Phthersigena conspersa Stål, 1871

Milledge, Graham A., 2024, Review of the genera Glabromantis, Paraoxypilus, and Phthersigena (Mantodea: Nanomantidae: Fulciniinae), Records of the Australian Museum 76 (2), pp. 69-103 : 77-78

Phthersigena conspersa Stål, 1871

Figs. 2B,D ; 5C,F ; 11A–F ; 14D ; 18A–D ; 21B )

Phthersigena conspersa Stål, 1871: 401 .

Phthersigena centralis Giglio-Tos, 1915: 32 , syn. nov. Phthersigena insularis Beier, 1965 , syn. nov.

Phthersigena minor Sjöstedt, 1918: 10 , syn. nov. Phthersigena timorensis Beier, 1952: 296–297 , syn. nov. Paraoxypilus insularis Tindale, 1923: 427 , syn. nov.

Type material. Not examined.

Material examined. Queensland. 4♂, Fanning River , 18°45S 146°27'E, 9 May 1995 , J. Coughlan, (w). 1♂, same data except 11 May 1995 . 2♂, same data except 13 Oct 1994 . 1♂, same data except 14 Oct 1994 . 2♂, same data except 15 Oct 1994 . 2♂, same data except 2 Dec 1994 . 1♂, same data except 3 Dec 1994 . 2♂, same data except 18 Jun 1994 . 1♂, same data except 29 Apr 1994 . 2♂, same data except 30 Apr 1994 . 1♂, same data except 4 May 1993 . 1♂, same data except 15 Jun 1994 . 1♂, same data except 14 Aug 1994 . 1♂, same data except 16 Oct 1994 . 1♂, Rhonella Park , 18°41'S 145°20'E, 22 Aug 1994 , J. Coughlan (w). 1♂, same data except 10 Apr 1994 (all AM) . 2♂, Arbouin Mine Rd., off Petford – Herberton Rd at Gorge Ck., 17°21'S 145°16'E, 24 Jan 2011 , D.C.F. Rentz & B. Richardson. 1♀, 25km SW of Augathella , 13 Jan 1965 , M.J.D. White. 1♂, 58km SE of Ayr , 3 Oct 1950 , E.F. Riek. 1♂, Barron Falls, near Kuranda , Jan 1976 , W.Walford-Huggins. 1♀, 52km SSE of Bauhinia Downs H.S., 24 Mar 1962 , Chinnick & Corby. 2♀, 15km NNE of Mt Bingeringo, S of Charters Towers , 8 Jan 1965 , M.J.D. White. 2♂, Bluff Range, near Biggenden , Jan 1972 , H. Frauca. 1♂, same data except 13 Mar 1977 . 1♀, Castle Hill, Townsville , 3 Apr 1962 , K.H.L. Key. 2♀, 44km NNE of Charleville , 26°05'S 146°25'E, 10 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 1♂, 8km S of Clermont , 18 Mar 1982 , M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 1♂, 7km SSW of Clermont , 2 Apr 1977 , R.C. Lewis . 1♀, near Clohesy R., 12km SW of Kuranda , 16°54'S 145°34'E, 7 Feb 1988 , D.C.F. Rentz. 