Dracomantis mirofraternus Shcherbakov et Vermeersch, 2020

Shcherbakov, E. O. & Vermeersch, X. H. C., 2020, DRACOMANTIS MIROFRATERNUS GEN. ET SP. N., A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF HIERODULINAE (MANTODEA: MANTIDAE) FROM VIETNAM, Far Eastern Entomologist 408, pp. 1-12 : 3-10

Dracomantis mirofraternus Shcherbakov et Vermeersch , sp. n.

http://zoobank.org/NomenclaturalActs/ 07079382-610A-4FEB-97E4-52BF459FBACD

Figs 1–9

TYPE MATERIAL. Holotype: male ( Figs 1 , 3, 5, 7, 9 ), Vietnam: Kon Tum prov., Kon Plong distr., Mang Canh vill., 30.III–2.IV 2005, S. Ryabov leg. ( ZIN:

ESZI001). Paratypes: 1 female ( Figs 2 , 4, 6, 8 ), Vietnam, Gia Lai – Kon Tum prov. ,

20 km N Buon Luoi vill., Tram Lap, 21.XI 1988, A.V. Gorochov leg. ( ZIN:

ESZI002); 1 male, Vietnam, Kon Tum prov., Kon Plong distr. , 14 km N Kon Plong ,

14°43'20''N, 108°18'58''E, 1030 m, 9–23.IV 2015, A.V. Abramov leg. ( MMUE:

F3459.23); 1 male, same data ( MMUE: F3459.24 ) ; 2 males, Vietnam, Gia Lai prov., Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve , ca. 8 km from HQ, 14°30.256' N ,

108°30.109' E, 1100 m, 8–12.V 2016, at light, L. Bartolozzi, A. Bandinelli, S.

Bambi, V. Sbordoni leg. ( UniFI: n° Mag. 3078 #1&2); 1 male, Vietnam, Gia Lai paratype female. Scale 10 mm .

prov., Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve, ca. 15 km from HQ, 14°31.212' N, 108°28.192'

E, 1100 m asl, 8–12.V 2016, at light, L. Bartolozzi, A. Bandinelli, S. Bambi, V.

Sbordoni leg. ( UniFI: n° Mag. 3078 #3); 1 male, Vietnam, Kon Tum prov., ca. 30

km from Kon Plong, 1250 m, 4–7.V 2016, at light, L. Bartolozzi, S. Bambi, A.

Bandinelli, V. Sbordoni leg. ( UniFI: n° Mag. 3078 #4, genital preparation Xavier

Vermeersch GEN1836); 2 males, Vietnam, Quang Nam prov., Tay Giang distr .,

Axan Mt. , 1300 m, III 2018, local collector leg. ( ESPC0012 & ESPC0013 ) .

DESCRIPTION. Male ( Fig. 1 ). Medium sized (body length 37–49 mm).

Head ( Fig. 3 ) hypognathous, triangular, 1.4 times wider than high, about 1.5

times wider than supracoxal dilatation. Clypeus trapezoidal, its dorsal third with transverse, obtuse, low carina, ventral angles elevated while areas between angles and carina depressed. Thin longitudinal medial carina runs from angle of V-shaped transverse carina onto labrum. Lower frons pentagonal, about 1.4 times wider than high, its ventral margin straight except lateral angles slightly protruding ventrad,

lateral margins parallel and dorsal margin very obtuse. Lateral and dorsal margins with uninterrupted low to medium elevated carina. Lower frons surface mostly flat,

with two feeble paramedian carinae interrupted in the middle. Ocelli rounded-

triangular, form an angle of about 110˚. Vertex straight, levelled with eyes, with two pairs of feeble sulci: one pair runs from lateral ocelli to complex eyes, then along eyes (frontal and parietal sulci), second pair runs posteriad lateral ocelli with two slight depressions at bases, being sometimes indistinct. Antennae filiform,

more than 1.5 times longer than pronotum. Between base of antennae and eye small, but sharp tubercle. Juxta-ocular areas almost completely flat, posterior line of the head very weakly concave, slightly beyond eye line.

