Paraoxypilus kimberleyensis

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 : 74-76

Paraoxypilus kimberleyensis

Sjöstedt, 1918

Figs. 1 F–G ; 4 A–B ; 9 A–F ; 17 A–B ; 20B

Paraoxypilus kimberleyensis Sjöstedt, 1918: 5 .

Paraoxypilus laticollis Tindale, 1923: 426 , syn. nov.

Type material. Not examined but Sjöstedt, 1918 gives a full description with good images for this species.

Material examined. Queensland. 2♂, Almaden, Chillagoe district , Oct 1926, W.D. Campbell, K55296 . 3♂, 37km W of Alpha , 23°37.4'S 146°16.2'E, 12 Jan 2002, Cooley et al . 1♀, Marlborough Rd. , 7.4km W of Bruce Hwy., 22°52'15"S 149°50'04"E, 29 Nov 2008, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w) . 1♂, Normanby River crossing, 15°17'S 144°50'E, 2 Jan 1994, M.S. & B.J. Moulds . 1♂, North Camp Beagle , ~ 45km N of Aurukun, 25 Feb 1981, M. Robinson . 1♂ juv., 19km W of Paluma , 18°59'S 146°02'E, 18 Feb 2006, D.C.F. Rentz et al . 1♂, Rhonella Park , 18°41'S 145°20'E, 12 Jun 1994, J. Coughlan (w) . 1♂ juv., Station Ck , 15km N of Mount Molloy, 22 Jan 1981, M.S. & B.J. Moulds (all AM) . 1♂, Bluewater Ck., near Paluma Range, 19°14'S 146°29'E, 17 Nov 1990, T . Woodger . 1♂, 9km WSW of Cheshire HS, near Tambo , 24°18'S 146°23'E, 29 Sep 1977, Rentz & White . 1♂, Cloncurry , 22 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby . 1♂, Cockatoo Ck., Xing , 17km NW of Heathlands, 11°39'S 142°27'E, 15–26 Jan 1992, I. Naumann & T . Weir (w) . 1♂, 50km W of Collinsville , 12 Sep 1950, E.F. Reik . 1♂, 27km S of Gayndah , 1 Jan 1956, M.J.D. White . 1♀, 6.6km ENE of Gogango , 25–26 Dec 1955, M.J.D. White . 1♂, 16km NW of Heathlands , 11°40'S 142°28'E, 18 Mar 1992, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♂, Heathlands , 11°45'S 142°35'E, 15–26 Jan 1992, T .A. Weir & I.D. Naumann (w). 1♂, 8km NNW of Herberton , 17°22'S 145°19'E, 27 May 1977, I.F.B. Common & E.D. Edwards . 1♀, 23km NW of Jericho , 23°34'S 145°54'E, 30 Sep 1977, Rentz & White . 2♂, 2km NNW of ‘ Jowalbinna’ +-, 15°45'S 144°15'E, 17 Jan 1994, P. Zborowski & E.D. Edwards (w) . 1♀, Leichhardt Ra. , 150km SW of Bowen, 27 Mar 1965, D.E. Havenstein . 1♂, Marsupial Ck. , E of Croydon, 26 Apr 1996, J. Hasenpusch . 1♂, 3.3km NE of Mourangee H.S., near Edungalba , 23°43'S 149°51'E, 26 Nov 1968, E.B. Britton & E.E. Adams . 1♂, 3.5km WSW of Mt Baird, near Cooktown , 15°10'S 145°07'E, 3–5 May 1981, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♂, Mt Garnet , 20 Jan 1996, J. & P. Hasenpusch . 1♀, Running R ., 22km W of Paluma , 10 Feb 1971, J.G. Brooks . 1♂, Selwyn Mine , 160km SE of Mt Isa, 21°41'S 140°30'E, 29 Dec 1991, T . Woodger . 1♀, St Ronans Rd , 14 Feb 1986, B.P. Moore . 1♂, Yeppoon , 23 Dec 1964, I.F.B. Common (all ANIC) .

New South Wales. 1♀, Armidale , 25 Apr 1970, J. Spencer . 1♂, Fowlers Gap , N of Broken Hill, 26–28 May 1954, M.J.D. White . 1♀, 6km SSW of Tibooburra , 29°29'S 142°00'E, 17 Feb 1986, R .A. Barrett (w). 3♂, 82km NW of Wentworth , 33°23'S 141°40'E, 28 Apr 1976, I.F.B. Common & E.D. Edwards (all ANIC) .