1♀, 47km SE of Croydon , 18°16'S 142°41'E, 1 Dec 1981 , J. Balderson. 1♂, 3.3km NW of Darr , 26 Aug 1960 , M.J.D. White. 3♂, 1♀, Einasleigh R., 22km SW of Lyndhurst H.S., 19°25'S 144°20'E, 11–12 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 1♂, 3km SE of Electra , 29 Apr 1977 , H. Frauca. 1♀, Emu Ck. , 27km SW of Dimbulah, 17°20'S 144°57'E, 25 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 1♀, 55km WSW of Eromanga , 15 Jan 1965 , L.J. Chinnick. 2♂, 1♀, Eureka Ck. , 9km SW of Dimbulah, 17°11'S 145°02'E, 25 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 1♀, 2km NW of Flaggy Rock, SSE of Sarina , 21°58'S 149°26'E, 7 Jul 1980 , Balderson & Vickery. 1♂, Granite Gorge , 6km SW of Mareeba, 17°01S 145°22'E, 19 Mar 1988 , D.C.F. Rentz. 2♂, 2km NW of Gumlu, SE of Ayr , 19°52'S 147°40'E, 29 Sep 1979 , J. Balderson. 1♂, Heathlands , 11°45'S 142°35'E, 17–19 Sep 1992 , P. Zborowski & L. Miller. 1♂, 3km ENE of Innot Hot Springs, near Ravenshoe , 17°39'S 145°16'E, 29 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 1♀, Jondaryan , 2 Jan 1956 , M.J.D. White. 1♂, 7km E of Laura , 15°35'S 144°30'E, 27 May 1993 , A.M.E. Roach. 1♂, Limestone Ck. , 42km NNW of Boulia, 22°35'S 139°43'E, 11 May 1973 , M.S. Upton et al. 1♀, Macrossan , 14 May 1961 , R. Straatman . 1♂, Mareeba , 5 Aug 1986 , L. Sanchez. 1♀, 10km SW of Mareeba , 17°01'S 145°20'E, 25 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 2♂, 1♀, Mitchell River Settlement, Apr 1969 , A.L. Dyce. 2♂, 1♀, Mt Garnet , 20 Jan 1996 , J. Hasenpusch. 1♀, 7km S of Mt Morgan , 23°42'S 150°23'E, 3 Oct 1979 , J. Balderson. 2♀, Pump Ck. , 1km S of Almaden, 17°20'S 144°40'E, 27 Nov 1981 , J. Balderson. 4♂, Repulse Ck. , 23km NE of Bauhinia Downs, 24°24'S 149°23'E, 22–23 Apr 1981 , D.C.F. Rentz. 2♂, 47km SW of Sarina , 27 Mar 1962 , Chinnick & Corby. 1♂, Silver Plains H.S., Cape York Pen. , 4 Jan 1960 , J.L. Wassell. 1♂, Split Rock , 15°39'S 144°31'E, 18 Feb–25 Apr 1993 , P. Zborowski (w). 1♂, The Maiden Mt. , 40km NW of Bowen, 19°56'S 147°52'E, 29 Sep 1979 , J. Balderson. 1♂, Thursday I., 13 Jul 1978 , R. Barrett . 1♀, 3km N of Warrigal Rly. Stn., Pentland dist. , 9–10 Jan 1965 . 1♀, 13km SE of Weipa , 12°40'S 143°00'E, P. Zborowski (w) (all ANIC) .

