Majangella ophirensis ( Werner, 1922 ) Svenson & Vollmer, 2014

Svenson, Gavin J. & Vollmer, William, 2014, A case of the higher-level classification of praying mantises (Mantodea) obscuring the synonymy of Majangella Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Liturgusidae, Liturgusinae) and Ephippiomantis Werner, 1922 (Hymenopodidae, Acromantinae), Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 103-119 : 114-117

Majangella ophirensis ( Werner, 1922) comb. nov.

( FIGURES 1F–G ; 2D ; 3E–F ; 4C ; 5A, G–I ; 6 )

Ephippiomantis ophirensis: WERNER, 1922: 123 ; GIGLIO- TOS, 1927: 651; WERNER, 1933: 267; BEIER, 1934: 15; EHRMANN, 2002: 135; OTTE & SPEARMAN, 2005: 75; SVENSON & WHITING, 2009: Fig. 3 .

Holotype: Male deposited in RMNH; Type Locality: Sumatra, Tanangtaloe, Ophir districts Padangsche Bovenlanden

Material Examined. 1 Holotype ♂ — Sumatra , Tanangtaloe , Ophir districts Padangsche Bovenlanden, Coll. E. Jacobson (Locality M. o.1) ( RMNH) ; 1 ♂ — Borneo , Sabah, E. Malaysia, Tawau, 22 Apr. 1996, genitalia prep. MAJ12 (Locality M. o.2) ( MNHN) ; 1 ♂ — Borneo, E. Malaysia, Trus Madi , 29 Apr. 1996, genitalia prep. MAJ11 (Locality M. o.3) ( MNHN) ; 1 ♂ — Borneo , Sarawak, Gunung Mulu Nat. Park, R . G.S. Exped., 1977–8, J.D. Holloway et al., B.M. 1978–206, Site 15., February, Camp 2.5, Mulu, 1000 m, 413461, Lower 1. montane f., MV —understory, genitalia prep. MAJ04 (Locality M.o.4) ( BMNH).

Diagnosis. Smaller than M. moultoni , but slightly larger than M. carli , this species is colored brown with dark mottling that is similar to M. carli , though a little lighter brown on the external surface of the forefemora and the pronotum. The process on the vertex is bifid as in M. moultoni , but shorter and less emarginated with both processes diverging at thirty-degree angles. This species can also be distinguished based on the uninterrupted black marking on the inner surface of the forefemora similar to M. carli , but the two pale markings along the dorsal edge flanking the widest part of the foliaceous expansion are slightly larger and the more distal pale region is sometimes expanded, nearly reaching across the femora.

Original Description of Ephippiomantis ophirensis by Werner (1922: 123):

“ Ephippiomantis ophirensis n. sp. Kopf breiter als hoch, mite norm grossen, kugelig vorspringenden Augen. Clypeus frontalis wie bei Acromantis oben in eine nach vorn gerichtete Spitze auslaufend; Vertenhorn parallelseitig, am Ende zweispitzig. Pronotum im supracoxalen Teil stark winkelig erweitert; Prozona nach vorn wenig verschmälert, am Vorderrande abgerundet, Metazona doppelt so lang wie Prozona, zuerst hinter der supracoxalen Erweiterung sehr deutlich verengt, dann wieder verbreitert, Hinterrand abgerundet, vor dem Hinterrand zwei stumpf gekielte Höcker nebeneinander. Seitenrand des Pronotums mit starken, meist schwarzen Dornen. Die beiden Paare von Pronotumtuberkeln sind an den einander zugekehrten Abhängen etwas zackig. Die Entfernung vom Vorderrande des Pronotums zur Spitze der Vordertuberkel verhält sich zu der von letzterem Punkte bis zur Spitze der Hintertuberkel und von diesem Punkte zum Hinterrande der Pronotums etwa wie 1: 7: 8.

Die Flugorgane überragen die Spitze des Abdomens bedeutend. Elytren mässig breit, das Costalfeld sehr schmal, netzaderig, das Discoidalfeld mit ebensolcher Aderung, die Maschen in der Grösse sehr verschieden. Im Discoidalfeld sind die beiden basalen Adern einander viel mehr genähert als die beiden Apicalen, die Queradern auf beiden Seiten der Analader fast alle parallel. Das Geäder der Hfl. ist mit Ausnahme der Spitze sehr weitmaschig, die Zellen grösstenteils viereckig.

Vordercoxen am Innenrande mit 5 stärkeren Zähnen, daswischen immer je ein kleinerer, also im ganzen 9; Vorderfemora oben mit deutlicher lamellöser Erweiterung, die schon an der Basis beginnt und über der Mitte sich starker erhebt und an der Innenfläche (wie bei Citharomantis ) stark gestreift ist. Äussere Femoraldornen 5 (mit Einschluss des apicalen), Discoidaldornen 4 (der 2. von der Basis gerechnet sehr lang); innere Dornen 13, der 1. 3. 7. 13. länger als die übrigen, namentlich der 13. Äussere Tibialdornen 11, die basalen sehr kurz, gegen den Apex an Länge stark zunehmend; äussere 13, lang, ebenso apicalwärts verlängert. Metatarsus lang, Mittel- und Hinterfemora mit deutlichen praeapicalem Läppchen.

