Glabromantis unicornis Tindale, 1923

Milledge, Graham A., 2024, Review of the genera Glabromantis, Paraoxypilus, and Phthersigena (Mantodea: Nanomantidae: Fulciniinae), Records of the Australian Museum 76 (2), pp. 69-103 : 80-81

Glabromantis unicornis Tindale, 1923

Figs. 5D–E ; 13A–E ; 18C, F ; 22B

Glabromantis unicornis Tindale, 1923: 431 .

Glabromantis unicornis pallidifemur Tindale, 1923: 432 . Glabromantis pallidifemur Tindale, 1930: 344 , syn. nov.

Type material. Not examined but good images of type specimens seen. Registration numbers I.14046 and I.14048.

Material examined. Queensland. 1♀, Charleville , 17 Mar–3 Apr 1989, P. Johnson (w) . 1♂, 15km SW of Charleville , 26°32'S 146°12'E, 21 Oct 1975, M.S. Upton . 1♂, 2km NE of Noccundra , 28 Jan 1966, L.J. Chinnick (all ANIC) .

New South Wales. 4♂, Deriah Aboriginal Area , 23km E of Narrabri, 30.345°S 150.014°E, 10 Nov 2009, D. Britton & J. Rescei (w), K269849 . 1♂, Lakeside Caravan Park, Broken Hill , 31°57'S 141°27'E, 16 Feb 2007, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w) . 1♂, Lower Murray Darling region, Coombah Station , 33°03'07" S, 141°34'28"E, 11–15 Oct 1999, M. LeBreton (w) . 1♂, Lower Murray Darling region, Willotia Station , 32°53'14" S, 142°14'10"E, 14–18 Feb 2010, M. LeBreton (w) . 2♀, Paroo-Darling NP, 9.8km N of turnoff to Peery H.S., 30°43'34"S 143°28'46"E, 27 Oct–25 Nov 2010, G. Milledge & H. Smith (w). 1♂, Travelling Stock Reserve , 46.8km NE of Narrabri, 30.003°S 150.053°E, 13 Nov 2009, D. Britton & J. Rescei (w) (all AM) . 1♂, Brewarrina, W.S. Froggatt. 1♂, Fowlers Gap Research Stn. , 31°05'S 141°42'E, 8–9 Dec 1982, J.C. Cardale (w) . 2♂, Homestead Gorge , Mootwingee NP, 31°17'S 142°18'E, 7–13 Oct 1988, E.D. Edwards (w) . 1♀, Kinchega NP, 32°30'S 140°20'E, Nov 1986, K. Henle . 2♂, Narawarre Stn. , 55km SE of Louth, 12–15 Dec 1952, A. Halsey (all ANIC) .

Northern Territory. 1♂, Alice Springs , 23°41'S 133°52'E, 6–8 Nov 1988, D.C.F. Rentz (w) . 1♂, 30km WNW of Alice Springs , 23°32'S 133°38'E, 7 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton . 5♂, 32km WNW of Alice Springs , 23°36'S 133°35'E, 8 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton . 1♂, 1♀, 39km E of Alice Springs , 23°41'S 134°15'E, 25–26 Sep 1978, D.C.F. Rentz (w) . 2♂, same data except 26 Sep 1978, M.S. Upton . 1♂, 41km SE of Alice Springs , 4 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton . 2♂, 56km SE ofAlice Springs , 24°11'S 134°01'E, 24 Sep 1978, M.S. Upton . 2♂, Hull R., 33km ESE of Docker River, 24°58'S 129°23'E, 17 Nov 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan . 1♂, Junction Waterhole, Todd River , 9km NE of Alice Springs, 23°38'S 133°53'E, 10 Oct 1978, M.S. Upton . 1♂, same data except 28 Sep 1978 . 3♂, 8km N of Kulgera , 25°46'S 133°17'E, 21 Sep 1978, M.S. Upton . 1♂, Reedy Rockhole, Amadeus Basin , 24°20'S 131°35'E, 26 Sep 1962, P. Ranford . 1♂, Stuart Hwy , 65km SSW of Alice Springs, 24°11'S 133°31'E, 27 Oct 1988, D.C.F.Rentz . 1♂, Uluru Motel, Ayers Rock , 25°21'S 131°03'E, 4 Nov 1980, K.H.L. Key . 1♂, Wigley Waterhole , 8km N of Alice Springs, 16 Feb 1966, Britton, Upton & McInnes (all ANIC) .