New South Wales. 1♂, Gundabooka NP, Belah Shearers Quarters , 30°33'26'S 145°35'40"E, 19 Oct 2010, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w) . 1♀, Gundabooka NP, Bourke – Wilcannia Rd. , 30°16'43"S 145°32'22"E, 21 Oct–23 Nov 2010, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w) . 1♀, Paroo-Darling NP, 9.8km N of turnoff to Peery Station , 30°43'34"S 143°28'46"E, 27 Oct–25 Nov 2010, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w) (all AM) . 1♀, Foster Mountain , 55km WNW of Warren, 21 Sep 1977, R .C. Lewis. 2♂, Lake Mere Station , 36km N of Louth, 30°15'S 144°53'E, 6–7 Sep 1991, P.J. Greenslade & J. Balderson (w) . 1♀, Mt Nobby, near Condobolin , 10 Apr 1971, D. Andria (w) . 1♂, Pallal Ck. , 17km SW of Bingara, 5–6 Jan 1956, M.J.D. White (all ANIC) .

Northern Territory. 1♂, Alice Springs, Aug 1936, H.O. Fletcher & W. Barnes. 1♀, Stuart Hwy., N of Tennant Creek, 19°05'S 134°10'E, 18 May 1999, G.Milledge (w) ( AM). 1♂, Alice Springs, 13Aug 1960, M.J.D.White. 1♂, Alice Springs , 19 Sep 1955, L.J. Chinnick. 1♂, Alice Springs , 23°42'S 133°53'E, 8 Oct 1972, J.E. Feehan. 1♂, 32km WNW of Alice Springs, 23°36'S 133°35'E, 8 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton. 1♂, Barkly Hwy., 75km ESE of junction with Tablelands Hwy., 4 Jan 1987, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 1♂, 150km SW of Barrow Creek, 21°40'S 132°45'E, 12 Oct 1972, M.S. Upton. 1♂, Berrimah, 20 Mar 1972, B.C. Abbey. 1♂, Bessie Spring, 8km ESE of Cape Crawford, 16°40'S 135°51'E, 26 Oct 1975, M.S. Upton. 1♂, near Borroloola , 29–30 Oct 1975, M.S. Upton. 1♂, 12km NNE of Borroloola, 15°58'S 136°21'E, 1 Nov 1975, M.S. Upton. 1♂, 22km WSW of Borroloola, 16°08'S 136°06'E, 16 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♂, 37km SSW of Borroloola, 16°21'E 136°06'E, 14 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♂, Bukalara Ra., 47km SSW of Borroloola, 16°28'S 136°08'E, 23 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 2♂, Camfield River , 17°01'S 131°07'E, 4 Jun 1993, E.D. Edwards (w). 1♂, 2km NW of Cahills Crossing, East Alligator R., 14 Sep 1982, M. Brooker (w). 1♂, Clay Pan Well, 38km NW of Tanami, 12 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 1♂, Darwin, 28 Jun 1976, B.L . Bolton. 1♂, Devils Marbles NP, 10km N of Wauchope, 6 May 1983, J. T. Doyen (w). 1♀, Devils Marbles, 19 Nov 1966, White , Blackith & Blackith. 3♂, Finke R., 25km SW of Renners Rock, 14–15 Nov 1966, White , Blackith & Blackith. 1♂, The Granites , 11 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 1♂, 1♀, 14.5km S of Hermannsburg Mission, 24 May 1983, R. C. Lewis. 1♀, 10km SW of Hermannsburg Mission, 22 Jun 1989, R. C. Lewis. 1♀, Jabiru , 7km SSE of Mudginbarry H.S., 30 Aug 1981, H.B. McGill (w). 1♂, 5km W of Jabiru, 7–10 Feb 1983, H.B. McGill & J.C. Wombey (w). 1♂, Katherine , 27 Nov 1967, W.J.M. Vestjens. 1♂, Katherine , 17–18 Aug 1973, L.P. Kelsey. 1♂, same data except 20 Aug 1973. 1♂, same data except 14–16 Jul 1979. 1♂, 22km E of Mataranka, 19 Aug 1960, M.J.D.White. 1♂, McArthur R., 14km SW of Cape Crawford, 16°47'S 135°45'E, 11 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♂, 15km E of Mt Cahill, 12°52'S 132°50'E, 8 Mar 1973, K.H.L. Key et al. 1♂, same data except 10 Mar 1973. 2♂, 17.7km SSW of Mt Sanford, 31 Jul 1973, L.P. Kelsey. 1♂, Plenty Hwy., 268km NE of Alice Springs, 22°47'S 136°18'E, 14 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton. 1♂, Plenty River area , Hart’s Range, 22 May 1949, A. Stern. 1♂, Stuart Hwy., Two Mile Ck., 16°05'S 133°21'E, 26 Feb 1999, D.C.F. Rentz (w). 1♂, Tempe Downs H.S., 17 Aug 1963, P. R.Ranford. 1♀, Tennant Creek , Jun–Jul 1949, J. Ivanac. 3♂, 27km E of Tennant Creek, 21 Oct 1965, Blackith & Mesa. 1♂, Tindal, 13km ESE of Katherine, 14°31'S 132°22'E, 5 Dec 1967, W.J.M. Vestjens (w). 1♂, 8km ENE of Victoria River Downs , 12 Jul 1973, L.P. Kelsey. 3♂ , Victoria Hwy, 38.5km SW of Timber Creek, 15°42'40"S 130°07'48"E, 6–13 Jun 2001, M.E. Irwin et al., (w). 1♂, Wauchope , 21 Mar 1955, K.H.L.Key. 1♀, Wollogorang Stn, near Settlement Ck., 10 Sep 1930, T. G. Campbell (all ANIC) .

