Cercomantispa Handschin

Snyman, Louwtjie P., Ohl, Michael, Mansell, Mervyn W. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2012, A revision and key to the genera of Afrotropical Mantispidae (Neuropterida, Neuroptera), with the description of a new genus, ZooKeys 184, pp. 67-93 : 77-78

Genus Cercomantispa Handschin

Cercomantispa Handschin, 1959: 224. Type species: Mantispa mozambica Westwood, 1852: 269 by original designation.

Remarks.

Cercomantispa is probably the most complex of all the Afrotropical genera. This is not only because of the sexual dimorphism and the general small size, but because of the confusion in the literature and physical state of the type specimen. Males are easily recognised by their elongated ectoprocts, but females do not have conspicuous genitalia and differ morphologically from the males in terms of colour and patterns. Females were therefore described as different species from the males and placed in se veral other genera. In addition to the confusion between the female Cercomantispa and Sagittalata there is a lack of clarity regarding the generic boundaries of Cercomantispa , Necyla and Orientispa . Necyla and Cercomantispa could be synonyms ( Tjeder 1963). The name Necyla inexplicably disappeared from the literature. It is thought to be a genus comprising Oriental species with the type species Necyla exigua Navás being represented by a female holotype. The type species of Necyla could not be studied and photographs studied show a specimen in poor condition and pinned with closed wings. In addition to Necyla and Cercomantispa , male Orientispa Poivre 1984a also have elongated ectoprocts. The literature is not sufficiently unambiguous to synonymise these genera and for the purposes of this study, the genera Necyla , Cercomantispa and Orientispa will remain separate until further investigation can either confirm or reject the synonymy.

Distribution.

Widespread throughout the Afrotropical Region

Diagnosis.

The flagella of the antennae are very dark with the anterior surface of the scape and pedicel always yellow, even in the very dark species (Figs 3c, 4h). Pronotum smooth, lacks setae (Fig. 3c). The rectangular cell formed by the fusion of A2 and Cup in the hind wing is very diagnostic and no other mantispid genus has such a structure (Fig. 2d). All wing cells lacks pigment except for the pterostigma. The mid- and hind legs yellowish-brown to yellow covered in black setae. The males have elongated ectoprocts as well as an elongated pseudopenis, both longer than the 8th tergite, and bent ventrally (Fig. 4f).

Description.

Head: Antennae long, moniliform; flagellomeres black; the apical three flagellomeres might be lighter in colour; anterior scape and pedicel always yellow, even in very dark species; vertex medially convex, clearly visible in lateral view; vertex bordered by conspicuous yellow eye margin; frons with longitudinal dark median line, not visible in very dark species (e.g. C. tristis); mandibles usually yellow or lighter than coloration of frons; black tipped with black inner margin

Thorax: Pronotum smooth, lacking setae; maculae conspicuous, not always pigmented; similar in length or slightly longer than pterothorax; in most species a dark median line forms two circular dorso-lateral yellow markings on prozona; prozona much wider than metazona, metazona narrow;

Wings (Fig. 2d): Wing venation comparatively simple; always lacks pigmented cells; pterostigma elongated, narrow; dark brown; a single crossvein from third radial cell to anterior margin (C); a single radial sector vein extending posteriorly from each radial cell 1, 2 and 3 respectively; four or five crossveins reaching posterior wing margin from Mp in hind wing; a rectangle shaped cell formed by the fusion of Aa+Cup and Cua.

Legs: Raptorial forelegs yellow; fore tarsal claw reduced to a single claw lacking an arolium; inner femoral surface dark in females; often only distal half dark in males (Fig. 4i), outer femur of both sexes with a narrow, brown latero-dorsal line; middle and hind legs yellow-brown to yellow covered in setae; most species with a narrow dark longitudinal line along femur and tibia; pretarsal claws pectinate; middle tooth projecting beyond the others giving the claw a sharp appearance.

Abdomen/Genitalia: Male: Ectoprocts elongated, longer than tergite 8; slightly swollen apically; apices bent downwards; pseudopenis elongated and bent ventrally; visible between ectoprocts in ventral and dorsal view; EEG absent