the parietal sutures, slightly higher than dorsal margin of the eyes. Ocelli raised slightly on a continuous carina connecting all three. The carina on the frons pronounced, the medial region just ventral to the carina sloped. Clypeus transverse, the upper margin convex, the lower margin concave; the central, transverse carina pronounced and straight, the ventral half depressed. The vertex and juxta-ocular protuberances mostly dark brown with fine pale speckling.

Pronotum (Fig. 48D): Tubercles in the posterior half, but otherwise smooth; numerous tubercles present in the posterolateral corner of metazone. Two lateral bulges in the dorsal surface around the midline of the metazone.

Prothoracic Legs: Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first (proximal) smallest and the third through sixth of similar length, the second longer.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: As described for males.

Wings: The costal region of forewing without defined banding, mostly brown and green mottling. Forewings are darker brown overall than in males; far shorter than the terminus of the abdomen, often terminating around the sixth segment. Hindwings with the terminus of the discoidal region projecting slightly beyond the distal margin of anal region.

Abdomen: Slightly widened, the fifth tergite the widest region before a gradual posterior narrowing. Seventh tergite with small posterolateral projections. Supra-anal plate almost square, a broad, blunt terminus with a slight medial emargination.

Etymology.

Named for the island of Trinidad, where this species inhabits and appears to be endemic.