Western Australia. 6♀, Kimberley region, Parry Lagoon Nature Reserve, 15°39'36"S 128°16'30"E, 29 May–13 Jun 1999, Gray, Milledge & Smith (w) ( AM). 1♂, 85km ESE of Broome, 18°22'S 122°53'E, 20 Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common. 1♂, 101km ESE of Broome, 18°27'S 123°03'E, 27 Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common. 1♂, 145km ESE of Broome, 18°55'S 123°27'E, 7Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common. 1♂, 150km ESE of Broome, 18°55'S 123°14'E, 12 Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common. 1♂, same data except 13 Aug 1976. 2♂, 163km ESE of Broome, 18°49'S 123°17'E, 3 Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common. 3♂, same data except 4 Aug 1976. 1♂, same data except 5 Aug 1976. 4♂, 186km ESE of Broome, 18°53'S 123°43'E, 9 Aug 1976, I.F.B. Common. 17♂, 8km WSW of Cane River H.S., 22°07'S 115°33'E, 31 Mar 1971, Upton & Mitchell. 1♂, 8km S of Cape Bertholet, West Kimberley distr., 17°19'S 122°10'E, 19 Apr 1977, D.H. Colless. 1♂, Carson Escarpment, Kimberley distr., 14°49'S 126°49'E, 9–15 Aug 1975, Common & Upton. 1♂, Charnley R., 2km SW of Rolly Hill, 16°22'S 125°12'E, 16–20 Jun 1988, I.D. Naumann (w). 2♂, Drysdale R., Kimberley distr., 15°02'S 126°55'E, 3–8 Aug 1975, Common & Upton. 1m #, Mt Goldsworthy, E of Port Headland, 11 Aug 1966, D.P. Carne. 1♂, Halls Creek, May 1964, H.K. Herbert. 1♂, Halls Creek, 28 Oct 1969, White & Margison. 1♀, 48km S of Halls Creek, 14 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 1♂, Kalumburu, 14°17'S 126°39'E, 13 Jun 1985, L.A. Craven. 1♂, Kimberley Research Stn, via Wyndham, 16 Jun 1955, E.C.B. Langfield. 2♂, same data except 14 Jun 1955. 1♂, same data except, 24 Jan 1955. 1♂, 13km S of Landsdowne H.S., 12–17 Jul 1964, R. Plumb. 1♀, same data except 5 Aug 1964. 1♂, Martins Well,West Kimberley distr., 16°34'S 122°51'E, 24 Apr 1977, D.H. Colless. 1♂, 0.5km W of Millstream H.S., 21°35'S 117°04'E, 2 Apr 1971, E.F. Riek. 3♂, Mining Camp, Mitchell Plateau, 14°52'S 125°50'E, 13 May 1983, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Balderson. 1♂, 4km SW of Mining Camp, Mitchell Plateau, 14°49'S 125°50'E, 9–19 May 1983, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Balderson. 1♂, Mitchell River, 15°07'S 125°45'E, 29 May 1993, E.D. Edwards (w). 2♂, Python Pool, near Mt Herbert, S of Roebourne, 28 Aug 1964, P.B. & L.C. Carne. 1♂, Timbuck Well, 35.5km ENE of Nautarra H.S., 22°25'S 115°49'E, D.C.F. Rentz & R. Lowe (w). 1♂, Tunnel Creek, E of Derby, 1 Nov 1978, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 1♂, Wyndham, 8 Mar 1930 (all ANIC). Papua New Guinea. 1♂, 1♀, Moitaka, Port Moresby, Mar 1962, K. R. Norris ( ANIC).

Diagnosis. As for the genus.

Description. Body colour dark brown to pale mottled brown, peppered with darker spots.

Head ( Fig. 11A–B ) with vertical apophyses low, pointed and lightly tuberculate; par-ocular spines present but small; ocelli without associated projections.

Prozone of thorax ( Fig. 11C–D ) with low diagonal ridge either side of carina; metazone with single pair of low pointed projections posterior to saddle groove, barely apparent in male; median carina distinct and undulating with 2–3 low blunt projections; pronotal margin finely tuberculate to smooth, expanded and produced into a point above coxal insertions; prosternum black with white markings, with barely apparent pre-acetabular spine.

