Zopheromantis loripes ( Tindale, 1923 ) Milledge, 2005

Milledge, G. A., 2005, Revision of the Genera Sphodropoda, Trachymantis and Zopheromantis (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), Records of the Australian Museum 57, pp. 191-210 : 208-210

Zopheromantis loripes ( Tindale, 1923) n.comb.

Figs. 34–35, 39–41, 47

Sphodropoda loripes Tindale, 1923: 446 .

Zopheromantis trimaculata Tindale, 1924: 551 , new synonym. Hierodula trimaculata Beier, 1935: 82 .

Material examined. Lectotype male (here designated) of Sphodropoda loripes, Cunnamulla , Queensland, H. Hardcastle, I–14071 ( SAM) . Holotype female of Zopheromantis trimaculata, Teetulpa , South Australia, Jan. 1904, G. Farrand, I–14590 ( SAM).— QUEENSLAND: 13, Coopers Creek , 10.7 km NE of Windorah, 25°22'18"S 142°44'41"E, 4 Apr 1991, G.V. Maynard & G. Davis. 13, 33 km W of Quilpie, 16 Mar 1964, L.J. Chinnick. 13, 18 km NE of Thargomindah, 15 Mar 1964, L.J. Chinnick. 13, 23 km SW of Toompine, 10 Apr 1970, R.C. Lewis (all ANIC). 1♀, Augathella, 25°48'S 146°25'E, 18 Jan 1993, G. Milledge ( NMV).— NEW SOUTH WALES: 33, 18 km WNW of Bourke, 9 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis. 5♀, 6 km W of Cobar, 23 Mar 1972, White & Jaworska. 1♀, 7 km W of Cobar, 20 Feb 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 13, 2 juv, 7 km W of Cobar, 1 Feb 1964, M.J.D. White. 1♀, 15 km SW of Enngonia, 14 Jan 1965, M.J.D. White. 13, 37 km SE of Wanaaring, 10 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis. 13, 1 km W of Warri gate, 11 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis. 1 juv, 17 km SE of Wilcannia, 31 Jan 1964, M.J.D.White (all ANIC).— NORTHERN TERRITORY: 23, 37 km S of Alice Springs, 15 Feb 1966, Britton, Upton & McInnes. 13, 103 km NNW of Alice Springs, 12 Feb 1966, Britton ,

(44) S. viridis ; (45) Trachymantis obesa ; (46) T. dentifrons ; (47) Zopheromantis loripes .