Pronotum ( Fig. 7 ) robust, 2.5–2.7 times longer than its maximum width,

triangular in cross-section, with widely rounded anterior and rounded-truncated posterior edges. Supracoxal dilatation weakly to moderately defined. Edges covered with separated small, rough, rounded tubercles, especially near supracoxal dilatation; anterior edge and posterior third of metazona with smooth edges. Dorsal surface of prozona with deep medial groove, not reaching anterior edge, with edges of the groove covered by rough tubercles. Metazona 2.0–2.4 times longer than prozona, with little to no constriction past the dilatation and narrow but noticeable lateral expansion along the edges. Dorsal surface of metazona with very strong,

thick, elevated medial keel, not reaching posterior edge, covered along its length by separated tubercles. Dorsal surface of pronotum covered by rare tubercles in prozona and in the first half of metazona on the sides; tubercles along prozonal groove stouter than rest; surface along metazonal keel and in the posterior half of metazona without tubercles. Cervicalia complete; anterior and posterior ventral cervical sclerites very similar in size and shape; intercervical sclerites narrow, with deep groove along their middle, loosely connected with each other; postcervical plate very short, medially about as long as 1.5 times the maximum width of intercervical sclerites, laterally about the length of one intercervical sclerite,

saddleshaped, medially with very elevated, thickened anterior edge, otherwise smooth. Furcasternite straight, with medial carina terminating at the end of posteriormost third of furcasternite, and two lower, shorter carinae laterad of medial one, not reaching posterior half of furcasternite and ending in paired bean-shaped feeble depressions.

Cyclopic ear of DK type. Mesosternite with a pair of elevated, rounded tubercles.

Forelegs. Forecoxa roughly trapezoidal in cross-section, with dorsal,

anterodorsal, ventral and posterior edges. Basal two thirds of the dorsal edge with spaced slanted sharp tubercles; size and number of tubercles varies greatly, with one specimen having tubercles so small that the edge almost smooth. Distal third of the dorsal edge always smooth. Dorsal and anterodorsal edge each with a row of tubercles. Ventral edge with about several dozens of tubercles, arranged more or less in two rows, larger ones similar to the largest tubercles of the dorsal edge in size. Posterior edge with about 20 significantly smaller tubercles, gradually decreasing in size distally. On all edges, tubercles most pronounced in basal two thirds, on distal third becoming much smaller or absent altogether. Size and number of tubercles vary greatly, with one specimen having tubercles so small that the dorsal edge almost smooth. All tubercles share the same shape, being small, slanted and with sharp apex. At the basis of each tubercle a single seta; setae at the bases of anterodorsal tubercles 2–4 times longer than the rest. Anterior apical lobes parallel.

Forefemur ( Fig. 5 ) moderately elongated, stout, with very well defined dorsal and posteroventral edges. Dorsal edge lamellar, straight, smooth to covered with very small tubercles making it crenulated, especially in distalmost part. Tibial spur groove at the end of basal third. Forefemur armed with 14–15 anteroventral spines, 4

discoidal and 4 to 5 posteroventral spines. Basal 12 anteroventral spines of alternating length, starting with a smaller spine, with larger spines being only a little larger than smaller spines, but sitting on higher sockets; this basal row followed by

1–2 spines slightly smaller than the smaller spines of the basal row, and finally by ultimate, larger spine. Discoidal spines length as follows: the second a little longer than the first, the third twice the second, the fourth almost as the second.

Posteroventral spines length: the second a little longer than the first, the third and fourth (if present) as the second, the last (fifth or fourth) the smallest and widest.

