Titanodula formosana ( Giglio-Tos, 1912 )

Liu, Qin-Peng, Liu, Zi-Jun, Wang, Guo-Li & Yin, Zi-Xu, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the praying mantis subfamily Hierodulinae of China (Mantodea: Mantidae), Zootaxa 4951 (3), pp. 401-433 : 421

Titanodula formosana ( Giglio-Tos, 1912)

( Figs. 9 , 10D–K , 14K–M )

Hierodula formosana Giglio-Tos, 1912: 77 . Holotype (♂): China, Taiwan, ZMHB.

Hierodula fruhstorferi Werner, 1916 , 66: 266. Holotype (♀): Vietnam, Tonkin, NHMW. New synonymy.

Material examined. 1♂, CHINA, Taiwan, Yilan, Mingchi National Park , 33°46’N, 108°30’’E, alt. 680m, 1.ii.2019, leg. Chuar Wenja. 1♂, 1♀, CHINA, Fujian, Quanzhou, Anxi, Huqiu , Lindong , Linkou , 24°57’38’’N, 117°57’28’’E, 2.viii.2018, leg. Yuzhi Gao. 1♂, CHINA, Zhejiang, Taizhou , 28°39’N, 121°25’E, 2.vii.2019 , leg Guoli. Wang. 1♂, 1♀, CHINA, Guangdong, Maoming , 21°39’N, 110°55’E, 1.viii.2017, leg. Yuezheng Tu. 1♂, 3♀, CHINA, Guangxi, Fangchenggang, Fangcheng, Naliang , 21°40’45’’N, 107°50’3’’E, 1.vii.2020, leg. Mr Shui. 2♂, CHINA, Hainan, Ledong, Mt. Jianfengling , 18°43’7’’N, 108°52’24’’E, 3.ix.2018, leg. Shiliang Mo.

Measurements [in mm, ♂ (n = 7), ♀ (n = 5)]. Body length, ♂ 78.1–92.7, ♀ 70.67–10.3. Pronotum length, ♂ 21.7–25.7, ♀ 24.13–34.3. Forewing length, ♂ 56.2–65.1, ♀ 44.54–63.4.

Distribution. China (Zhejiang, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan), Veitnam; Malaysia; Sumatra; Sunda Islands.

Remarks. Titanodula formosana has a wide distribution in China, across most of the southeastern coastal regions. This continuous distribution pattern contributed to the high morphological diversity of this species ( Fig. 9 ). Vermeersch (2020) diagnosed T. fruhstorferi presented by the length of pafa on male genitalia, the less pigmented AvfS, and the basal spots of AvfS 1, 2, 10, and 15. However, in the present study of Chinese specimens, especially those collected in Guangxi and Hainan, the length of pafa on the male genitalia shows a high similarity with T. fruhstorferi in morphology. Besides, the pigmentation of AvfS and their basal spots do not show an obvious regularity among different individuals and localities. In conclusion, considering characters of male genitalia and forefemur in T. fruhstorferi could be well contained in the variation range of T. formosana , we here propose a new synonymy: Titanodula formosana ( Giglio-Tos, 1912) = Titanodula fruhstorferi ( Werner, 1916) , syn. nov..

Male genitalia ( Fig. 10D–K ). Left phallomere: uniformly inverted drop-like. sclerite L4B spoon-shaped. The left edge of the sclerite L2 and L4B nearly could be connected by a smooth curve. Sclerite L2 wide anteriorly. Apical process paa widen, suddenly narrow at distal, and with a strongly curved apex. Ventral phallomere: Sclerite L4A elongated rhombus, the length much longer than width, its lower-left edge strongly sclerotized. Sdp of ventral phallomere short and pointed: sdpm sclerotized, its tip pigmented, bends to the right, while sdpl sharply revolute towards the base.

Ootheca ( Fig. 14K–M ) nearly right-angled triangle or trapezoid in profile. The proximal end of ootheca fully encircling the substrate. External wall brown in colour, with dark lateral suture and beige external coating on the surface. Emergence area are composed of multiple small chamber openings, generally without residual process.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Distribution and variation on the forefemur of Titanodula in China (not to scale).

FIGURE 10. Genitalia of Titanodula. A–C. Titanodula menglaensis sp. nov. A. Ventral phallomere; B. Right phallomere; C. Left phallomere. D–K. Four types of ventral and left phallomere of Titanodula formosana. D–E. Collected from Yilan, Taiwan. F–G. Collected from Taizhou, Zhejiang. H–I. Collected from Ledong Hainan. J–K. Collected from Fangchenggang, Guangxi.

FIGURE 14. Ootheca of Hierodulinae from China. A–B. Hierodula chinensis (Qingyuan, Guangdong). C. Hierodula chinensis (Jingdezhen, Jiangxi). D. Hierodula chinensis (Xiangyang, Hubei). E–F. Hierodula longa. G–H. Hierodula jianfenglingensis. I–J. Hierodula latipennis. K–L. Titanodula formosana (Yangshuo, Guangxi). M. Titanodula formosana (Maoming, Guangdong). N–P. Hierodula zhangi. Q. Rhombodera valida. R. Rhombodera latipronotum.