Mimetispa Handschin

Snyman, Louwrens P., Sole, Catherine L. & Ohl, Michael, 2018, A revision of and keys to the genera of the Mantispinae of the Oriental and Palearctic regions (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), Zootaxa 4450 (5), pp. 501-549 : 512

Genus Mimetispa Handschin

Mimetispа Handschin, 1961 . Type species: Mаntispа simulаtrix ( McLachlan, 1900) , by original designation.

Distribution: Oriental: Borneo, Indonesia.

Diagnosis ( Fig. 6a, c and e ): Mimetispa can be distinguished from all other Oriental and Palearctic genera by the symmetrical perfoliate flagellomeres, the short pronotum (similar or slightly longer than the pterothorax) and conspicuously long flagellum. The diagnosis is based on a single female and are thus incomplete.

Notes: Handschin (1961) separated Mimetispa from Euclimacia because of the following characters (paraphrased):

“The bifurcation of A1, Cu1 and Cu 2 in the FW, the proportions of CuZ 1 [sic] and CuZ 2 [sic] and the flagellum length and width. The CuZ 2 in Euclimacia is simple and the first cubital cell is always smaller than the second. In Mimetispa the first cubital cell is considerably larger than the second. The prothorax is smooth and almost hairless with the inconspicuous maculae on the sides. In Euclimacia , the maculae are very prominent. The constriction posterior to the maculae is also not as prominent as in Euclimacia . The antennae in Mimetispa are also long and thin.”

Only one female M. simulatrix specimen, identified by Handschin, could be obtained for this study. In addition, an undescribed species, female, also with exceptionally long antennae was obtained. All the differences he noted in his revision are not apparent in the M. simulatrix specimen studied and even less apparent in the undescribed species. However, the first cubital cell is larger than the second in both specimens and the antennal flagellum is considerably longer than the prothorax and somewhat thinner than the average Euclimacia flagellum. The prothorax in Mimetispa is also longer than the pterothorax, unlike the short prothorax in Euclimacia . The undescribed specimen, however, had characters similar to Euclimacia and Mimetispa . It is possible that Mimetispa is an unusual Euclimacia species or that it may well be a separate genus. Before more Mimetispa specimens are obtained, and the male abdomen is described and compared to that of Euclimacia , the relationship between the taxa will remain unresolved (see Appendix).

It has been suggested that Mimetispa is a possible mimic of Braconidae . Kees van Achterberg, an eminent braconid expert, confirmed that there are a number of Braconidae species in south-eastern Asia which are similarly sized and have similar colour patterns as found in Mimetispa . Nothing else is known about the biology of Mimetispa .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Mimetispa sp., undescribed: a. Head and thorax dorsum; c. head and thorax in lateral view; e. habitus. Euclimacia cottami: b Head and thorax dorsum; d. head and thorax in lateral view; f. habitus.