Wings of male ( Fig. 5C ) with tegmina translucent to semi opaque, peppered with darker blotches; hindwings with tip similar colour to tegmina, remainder hyaline. Wings of female ( Fig. 5F ) strongly reduced, tegmina variably reduced, hindwings mere flaps; similar colour to rest of body.

Forecoxa ( Fig. 11E–F ) without spines; inner face with colour pale cream; outer face with anterior half similar to inner face, posterior half similar in colour to rest of body. Inner face of fore femur ( Fig. 11E–F ) mostly to partially dark brown to blackish, often with paler blotches, femoral brush somewhat raised; outer face body coloured, with central longitudinal ridge. Inner face of fore tibia similar in colour to inner face of fore femur. Fore tarsus dark with white banding.

Dpr of male genitalia ( Fig. 18A, D ) with narrow central process with blunt, shagreened tip, narrow dextral process with shagreened tip and broadly triangular sinistral process. Pa with single small anterior projection and without sclerotized region between it and ml. Ml squat, stout and shagreened.

Immature stages. Juveniles similar in appearance to adult female, ootheca ( Fig. 14D ) elongate, narrow and cream coloured.

Distribution and habits. Found across the northern half of Australia and extending into southern New Guinea and Timor ( Beier, 1952). I have collected females of this species from the ground and on termite mounds. Males are often attracted to lights at night.

Remarks. This is a widespread species with some morphological variation across its range. Specimens from central Australia are relatively small and pale in colour. Females from the western parts of its range have the tegmina more strongly reduced than eastern populations. Males show little variation in genitalic morphology, however. This somatic variation, perhaps combined with the small amount of material to study, has led previous authors to erect several species names, mostly based on minor morphological differences, which are here regarded as synonyms of P. conspersa . Another confusing factor was the erroneous association of a female of Glabromantis with the type species of Phthersigena (described from a male) by Giglio-Tos (1913). This led Hinton (1939) to synonymise the two genera. Subsequently Beier (1965) described P. insularis as a distinct species primarily on the basis of the female having reduced wings. Sjöstedt (1918) distinguished P. minor only on the basis of its smaller size and it is here considered a synonym of P. conspersa . Giglio-Tos’ (1915) description of P. centralis is very brief and gives only minor morphological differences to the type species. Tindale (1923) described P. insularis from a female as a species of Paraoxypilus , despite noting that the forecoxae were unarmed. He made no mention of the reduced but distinct wings of this specimen. Beier (1925) notes only minor differences between P. timorensis and other species in the genus.

Figures

Figure 2. Live photographs Paraoxypilus, Phthersigena and Glabromantis species. A. Paraoxypilus atra, female (Lorenzo Bertola). B. Phthersigena conspersa, female (Aaron Bean). C. Glabromantis nebulosa, male (Tony Eales). D. Ph. conspersa. male (Simon Ong). E. G. nebulosa, female (Gunter Maywald).

Figure 5. Preserved specimens of Glabromantis and Phthersigena species. G. nebulosa, A. male, B. female. G. unicornis, D. male, E. female. Ph. conspersa, C. male, F. female.

Figure 11. Phthersigena conspersa, frontal view of head, A. female, B. male, lateral view of head and pronotum, C. female, D. male, internal face of foreleg, E. female, F. male.

Figure 14. Oothecae of Paraoxypilus and Phthersigena species. P. tasmaniensis, A. dorsal view, B. lateral view. P. verreauxii, C. lateral view. Ph. conspersa, D. lateral view.

Figure 18. Male genitalia of Phthersigena and Glabromantis species. Ph. conspersa, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres, A. dorsal view, D. ventral view. G. nebulosa left and right dorsal and ventral phallomeres, B. dorsal view, E. ventral view. G. unicornis, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres, C. dorsal view, F. ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5mm.

Figure 21. Distribution maps for Paraoxypilus and Phthersigena species, A. P. atra, B. Ph. conspersa.