Northern Territory. 1♀, Alice Springs, Mar 2001, J. Comber. 1♂ juv., 37km E of Borroloola, 21 Dec 1991, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 1♀, 46km SSW of Borroloola, 16°28'S 136°09'E, 28 Oct 1975, M.S. Upton. 1♀, Cape Arnhem, 15 Aug 1948, J.E. Bray. 1♂, Ellery Creek Gap , 1–2 Sep 1958, D.F. McMichael (w). 1♂, Finke Gorge , 10 Jul 2001, A. Ryan. 1♀, Groote Eylandt , June 1948, J.E. Bray. 1♂, Macarthur River Base Camp , 4 Feb 1976, P. Webber (all AM). 1♂, Alice Springs , 20–25 Apr 1955, N. Forde. 1♂, Alice springs, 15 Nov 1966, White et al. 3♂, 32km WNW of Alice Springs, 23°36'S 133°35'E, 8 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton. 1♂, 32km SE of Alice Springs, 23°59'S 133°56'E, 23 Sep 1978, M.S. Upton. 1♂, 39km E of Alice Springs, 23°41'S 134°15'E, 25–26 Sep 1978, D.C.F. Rentz. 1♂, 41km SE of Alice Springs, 24°03'S 133°59'E, 4 Oct 1979, M.S. Upton. 1♂, 56km SE of Alice Springs, 24°11S 134°01'E, 24 Sep 1978, M.S. Upton. 1♂, Alpha Ck., 33.3km W of Timber Creek, 17 Oct 1969, White & Marginson. 1♀, 17.4km W of Arltunga (ruins), 25 May 1983, R. C. Lewis. 2♂, Bukalara Ra., 47km SSW of Borroloola, 16°28'S 136°08'E, 23 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♂, Daly Waters, 1972, D. Reid. 2♀, Darwin (Moil), 23 Aug 1972, B.C. Abbey. 1♀, Darwin (Moil), 19 Jun 1972, B.C. Abbey. 1♂, 48.3km SW of Dorisvale H.S., 14°48'S 131°02'E, 7Aug 1968, M. Mendum. 1♂, Emily Gap, Alice Springs , 21 May 1978, J.C. Cardale. 1♂, Finke River at Running Water, 24°20'S 132°53'E, 15 Mar 1995, T.Weir (w). 1♂, Gubarra car park, Kakadu NP, 12°50'S 131°51'E, 13 Jul 1994, T. Weir & A. Roach. 1♀, 5km W of Jabiru, 29 Sep 1982, H.B. Gill & J.C. Wombey (w). 1♂, Junction Waterhole, Todd R., 9km NE of Alice Springs, 23°38'S 133°53'E, 1 Sep 1978, M.S. Upton. 1♂, same data except 10 Sep 1978. 1♀, 23km N of Kalkarindji (Wave Hill), 17°18'S 130°57'E, 26 Mar 1999, D.C.F. Rentz & P. Naskrecki (w). 1♂, Katherine , 17–18 Aug 1973, L.P. Kelsey. 1♂, same data except 14–16 Jul 1979. 2♂, Magela Ck., 9km SSE of Mudginbarry H.S., 12°40'S 132°54'E, 25 May 1973, K.H.L. Key. 6♂, McArthur R., 14km SW of Cape Crawford, 16°47'S 135°45'E, 11 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♂, Mimets Crossing, McArthur R., 48km SSW of Borroloola, 16°27'S 136°05'E, 22 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♀, 16km NE of Mt Cahill, 12°50'S 132°51'E, 13 Apr 1973, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan. 3♂, Roe Ck., 12km WSW of Alice Springs, 23°46'S 133°47'E, 9 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton. 2♂, same data except 27 Sep 1978. 1♀, Stuart Hwy, 100km N of Alice Springs, 23 May 1983, R. C. Lewis. 1♂, Suprise Ck., SSW of Borroloola, 16°25'S 136°05'E, 5 Nov 1975, M.S. Upton. 2♂, 8.3km N of Tennant Creek, 22 Aug 1960, M.J.D. White. 1♂, near Tennant creek , Jun–Jul 1940, J. Ivanac. 1♂, Tindal, 14°31'S 132°22'E, 1–20 Dec 1967, W.J.M. Vestjens. 1♂, Tindal, 8km ESE of Katherine, 14°31'S 132°22'E, 5 Dec 1967, W.J.M. Vestjens (w). 1♂, 70km WNW of Victoria River Downs H.S., 16°12'S 130°26'E, 25 Jun 1968, M. Mendum. 1♂ , Victoria River Roadhouse , 21 Apr 1982, R. W. Howell (w) (all ANIC) .