Subgenitalplatte am Ende und an den Seitenecken breit abgestutzt. Cerci?

Grundrärbung etwa hellgelbbraun, schwarzbraun gefleckt. Elytren glashell, Costalfeld hellbraun mit dunklen Punkten am Aussenrande; Discoidalfeld mit grossen und kleinen dunkelbraunen Flecken. Hfl. nur am Aussendrittel des Vorderrandes dunkel gefleckt, sonst vollkommen hyalin; Vorderbeine aussen dunkel gebändert, am deutlichsten die Tibien, am wenigsten die Femora. Vondercoxen innen gelblich, am Apex schwarz. Trochanter und basales Drittel des Femur gelblich, der Rest des Femur glänzend schwarz, mit zwei undeutlichen hellen Querbinden nahe dem Apex. Tibia auch innenseits Schwarz gebändert; Metatarsus am apicalen Ende schwarz. Mittel- und Hinterbeine dunkelbraun gebändert.

1 (male) von Tanangtaloe, Ophir distrikten, Padangsche Bovenlanden, Sumatra, E. Jacobson .

Dimensionen: Totallänge 33 mm, Pronotum Lang 10, “” breit 4.6, Vorderfemur Lang 9 mm, “” breit 2.7, Eltyra Lang 29.4, “” breit 6.6, Kopfbreite 5.5, Kopfhöhe (incl. Fortsatz) 3.6.”

Translation:

“ Ephippiomantis ophirensis n. sp. Head wider than high, with enormously enlarged, spherically protruding eyes. Frontal sclerite terminating dorsally with an anteriorly orientated process, as in Acromantis ; vertical process with parallel sides, terminating with two tips. Pronotum expanded strongly angular; prozone slightly narrowed anteriorly narrowed, anterior edge being rounded, metazone twice as long as prozone, at first very distinctly narrowed behind the supracoxal dilation, then widened again, posterior edge rounded, two bluntly keeled bulges side by side before the posterior margin. Lateral edge of pronotum with strong, mostly black spines. The two pairs of pronotal tubercles are slightly jagged on the opposing slopes. The distance from the tip to the anterior tubercles to the tip of the posterior tubercles and from that point to the posterior edge of the pronotum is about 1:7:8.

The wings significantly surpass the tip of the abdomen. Elytra moderately wide, the costal area very narrow, meshveined, the discoidal field with similar venation, the mesh very different in size. In the discoidal field, the two basal veins are much closer to each other than the two apical veins, the cross-veins on both sides of the anal vein are almost all parallel. The venation of the hind wings is very wide-meshed with the exception of the tip, the cells mostly quadrangular.

Forecoxae with 5 stronger spines on the inner edge, in between always smaller ones, therefore 9 altogether; forefemora dorsally with a distinct lamellar expansion which begins at the base, rises more strongly through the middle and is strongly striped on the inner surface (as in Citharomantis ). Outer femoral spines are 5 (including the apical one), discoidal spines 4 (the 2nd from the base very long); inner spines 13, the 1 st, 3 rd, 7 th, 13 th, longer than the remaining ones, especially the 13 th. Outer tibial spines 11, the basal ones very short, increasing in length towards the apex; outer 13, long, elongated towards the apex in the same manner. Metatarsus long, mid- and hind femora with distinct pre-apical lobes.

Subgenital plate broadly truncated at the end and the lateral corners. Cerci?

Basic coloration approximately a bright yellow-brown, black-brown spotted. Elytra bright as glass, costalfield bright brown with dark spots on the outer edge; discoidal field with large and small dark brown spots. Hindwings only spotted on the outer third of the anterior edge, otherwise completely hyaline; forelegs on the outside darkly banded, most distinctly the tibiae, the femora the least. Forecoxae yellowish on the inside, black at the apex. Trochanter and basal third of the femur yellowish, the rest of the femur of a shiny black, with two indistinct bright transverse bands near the apex. Tibia also with black bands on the inside; metatarsus black at the apical end. Mid- and hindlegs dark brown banded.

1 (male) of Tanangtaloe, Ophir districts, Padangsche Bovenlanden, Sumatra, E. Jacobson .

Dimensions: Total length 33 mm, pronotum length 10 mm, pronotum width 4.6 mm, forefemora length 9 mm, forefemora width 2.7 mm, length of eltyra 4.29 mm, elytra width 6.06 mm, width of head 5.5 mm, head height (including process) 3.6 mm.”

Redescription. Male ( Figs. 1F & 1G ). Length measurement from head to tip of abdomen 29–34 mm, of forewings 29 mm, of pronotum 9.3–9.7 mm, of metazone 6–7 mm, of forecoxa 8 mm, of forefemora 10 mm, of metathoracic femora 8–9 mm, of metathoracic tibiae 8–9 mm, of metathoracic tarsi 6.5–7 mm, and width of head 5.5–6 mm.