Upton & McInnes. 13, Barrow Creek Tel.Sta., 20 Mar 1955, K.H.L. Key. 13, 3 km S of Barrow Creek, 13 Feb 1966, Britton, Upton & McInnes. 1♀, 25 km NW of Mount Wedge HS, 10 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 13, 5 km W of Mulga Park HS, 24 Mar 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 13, 26 km WSW of Mulga Park HS, 26°00'S 131°25'E, 18 Jan 1982, D.C.F., B.G.F. Rentz. 13, 25 km NE of Narwietooma HS, 9 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick & R. Honeycutt. 13, Taylors Creek, 47 km N of Barrow Creek township, 22 Jan 1984, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 13, Wauchope, 21 Mar 1955, K.H.L. Key (all ANIC). 23, Kathleen Creek, Watarrka National Park, Horn Centenary Expedition, 24°20'38"S 131°40'54"E, 14 Mar 1995, G. Milledge (both NMV).— SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 1♀, 7 km W of Iron Knob, 28 Mar 1964, M.J.D. White. 13, Marla Bore, 50 km W of Welbourne Hill, 23 Mar 1963, L.J. Chinnick (both ANIC).— WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 23, 23 km WSW of Barradale, 22°56'S 114°45'E, 30 Mar 1971, Upton & Mitchell. 1♀, Canegrass, 8 Feb 1981, M.J.D. White. 1♀, 5 km NE of Kanowana ruins, near Broad Arrow, 18 Feb 1981, M.J.D. White. 13, 5 km NE of Kanowana ruins, near Broad Arrow, 24 Feb 1981, M.J.D. White. 1♀, Malcolm, 21 Feb 1979, M.J.D. White. 1♀, 1 km S of Malcolm, 28°47'S 121°31'E, 19 Feb 1978, D.C.F. Rentz & M.J.D. White. 13, 6 km SE of Mt. Boyce, near Yerilla HS, SE of Leonora, 15 Feb 1983, M.J.D. White. 2 juv, Mt. Leonora, near Leonora, 13 Feb 1981, M.J.D. White. 1♀, Mt. Leonora, near Leonora, 10 Feb 1983, M.J.D. White. 1♀, 3 km NNE of Mt. Ross, NW of Leonora, 28°41'S 121°03'E, 18 Feb 1978, D.C.F. Rentz & M.J.D. White. 13, New Yamarna HS, S of Minnie Creek, near Virginia Range, 31 Jan 1967, M.J.D. White. 1♀, 43 km NW of Wittenoom, 22 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick (all ANIC). 1♀, Middalya, 4 Feb 1902, T. Watt ( NMV). 23, Kathleen Valley, 1963, T. Moriarty. 13, Lake Violet. 13, Laverton. 13, 2.5 km N of Mt. Linden, 29°19'S 122°25'E, 17–23 Mar 1979, T.F. Houston. 13, 1♀, Nolba, 28°22'S 114°52'E. 13, Warburton Ranges, 25 Mar 1963, H. De Graff. 13, 7.5 km E of Yuinmery HS, 28°34'S 119°01'E, 11–19 Feb 1980, T.F. Houston. 13, 9 km SE of Yuinmery HS, 28°34'S 119°01'E, 25 Mar 1979, T.F. Houston (all WAM).

Description. Body ( Figs. 34–35) size varies from small to medium. Body colour uniform green or bluish green. Head ( Fig. 39) approximately as high as wide; frontal shield slightly wider than high, more so in male. Fore leg ( Fig. 40) with inner face of coxa without markings or with one to three dark spots, anterior margin with 7–8 small tubercles; inner face of femur without markings; inner face of tarsal segments dark at distal end. Wings of male longer than abdomen, those of female slightly shorter than abdomen; ventral surface of costal area of tegmen red with narrow pale band on anterior margin; discoidal area completely opaque in female, only partly so in male; hind wing with costal and discoidal area yellowish green, anal area hyaline. Male genitalia ( Fig. 41) with short, stout apr, pa with single, blunt pointed anterolateral projection, dorsal edge slightly folded; distal projections of dpr moderately elongate and narrowed.

Measurements (mm). Body length, 3 37–50, ♀ 39–58. Head width, 3 6–7, ♀ 7–8. Head depth, 3 3.5–5, ♀ 4.5– 6.5. Pronotum length, 3 11–13, ♀ 15–22. Pronotum width, 3 3–4.5, ♀ 4–6. Fore coxa length, 3 7–9, ♀ 11–14. Fore femur length, 3 8.5–12, ♀ 12–16. Hind femur length, 3 8.5–12, ♀ 12–18. Hind tibia length, 3 9.5–12, ♀ 13–19. Tegmen length, 3 27–35, ♀ 19–29.

Immature stages. Juveniles similar in appearance to adults, ootheca unknown.

Distribution and habits. Found in the arid regions of the continent ( Fig. 47). The few specimens of this species that I have collected have been found in Acacia shrubs. None displayed the cryptic behaviour associated with Sphodropoda .

Remarks. The female syntype of Sphodropoda loripes described by Tindale is, in fact, a female of Sphodropoda viridis . Therefore I have designated the male syntype as the lectotype.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. I would like to thank M. Moulds (AM), D. Rentz (ANIC), J. Marshall (BMNH), K. Johanson (NHRM), K. Walker (NMV), J. Forrest (SAM), T. Houston (WAM) and M. Ohl (ZMHU) for the loan of specimens. S. Lindsay (AM) prepared the S.E.M. images.