South Australia. 1♂, Coward Springs , 1 May 1990, G.A. Clark . 1♂, Nackara , Dec 1950, W. Mincham (both AM) . 1♂ juv., 18.3km NNW of Bookaloo , 28 Mar 1958, L.J., M.F. Chinnick & J. Walker . 1♂, Hambidge NP, Eyre Peninsula , 33°30'S 135°54'E, 16–17 Dec 1970, E.B. Britton . 1♀, 7km NW of Morgan , 16 Dec 1976, P.J.M. Greenslade. Mudla Miracka Waterhole, 27°40'S 136°48'E, 1 Nov 1989, I Bunic . 1♂, Witjera NP, 26°27'E 135°21'E, 25 Aug 1992, ANZSES Survey (all ANIC) .

Western Australia. 1♂, Point Sampson , 23 July 1978, G.A. Holloway . 1♀, Southern Cross , 1931, Harris, K 64274 . 1♂, Yanmarie River, Barradale Roadhouse , 22 Jul 1978, G.A. Holloway (all AM) . 1♀, Beagle Bay, West Kimberley dist. , 16°59'S 122°40'E, 30 Apr 1977, D.H. Colless . 2♂, 33.3km SW of Bedford Downs H.S., 16 Jul 1964, R. Plumb . 2♀, Cape Bernier, Kimberley Region , 14°07'S 127°31'E, June 1988, A.N. Anderson . 3♂, 31.7km WSW of Carnamah , 16 Apr 1968, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton . 1♂, Carson Escarpment, Kimberley distr. , 14°49'S 126°49'E, 9–15 Aug 1975, Common & Upton . 1♀, 13km NW of Coolgardie , 26 Jan 1974, M.G. Freeman . 1♀, Coorie Billabong, near Fitzroy Crossing , 21 Jun 1970, W. Martin (w) . 1♂, Drysdale R. Crossing , ca 70km N of Gibb River H.S., 19 Apr 1979, M. King . 1♂, Drysdale R. crossing, Kalumburu Rd., Kimberley distr. , 15°25'S 126°20'E, 18 Jun 1985, L.A. Craven . 2♂, Fortescue R., 15km NE of Mardie H.S., 29 Aug 1964, P.B. & L.C. Carne . 1♂, 11km N of Geraldton , 8 Dec 1972, N. McFarland . 1♂, Kalbarri , 25 Sep–6 Oct 1979, L.P. Kelsey . 1♂, 1♀, 2juv., 12km S of Kalumburu Mission , 14°25'S 126°38'E, 7–11 Jun 1988, T.A. Weir (w) . 6♂, Karolin Rock , 18km W of Bullfinch, 30°59'S 118°53'E, 11 May 1984, E.S. Nielsen & E.D. Edwards (w) . 1♂, 7km S of Kumarina , 17 Jan 1972, M.J.D. White . 1♂, Kununurra , 16–19 Sep 1979, L.P. Kelsey . 5♂, 40km WSW of Madura , 30 Apr 1968, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton . 1♂, Madura Pass, 31°54'S 127°01'E, 30 Apr 1984, E.S. Nielsen & E.D. Edwards (w) . 1♂, Millstream H.S., 21°35'S 117°04'E, 3 Nov 1970, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan . 1♂, 0.5km WNW of Millstream H.S., 21°35'S 117°04'E, 19 Apr 1971, Upton & Mitchell . 1♂, same data except 14 Apr 1971 . 2♂, 3km WNW of Millstream H.S., 21°34'S 117°03'E, 11 Apr 1971, Upton & Mitchell . 3♂, same data except 22 Apr 1971, Key, Upton & Mitchell . 1♂, 5km SE of Millstream H.S., 21°37'S 117°06'E, 17 Apr 1971, Upton & Mitchell . 2♂, Mining Camp, Mitchell Plateau , 14°49'S 125°50'E, 9–19 May 1983, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Balderson . 3♂, 10km NNW of Mining Camp, Mitchell Plateau , 14°45'S 125°47'E, 11 May 1983, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Balderson . 1♂, 4km SW of Mining Camp, Mitchell Plateau , 14°52'S 125°50'E, 2–6 Jun 1988, I.D. Naumann (w) . 1♀, 16km W of Mt Aloysius , 16 Nov 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan . 3♂, 15km NE of Mt Singleton , 29°21'S 117°20'E, 28–29 Sep 1981, I.D. Naumann & J.C. Cardale (w) . 3♂, Newman Rock , 32°07'S 123°10E, 7 May 1983, E.S. Nielson & E.D. Edwards (w) . 1♂, Ord River, ' Crossing Falls’ , 9km S of Kununurra, 15°52'S 128°45'E, 21 Apr 1985, K.H.L. Key . 1♂, Redbluff , WNW of Ajana, 23 Nov 1971, N. McFarland . 1♂, same data except 5 Dec 1971 . 1♂, Synnot Ck. , 16°31'S 125°16'E, 17–20 Jun 1988, T. A. Weir (w) (all ANIC) .