First and second posteroventral spines situated a little closer to each other than the rest. Genicular lobes prominent, with very short genicular spines present either on posterior or on both lobes of the femur. Anterior half of ventral surface distad of discoidal spines with very feeble tubercles, numerous in proximal half of this area,

but very rare and displaced towards anteroventral spines in distal half, each tubercle with a long seta; posterior half with feeble round depression immediately near fourth discoidal spine to accommodate ultimate posteroventral spine of foretibia, as well as with a row of very small, almost flat tubercles running along posteroventral edge adjacent to posteroventral spines. Row of 7–9 very feeble tubercles stretches from second discoidal spine to trochanter-femur connection. Foretibia armed with

11–15 anteroventral spines, elongating distally, and 12–16 posteroventral spines

(not counting tibial spur), also elongating distally. Anteroventral spines inclined at about 45°, basal 4–5 posteroventral spines strongly curved at base, almost decumbent,

distal posteroventral spines inclined at about 30°.

Meso- and metathoracic legs cursorial. Femora without lobes and with very small anterior apical spine. Tibiae apically with two short spines and triangular extension. Distal part of femora, tibiae and tarsi covered with small black setae,

organised in distal half of tibiae and on tarsi in a few rows. Middle basitarsus 1.5 times holotype male; 4, 6, 8 – paratype female; 3, 4 – head, frontal view; 5, 6 – forefemur, anterior view; 7, 8 – pronotum, dorsal view; 9 – male genitalia, dorsal view. Scales 1 mm, a – for figs

3–8, b – for fig 9.

shorter than other tarsomeres combined; hind basitarsus very slightly longer than other tarsomeres combined.

Both pairs of wings fully developed, surpassing end of abdomen. Tegmen with widely parabolic apex, its length 3.7–3.9 times its maximum width distad of CuP termination. Costal field rapidly expands in the first third of tegmen, then gradually narrows, not reaching the apex, for the most part covered by long transverse veins slightly inclined distad with dense dentritic venules in-between them, especially irregular basally, more transverse and regular distally. Stigma extremely elongated and narrow, almost indistinct. Wing shorter than tegmen, elongated-triangular, with parabolic apex, twice longer its maximum width.

Abdomen dorsoventrally depressed, with eight visible rectangular coxosternites

(II–IX), progressively shortening posteriorly. Coxosternite IX elongated, roughtly lancet shaped, slightly asymmetrical, apically densely covered by long setae, with two short styli and semi-circular notch between their bases. Tergite X strongly transverse, with widely rounded apex. Cerci circular in cross section, with 12 readily recognizable cercomeres, covered by long setae, first cercomere consists of 3 only partially separated cercomeres, last cercomere longer than penultimate one, but narrower than any of the others.

Genitalia ( Fig. 9 ). Ventral phallomere elongated, rhomboidal. Sclerite L4A strongly sclerotized in its left half, significantly less so in its right, with the boundary between these areas quite clear, dividing ventral phallomere in two halves. Apex of ventral phallomere with two distal processes sdp, left one long and slightly curved,

right one much smaller, short, curved and directed to the right. Both processes share common dorsal sclerotization at base. Sclerite L4B curved, of complex shape, widened distally. Sclerite L2 wide anteriorly, roughly triangular, with mostly diffused right border. Apical process paa long, directed leftside, with curved apex. Articulations

A2 and A4 well developed. Left part of sclerite L1A wide, curved ventro-dorsad (so that its convexity directed posteriad) and widely curved anteriad along its longer dimension; right part more or less flat, wide, connected anteriorly though weakly sclerotized and dorso-ventrally curved part to sclerite L2. Sclerite L1 sclerotizes phalloid apophysis afa. Afa with longitudinal wrinkles, otherwise smooth, with two very short, barely separated processes, posterior process sometimes absent. Anterior process bean-shaped with rounded apex. Membranous lobe loa smaller than or comparable in size to the anterior afa process. Main lobe fda of the right phallomere sclerotized dorsally by sclerite R1A. Sclerite R3 very wide at its anterior end,

rounded, sharply narrowing posteriorly. Apodeme pae generally weakly developed or absent. Sclerite R1B sclerotizes pia; the latter short, the sclerotized part is transverse, with weak creases. Process pva sclerotized by R1D, sharply curved, apex finger-shaped, narrowly rounded, with very weak creases.