South Australia. 3♂, 25km NW of Amata, Musgrave Ranges , 26°08'S 130°54'E, 19 Jan 1982, D.C.F. Rentz et al . 1♂, 3.5km ESE of Arkaroola Village , 30°20'S 139°22'E, 24 Oct 1993, Edwards & E.S. Nielsen (w) 1♂, 3km WNW of Arkaroola Village , 30°18'S 139°19'E, 23 Oct 1993, Edwards & E.S. Nielsen (w) . 1♂, 100km NNW of Cooper Pedy , 14 Oct 1966, A & R Mesa . 2♂, 8km SSW of Granite Downs H.S., 8–10 Oct 1955, L.J. Chinnick . 1♀, Hamilton Ck. , 26°44'S 134°59'E, 22 Aug 1992, P. R . Birks . 1♂, 10km SE of Murdarinna W.H., NW of Ooodnadatta , 9 Oct 1969, White & Marginson . 4♂, 1.7km ESE of Ooldea , 3 Oct 1968, Key, Upton & Balderson . 1♂, 1.6km N of Sundown H.S., 31 Mar 1958, Chinnick & Walker . 1♂, 41km NW of Welbourn Hill , 27°18'S 133°41'E, 21 Nov 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan. (all ANIC) .

Victoria. 1♂, 6.6km N of Pyramid Hill , 3 Feb 1956, I.F.B. Common ( ANIC) . Western Australia. 1♂, 29km S of Billabong Roadhouse , 27°04'S 114°38'E, 26 Oct 1992, Edwards & E.S. Nielsen (w) . 1♂, 32km S of Cardawan H.S., SSW of Mundiwindi , 27 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick . 2♂, 32km WSW of Carnamah , 16 Apr 1968, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton . 3♂, 13km NE of Carnarvon , 24°49'S 113°46'E, 19 Oct 1992, E.D. Edwards & E.S. Nielsen (w) . 2♂, 25km SSE of Carnarvon , 25°04'S 113°49'E, 16 Oct 1970, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan . 1♂, 29km ESE of Coolgardie , 31°07'S 121°24'E, 5 May 1983, Edwards & E.S. Nielsen (w) . 2♂, Deeba Rockhole , 34km NNE of Laverton, 28°22'S 122°37'E, 12 Nov 1977, M.S.Upton & J.E. Feehan . 2♂, Dundas Rock , S of Norseman, 32°24'S 121°46'E, 12 Jan 1993, Edwards & E.S. Nielsen (w) . 2♂, 20km N of Galena, near Northampton , 19 Apr 1968, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton . 1♂, 11km N of Geraldton , 6 Dec 1972, N. McFarland . 1♂, Kalbarri , 21 Nov 1978, M.S.& B.J.Moulds . 1♂, Kalgoorlie , 1 Dec 1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds . 1♂, Loop Rd., 14km ENE of Kalbarri, Kalbarri N.P., 27°39'S 114°17'E, 20 Oct 1984, D.C.F. Rentz . 2♂, 5km W of Moorine Rock, near Southern Cross , 2 Dec 1985, M.S. & B.J. Moulds . 2♂, near New Beach , 40km SSE of Carnarvon, 25°11'S 113°50'E, 21 Oct 1984, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♂, 20km E of Norseman , 12–13 Jan 1986, C. Reid . 1♂, 62km SSW of Norseman , 32°38'S 121°29'E, 17 Nov 1969, Key & Upton . 1♂, Twelve Mile Well , 17km SSW of Meekatharra, 26°44'S 118°26'E, 15 Oct 1984, D.C.F. Rentz (w) . 1♂, 66km NE of Warburton , 26°03'S 127°14'E, 15 Nov 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan . 1♂, Yellari Sandalwood Res. , 22km ESE of Coolgardie, 31°05'S 121° 21°E, 7 May 1984, E.S. Nielsen & E.D. Edwards (all ANIC) .