Diagnosis. Paraoxypilus kimberleyensis can be separated from other species in the genus by the combination of the absence of distinct par-ocular spines, rounded vertical apophyses and distinct colour pattern on the inner face of the foreleg. From P. atra it can also be distinguished by the margin of the prothorax having a distinct spine above the coxal insertion.

Description. Body colour blackish brown to pale brown, lighter specimens peppered with darker spots. Head ( Fig. 9A–B ) with vertical apophyses prominent, rounded and lightly tuberculate; par-ocular spines absent; ocelli at base of slight projections; frontal shield with subantennal ridge not produced into small tooth at mid-point.

Pronotum short and broad, relatively shorter, and broader than in P. tasmaniensis . Prozone of thorax ( Fig. 9C–D ) with low tuberculate diagonal ridge, either side of carina, which is not produced into a point near saddle groove; metazone with two pairs of spiny projections posterior to saddle groove reduced to large tubercules; median carina distinct and undulating with several low blunt projections; pronotal margin spinose, expanded and produced into a point above coxal insertions; prosternum black with white markings, with small pre-acetabular spine.

Wings ( Fig. 4A ) with tegmina translucent, peppered with darker and lighter spots and blotches; hindwings with costal margin brownish tinged, tip similar colour to tegmina, remainder hyaline.

Forecoxa ( Fig. 9E–F ) with 6–8 small spines on anterior margin and a larger adjacent pair near coxal base (more prominent than in P. tasmaniensis ), posterior margin with double row of fine tubercles; inner face with scattered small tubercles and a larger group of 2–3 tubercles near coxal base posteriorly, colour cream or yellowish to orange with black band proximally and often distally; outer face with anterior half similar to inner face, posterior half similar in colour to rest of body. Inner face of fore femur ( Fig. 9E–F ) cream or yellowish to orange with slightly diagonal dark band distally (sometimes with lighter markings), femoral brush somewhat raised; outer face body coloured, with central longitudinal ridge. Inner face of fore tibia blackish, with white spot near tarsal insertion and sometimes with proximal white band. Fore tarsus dark with white banding.

Dpr of male genitalia ( Fig. 17A–B ) with narrow central process and narrow dextral process with shagreened tip, sinistral margin expanded into a squarish angle. Pa with single moderate, distinctly spinose, anterior projection and narrow sclerotized section between it and ml. Ml squat, stout and shagreened.

Immature stages. Juvenile stages unknown.

Distribution and habits. Widespread across northern and central Australia ( Fig. 20B ). Habits not known but likely to be similar to other species in the genus. Males attracted to lights at night.

Remarks. This is the likely sister species of Paraoxypilus atra . It displays similar reduction of apophyses and spination on the head and the form of the male genitalia is close to that species. It is somewhat ant-like in form but not as distinctly as P. atra .

Paraoxypilus laticollis Tindale is clearly a synonym of this species. Tindale (1923) notes the morphological differences between P. laticollis and P. tasmaniensis but curiously makes no comparison with P. kimberleyensis , despite briefly describing a male of P. kimberleyensis in the same publication.

Figures

Figure 1. Live photographs of representative species of Paraoxypilus. A. P.tasmaniensis, male (Helen Smith). B. P. tasmaniensis, female (Thomas Mesaglio). C. P.verreauxii, female (Ged Tranter). D. P. verreauxii, male (Dave Rentz). E. P. verreauxii, female, showing colour pattern on inner face of foreleg (Jessa Thurman). F. P.kimberleyensis, male (Colin Trainor). G. P. kimberleyensis, female (Glenda Walter).

Figure 4. Preserved specimens of Paraoxypilus species. P. kimberleyensis, A. male, B. female (arrow indicates pronotal marginal spine). P. atra, C. male, D. female.

Figure 9. Paraoxypilus kimberleyensis, 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 17. Male genitalia of Paraoxypilus species, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres. P. kimberleyensis,A. dorsal view, B. ventral view. P. atra, C. dorsal view, D. ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5mm.

Figure 20. Distribution maps for Paraoxypilus species, A. P. verreauxii, B. P. kimberleyensis.