Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915

Connors, Matthew G., 2023, Studies in Australian Mantodea: New synonyms, notes on distributions, and an updated checklist, Zootaxa 5239 (4), pp. 477-499 : 479

Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915

Ciulfina liturgusa Giglio-Tos, 1915 nomen dubium

Described from Cape York and (erroneously) Adelaide, Giglio-Tos distinguished this species from C. biseriata ( Westwood, 1889) on the basis of being smaller and having minor differences in colour ( Giglio-Tos 1915). Both of these features are extremely variable both within and between species of Ciulfina , and the male genitalia are generally considered the only reliable method to distinguish species ( Holwell et al. 2007). Unfortunately, the syntypes of C. liturgusa are damaged and are missing their genitalia. Additionally, ‘Cape York’ referred to a much broader area in the early 1900s, and the specimens could conceivably have been collected anywhere north of Townsville (D. Rentz pers. comm.). At least five distinct species are known from this area ( Holwell et al. 2007, M. Connors unpublished data) and there does not seem to be any way to ascertain which of these species C. liturgusa is. Because of these uncertainties and the poor condition of the type specimens, C. liturgusa is here considered a nomen dubium.