Colouration. General colour green in life. Labrum black. Antenna brown past the most basal 10–15 antennomeres. Ocelli yellowish-green. Anterior face of forefemur basally with black spot resembling human molar in shape: basal “root” flush with black first discoidal spine and its socket, distal “root” extending along tibial spur groove in the direction of third discoidal spine but not reaching it or second discoidal spine, basal edge not reaching femur-trochanter connection, distal edge limited by tibial spur groove and dorsal edge not as clear, but barely exceeding a third of forefemur height. Area adjacent to this spot, dorsad and distad of it, appro-

ximately from half the maximum forefemur height, along anteroventral spines until femoral brush yellowish, in holotype male and sole female reddish, which may be an artifact of preservation or a natural variation. First to third discoidal spines and first anteroventral spine black on the anterior side, rest of femoral and tibial spines with brown apex only, with the first and the larger forefemoral anteroventral spines being darker than the rest or even black in some specimens. Forebasitarsus anteriorly with wide black longitudinal band starting from second third, rest of tarsomeres with black distal halves. Metazonal medial keel deep brown. Tegmen hyaline, transparent, except opaque green costal field, and narrow part of the rest of tegmina adjacent to it. Stigma light-green, very inconspicuous. Wing transparent, hyaline,

except for greenish median part of costal field. Veins green to turquoise. Preserved specimens experience discoloration, especially metazonal keel and lighter-than-black spots.

Female ( Fig. 2 ) similar to male (body length 36 mm), with following differences.

Head ( Fig. 4 ) 1.3 times wider than long, 1.5 times wider than supracoxal dilatation. Clypeus with a medial low and longitudinally elongated tubercle. Lower frons

1.3 times wider than high, distinctly pentagonal, flatter overall, its paramedian carinae even more flattened in medial part, but more pronounced in ventralmost part as two tubercles. Ocelli much smaller but raised above surrounding surface. Paramedian depressions on vertex more level with surrounding surface. Antennae significantly shorter than head length; antennomeres in the middle being the longest and ultimate antennomeres very flattened. Posterior line of head straight.

Tubercles on forecoxal dorsal (11–13), anterodorsal (19–21) and posterior edges

(24) more prominent, continuing in distal halfs of the corresponding edges, while tubercles on ventral edge somewhat less prominent than in male. Lamellar dorsal part of forefemur ( Fig. 6 ) more developed, with dorsal edge itself crenulated. Hind basitarsus noticeably longer than other tarsomeres combined.

Wings shortened compared to the male, merely reaching the apex of abdomen.

Costal field of tegmen extremely wide for most of its length, about 1/3 of the tegmen’s length, weakly arcuate.

Abdomen oval, with six visible coxosternites (II–VII). Coxosternite VII smooth except apical lobes that densely covered by setae.

Colouration as in the male, but tegmen with green stripes along the main veins.

Measurements in mm are listed in Tables 1, 2.

DISTRIBUTION. Current material indicates that the species inhabits the Central

Highlands of Vietnam, with most findings concentrated on Kon Tum plateau ( Fig.

10).

ETYMOLOGY. The species name is formed after Latin “ mirus ” (astonishing)

and “ frater ” (brother), referring to the unexpected similarity of the male genitalia morphology with the genus Chlorocalis Stiewe, Shcherbakov et Vermeersch, 2019 .

spines of Dracomantis mirofraternus gen. et sp. n.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Dracomantis mirofraternus gen. et sp. n., habitus. 1 – holotype male; 2 –

Figs 3–9. Dracomantis mirofraternus gen. et sp. n., details of morphology. 3, 5, 7, 9 –

Fig. 10. Distribution of Dracomantis mirofraternus gen. et sp. n. in Vietnam.