Leptomantispa chaos Hoffman, 2002

MACHADO, RENATO JOSÉ PIRES & RAFAEL, JOSÉ ALBERTINO, 2010, Taxonomy of the Brazilian species previously placed in Mantispa Illiger, 1798 (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), with the description of three new species, Zootaxa 2454 (1), pp. 1-61 : 44-45

Leptomantispa chaos Hoffman, 2002

(Figs. 23–24)

Leptomantispa chaos Hoffman, 2002: 266 . Figs. 587, 592, 597; Ohl, 2004: 176 (cat.). Type locality: Panama: Barro Colorado. Holotype male (MCZ) not studied.

Redescription, male. Vertex dark brown, except yellow stripes that bordered the eyes and another posteriorly (Fig. 23d). Some specimens with rounded yellow spot behind each antenna. Head, in frontal view, almost completely yellow, except for central longitudinal dark brown stripe beginning between antennae and ending at labrum. Stripe generally with widen variation along its length. Labrum yellow area slightly darker than other head sclerites (Fig. 23a). Some specimens with rounded yellow spot at beginning of longitudinal stripe. Mandible and palpi apices dark brown, other mouthparts reddish brown to light brown. Antenna dark brown,

Pronotum: nearly straight in lateral view and completely covered by setae arising directly from it surface. Length-width-ratio at maculae: 6.5–8.4. Dark reddish brown; some specimens with median region slightly light (Fig. 23d). Pteronotum: reddish brown, except for yellow small rounded spots near wing base (Fig. 23d). Some specimens with yellow spots around central suture. Both scutella yellow with reddish brown spot medially and with 0–2 pores each one (Fig. 23d). Pleural sclerites predominantly yellow, except dark brown border (Fig. 23b).

Foreleg: coxa yellow. Trochanter, tibia (except yellow base) and tarsomeres, reddish brown. Femur posterior surface reddish brown except for two yellow spots, one at proximal end and other around base of spines extending to area near spine row (Fig. 23f). Femur anterior surface predominantly dark reddish brown, except for dorsal and apical extremities slightly light and base light brown (Fig. 23e). Mid and hindlegs yellow, except for some dark brown spots at coxae (Fig. 23b). Trochanters and base of femora light brown. Tarsal claws with four teeth.

Forewing: length: 7.4 mm, 6 costal crossveins and 5 veins extended posteriorly from RP. Hyaline, except space between Sc and RA and apex of cell 1AP brown and wing base light brown. Pterostigma dark reddish brown. Veins dark brown, except AP2 and bases of AP1 and AA yellow. Hindwing: 5 costal crossveins and 5 veins extended posteriorly from RP. Color pattern similar to forewing, except cell 1AP apex hyaline and vein AA yellow.

Abdomen with tergites dark brown, except for small lateral yellow spots. Sternites predominantly light brown with some yellow lateral spots. Pleura dark brown. Tergites with eight groups of pores: two posterolaterally at tergites III–IV each one with 5–10 pores in one or two curved rows; two anterolaterally at tergites IV–V each one with 12–19 pores; each group with one or two large pores or a scar between them, small pores not completely encircling large ones (Fig. 24a).

Terminalia: ectoproct subtriangular, with 15–18 stout setae in ventromedial lobe (Fig. 24b). Sternite IX subpentagonal in ventral view (Fig. 24c). Gonarcus median lobe slightly shorter than pseudopenis (Fig. 24d). Gonarcus with constant width in lateral view (Fig. 24f). Gonocoxite straight in ventral view and with apex wide in lateral view (Fig. 24e, f). Mediuncus with basal half wide in lateral view, apex bifurcate and median region narrow in ventral view (Fig. 24e, f). Gonarcal membrane without group of spinules (Fig. 24e, f). Pseudopenal membrane with small scales on dorsal surface and generally as long as pseudopenis (Fig. 24e). Hypomere as two small sclerotized marks on pseudopenal membrane (Fig. 24e, f).

Female. Similar to male, except metenepisterna, epimera and katepisterna yellow; other pteropleural sclerites dark brown with some yellow spots; mid and hindcoxae predominantly dark brown (Fig. 23c). Forewing length: 8–10.5 mm, 6 or 7 costal crossveins, 8–9 veins extended posteriorly from RP. Hindwing with 6 costal crossveins and 7–9 veins extended posteriorly from RP (Fig. 23g).

Terminalia: ectoproct shorter than gonocoxite (Fig. 24j). Sternite VIII slightly reduced laterally and ventrally, apex with two small lobes at posterior border in ventral view (Fig. 24h). Spermathecal duct coiled (Fig. 24i). Fertilization canal narrow. Capsule covered by minuscule setae (Fig. 24g).

Geographical data. Neotropical, with records from Guatemala to Brazil ( Hoffman 2002; Ohl 2004). In previous work there was only one record from Brazil: Tucuruí (PA) ( Hoffman 2002). This is the first record for the Amazonas state, eight specimens collected in Manaus and one in Presidente Figueiredo, both cities located in the central Amazon.

Bionomy. Until now specimens not collected in February, May and August ( Hoffman 2002). Nothing is known about its biology.

Discussion. There are some differences in color pattern between specimens here examined and description of type series ( Hoffman 2002): some specimens do not have yellow spots behind antenna and others do not have scutella completely yellow (Fig. 23d). However, these are small variations that do not complicate the identification.

Material examined: Brazil: Amazonas: Manaus, ZF 2, torre 40 m, 02°35’21’’S – 60°06’55’’W, i.ix– x. xii.2004, luz (5 ♀ – INPA) ; x–xi.2003 (1 ♂, 1 ♀ – INPA) ; xi.2005, luz móvel (1 ♀ – INPA) ; Presidente

Figueiredo: AM 240: Km 24, x.2008, luz (1 ♀ – INPA) .