Head ( Fig. 2D ): Process of the vertex bifid and slightly emarginated with the two processes projecting at a thirty-degree angle from the central axis; margins distinctly bulging, which creates a much wider appearing process. The two small, symmetrical, conical protuberances located between the parietal sutures and the lateral depressions of the central bulge terminate with a distinct protuberance. Clypeus with a strongly defined transverse carina that is strong laterally and still present medially abutting the medial carina; medial carina moderately defined; lower lip distinctly emarginated medially.

Pronotum ( Figs. 3E & 3F ): The two posterior prozonal processes with prominent, large tubercles running up the posterior ridge, which steeply ascends to the forward oriented terminus, similar to M. moultoni . Two symmetrically placed conical processes in the anterior portion of the metazone with few prominent tubercles, but mostly smooth.

Forelegs ( Fig. 4C ): Uninterrupted black marking on the inner surface of the forefemora similar to M. carli , but the two pale markings along the dorsal edge flanking the widest part of the foliaceous expansion are slightly larger and the more distal pale region is sometimes expanded, nearly reaching across the femora. Femora with 14–15 internal spines. Tibiae with 10–11 external spines and 12 internal spines.

Legs: Preapical lobes on femoral carina projecting distally and resembling a small, blunt process that is nearly triangular. Carina of metathoracic femora may or may not include a small lobe at the base, which is very small and resembles only slight bulging; may or may not include any additional small lobes medially.

Wings: Forewings mostly hyaline with limited green and mostly brown pigmentation on veins and in limited cells; costal region opaque greenish-brown; distinct brown mottling in costal and discoidal regions covering multiple cells in broad splotches. Hindwings hyaline, but with distinct brown markings in the costal region of the hindwing starting about two-thirds the distance from the base to the distal tip and ending at the distal tip of the wing, which is distinct from the similar pattern seen in M. carli .

Abdomen: The posterior margin of sternites with a medial lip that is strongly emarginated or notched, forming two symmetrical, pronounced rounded lobes; the carina running along the midline is only slightly elevated and extending anteriorly.

Male Genitalia ( Figs. 5A, G–I ): The tip of the pseudophallus sclerotized and terminating with a straight, truncate end.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Majangella, dorsal habitus. M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915: A, male from the Cameron Highlands, West Malaysia (MAJ08); B, male from Tawau, Sabah (MAJ13). M. carli Giglio-Tos, 1915: C, male from Lambir Hills National Park, Sarawak (MAJ03); D, male from the Cameron Highlands, West Malaysia (MAJ10); E, purported female specimen deposited in the Zoologische Staatssammlung, München, Germany. M. ophirensis (Werner, 1922): F, male from Trus Madi, Sabah (MAJ11); G, male holotype and labels deposited in the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Histoire, Leiden, Netherlands.

FIGURE 2. Majangella, head. A, dorsal view of M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915, showing the anterior process of the frontal sclerite (MAJ07). Anterior view: B, M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915 (MAJ08); C, M. carli Giglio-Tos, 1915 (MAJ03); D, M. ophirensis (Werner, 1922) (MAJ12).

FIGURE 3. Majangella, pronotum (ventral surface removed in lateral perspective for clarity). M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915 (MAJ07): A, dorsal; B, lateral. M. carli Giglio-Tos, 1915 (MAJ10): C, dorsal; D, lateral. M. ophirensis (Werner, 1922; MAJ12): E, dorsal; F, lateral.

FIGURE 4. Majangella, inner surface of foreleg. A, M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915, from Sumatera Utara Province, Sumatra (MAJ01); B, M. carli Giglio-Tos, 1915, from Cameron Highlands, West Malaysia (MAJ10); C, M. ophirensis (Werner, 1922) from Trus Madi, Sabah (MAJ11).

FIGURE 5. Majangella, illustrations of male genitalia from ventral perspective. A, M. ophirensis (Werner, 1922) preparation MAJ04 from Sarawak, left and right epiphallus and hypophallus. Variation in shape of Pseudophallus: M. moultoni Giglio-Tos, 1915: B, preparation MAJ01 from Sumatra; C, prep. MAJ07 from Sabah; D, prep. MAJ13 from Sabah; E, prep. MAJ08 from West Malaysia; F, prep. MAJ09 from West Malaysia. M. ophirensis (Werner, 1922): G, prep. MAJ11 from Sabah; H, prep. MAJ12 from Sabah; I, prep. MAJ04 from Sarawak. M. carli Giglio-Tos, 1915: J, prep. MAJ03 from Sarawak; K, prep. MAJ05 from Sabah; L, prep. MAJ06 from Sabah; M, prep. MAJ10 from West Malaysia.

FIGURE 6. Distributional map for species of Majangella with each examined specimen’s location provided in the text and on the map with the following symbols. ×– M. moultoni, Θ– M. carli, and *– M. ophirensis. A KML file with all location data viewable with Google Earth is available for download at: http://mantodearesearch.com/Projects/.