Dicromantispa electromexicana, ENGEL & GRIMALDI, 2007

ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & GRIMALDI, DAVID A., 2007, The Neuropterid Fauna of Dominican and Mexican Amber (Neuropterida: Megaloptera, Neuroptera), American Museum Novitates 3587, pp. 1-60 : 10-13

Dicromantispa electromexicana , new species figures 4–8

Mantispa sp. : Engel, 2004c: 184.

Mantispa sp. : Grimaldi and Engel, 2005: 354,

fig. 9.35.

DIAGNOSIS: This species is superficially similar to Zeugomantispa minuta (Fabricius) but differs by the more elongate pronotum that apparently lacks markings or bumps and has exceedingly sparse, minute pubescence, and by the structure of the ectoprocts. It can be separated from D. moronei in Dominican amber (see below) by the more elongate and unexpanded pronotum, absence of pronotal markings, major profemoral spine longer than protarsus, fewer c-sc crossveins, and smaller body size. The species can be separated from all modern Dicromantispa by the absence of the ventromedian lobe of the ectoproct. Such a feature would appear to exclude the species from the genus. However, this feature is perhaps plesiomorphic, and in the absence of further genitalic details it seems unwarranted to establish a new genus for the species. In all other features the species best approx- imates Dicromantispa among New World mantispids.

DESCRIPTION: Forewing length 7.97 mm; total body length 10.4 mm ( figs. 4 , 5 ); pronotum length 3.35 mm, width (median) 0.27 mm. Occipital margin of head absent. Scape, pedicel, and basal five flagellomeres piceous, remainder fuscous; 28 flagellomeres. Labial and maxillary palp segments elongate and tapering at apices. Pronotum elongate (length approx. 10 times width), not greatly expanded anteriorly; pubescence minute and extremely sparse; pronotum without markings; integument imbricate. Profemur with long, sharply pointed basal spine along inner margin, followed on outer margin by numerous short, pointed teeth intermixed with at least three intermediate length spines; basal, inner spine longest, longer than protarsus ( fig. 6 ); integument of outer surface verrucose, otherwise imbricate. Pretarsal claws with three inner teeth except propretarsus with single claw and no arolium. Forewing longer than abdomen; six subcostal crossveins (c-sc); pterostigma elongate, expanded apically, without markings. Hindwing with single gradate series; CuP bending sharply toward 1A; CuP separated from 1A at bend by extremely short crossvein (cup-a). Wing membrane hyaline.

Abdomen without markings; integument imbricate. Ninth sternum broadly rounded along apical margin. Ectoproct elongate and rounded with patch of dense, stiff, black setae on inner margin, without ventromedial lobe ( figs. 7, 8 ).

HOLOTYPE: Male; AMNH CH-MP5 ( fig. 4 ), Mexico, Chiapas, nr. Simojovel.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a reference to the occurrence of this species in Mexican amber.

Figures

Fig. 4. Photomicrograph of holotype male of Dicromantispa electromexicana, new species (CH-MP5).

Fig. 5. Holotype male of Dicromantispa electromexicana, new species (CH-MP5).

Figs. 6–8. Dicromantispa electromexicana, new species (CH-MP5). 6. Detail of raptorial foreleg depicting profemoral spination. 7. Dorsal aspect of abdominal apex. 8. Ventral aspect of abdominal apex.

Fig. 9. Photomicrograph of holotype of Dicromantispa moronei, new species (MACT-432).