Diagnosis. Can be distinguished from G. nebulosa by the possession of a projection on the subantennal ridge ( Fig. 13D ).

Description. Body colour mottled brown, peppered with darker spots.

Head ( Fig. 13A–B ) with vertical apophyses low, pointed or blunt and lightly tuberculate; par-ocular spines absent; ocelli without associated projections.

Prozone of thorax ( Fig. 13C–D ) with low diagonal ridge either side of carina; metazone with single pair of low bumps posterior to saddle groove, barely apparent in male; median carina not prominent and without projections; pronotal margin smooth, expanded slightly above coxal insertions, but usually lacking pointed projection (a very small one present in some female specimens); prosternum blackish, pre-acetabular spine absent.

Wings of male ( Fig. 5D ) with tegmina translucent, peppered with darker and lighter blotches; hindwings with tip similar colour to tegmina, remainder hyaline. Wings of female ( Fig. 5E ) slightly reduced, tegmina similar to male, hindwings with costal area brownish, tip similar in colour to tegmina, remainder essentially hyaline but with faint brownish tinge.

Forecoxa ( Fig. 13E ) without spines; inner face with colour uniform pale cream; outer face with anterior half similar to inner face, posterior half similar in colour to rest of body. Inner face of fore femur ( Fig. 13E ) usually similar to in colour to inner face of forecoxa, but mottled brown or almost entirely black-brown in some specimens, femoral brush somewhat raised; outer face body coloured, with central longitudinal ridge. Inner face of fore tibia similar in colour to inner face of fore femur. Fore tarsus similar in colour to hind legs.

Dpr of male genitalia ( Fig. 18C, F ) with broad triangular central process with blunt tip and somewhat irregular margins, narrow dextral process with shagreened tip which curves dorsally. Pa with single spinose, knob-like anterior projection and narrow sclerotized region between it and ml. Ml squat, stout and shagreened.

Immature stages. Juvenile stages unknown.

Distribution and habits. Found across the more arid parts of southern and central Australia ( Fig. 22B ). I have collected a couple of specimens of this species from the stems of woody shrubs. Males are attracted to lights at night.

Remarks. See remarks for G. nebulosa regarding relationships with that species. The subspecies G. unicornis pallidifemur was separated by Tindale based on small, but ill defined, dimensional differences in the head and pronotum plus the fact that females had pale anterior femora and tibiae. He later elevated this subspecies to species level ( Tindale, 1930). Tindale only examined specimens from 8 localities. I have examined specimens from 59 localities and conclude that the variations mentioned by Tindale do not warrant the description of more than a single species.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I would like to thank D. Smith (AM) and You Ning Su (ANIC) for allowing me to examine specimens in their care. Photographs of live specimens by Lorenzo Bertola, Helen Smith and Dave Rentz were used with permission. All other photographs of live specimens were downloaded from iNaturalist and are used under the terms of the Creative Commons licence; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode

Figures

Figure 5. Preserved specimens of Glabromantis and Phthersigena species. G. nebulosa, A. male, B. female. G. unicornis, D. male, E. female. Ph. conspersa, C. male, F. female.

Figure 13. Glabromantis unicornis, frontal view of head, A. female, B. male, lateral view of head and pronotum, C. female, D. male (arrow indicates projection on subantennal ridge), internal face of foreleg, E. male.

Figure 18. Male genitalia of Phthersigena and Glabromantis species. Ph. conspersa, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres, A. dorsal view, D. ventral view. G. nebulosa left and right dorsal and ventral phallomeres, B. dorsal view, E. ventral view. G. unicornis, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres, C. dorsal view, F. ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5mm.

Figure 22. Distribution maps for Glabromantis species, A. G. nebulosa, B. G. unicornis.