MANTIDAE Latreille, 1802

Tedrow, Riley, Nathan, Kabanguka, Richard, Nasasira & Svenson, Gavin J., 2015, A survey of the praying mantises of Rwanda, including new records (Insecta, Mantodea), Zootaxa 4027 (1), pp. 67-100 : 72-75

MANTIDAE Latreille, 1802

Agrionopsis brachyptera Beier, 1942 ( Figs 4 A–B, 15A–B)

Sampling. ANP.1— 12 males (GSMC004819–21, GSMC004823–25, GSMC004827, GSMC004829–33), and 10 females (GSMC004812–18, GSMC004822, GSMC004826, GSMC004828). ANP.2—Three males (GSMC004327, GSMC004335,GSMC004814) and five nymphs (GSMC004459, GSMC005007–9, GSMC005115).

Distribution. Species within the genus Agrionopsis range across the African continent, but A. brachyptera is the first species within the genus recorded in Rwanda. Agrionopsis brachyptera is previously recorded in Tanzania.

Compsothespis sp. ( Figs 4 C–D, 16A–B)

Sampling. ANP.1—One female (GSMC004582). ANP.2—One male (GSMC004584) and one female (GSMC004582).

Distribution. Species within the genus Compsothespis range across South and West Africa, this is the first specimen of this genus recorded in Rwanda.

Comments. We were unable to determine the species due to lack of adequate resources and comparative specimens. Revisionary work within the genus is needed.

Danuria affinis Giglio-Tos, 1914 ( Figs 4 E, 16C–D)

Sampling. ANP.1—Two males (GSMC004385, GSMC004610) and one female (GSMC004606). ANP.2— Two males (GSMC004609, GSMC004611), one female (GSMC004607), and one nymph (GSMC004604). Distribution. Species within the genus Danuria range across the African continent, but D. affinis is the first species within the genus recorded in Rwanda. Danuria affinis is previously recorded in Tanzania. Comments. The key available for this genus ( Giglio-Tos, 1927) contains a wide degree of ambiguity, making species determination difficult. Revisionary work within the genus is needed.

Dystacta tigrifrutex Tedrow & Svenson, 2014 ( Figs 2 H–I, 12A–B)

Sampling. NNP.1—One male (GSMC004381), two females (GSMC004420, GSMC005030), and six nymphs. NNP.3—Four males (GSMC004673–6).

Distribution. Found only within Rwanda.

Comments. The genus Dystacta was monotypic until the recent description of D. tigrifrutex , an apparent endemic to southwestern Rwanda. An additional female D. tigrifrutex and four conspecific males were collected in 2014.

Entella rukwaensis Kaltenbach, 1990 ( Figs 3 C–D, 13A–B)

Sampling. ANP.1— 13 males (GSMC004309, GSMC004311, GSMC004315, GSMC004319–20, GSMC004724–31) and one female (GSMC004732). ANP.2—One nymph (GSMC005038).

Distribution. Species within the genus Entella range across the African continent, but E. rukwaensis is the first species within the genus recorded in Rwanda. Entella rukwaensis is previously recorded in Tanzania.

Gonypetella fuscipes ( Sjöstedt, 1909) ( Figs 3 E–F, 13C–D)

Sampling. ANP.1— 27 males (GSMC004361–77, GSMC004382–4, GSMC004713, GSMC004716–32). ANP.2—One female (GSMC004715). ANP.3—One female (GSMC004714)

Distribution. Species within the genus Gonypetella range across East and South Africa. Gonypatella fuscipes is previously recorded in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Tanzania, but is new to Rwanda.

Gonypetella killimandjarica ( Sjöstedt, 1909) ( Fig. 14 A)

Sampling. NNP.3—Two males (GSMC004722–3).

Distribution. Gonypetella killimandjarica is previously recorded in Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, but is new to Rwanda.

Miomantis abyssinica ( Giglio-Tos, 1911) ( Fig. 5 D–G, 17A–D)

Sampling. ADR.1—One male (GSMC004326). ANP.1— 13 males (GSMC004329, GSMC004626–7, GSMC004629–36, GSMC004638, GSMC004645), two females (GSMC004396, GSMC004646), and 30 nymphs (GSMC004411, GSMC004427-8, GSMC004431-2, GSMC004452, GSMC004458, GSMC004460, GSMC004462-4, GSMC004466-8, GSMC005078-93). ANP.2— 13 males (GSMC004671, GSMC004637, GSMC004639–44, GSMC004647–8, GSMC004672, GSMC004670, GSMC005118), two females (GSMC004647–8), and 21 nymphs (GSMC005037, GSMC005095-114). VNP.1—Five males (GSMC004393–4, GSMC004398–GSMC004400).

Distribution. Species within the genus Miomantis range across the African continent. Miomantis abyssinica is previously recorded in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Miomantis andreinii (Giglio-Tos, 1917) ( Figs 5 A, 18A–B)

Sampling. NNP.3— 30 males (GSMC004395, GSMC004397, GSMC004478, GSMC004479, GSMC004612– 21, GSMC004639–44 GSMC004666–8, GSMC004672, GSMC005029–33, GSMC005116) and 11 females (GSMC004622–25, GSMC004665, GSMC005023–28).

Distribution. Miomantis andreinii is previously recorded in Ethiopia, but is new to Rwanda.

Miomantis aurea (Giglio-Tos, 1917) ( Figs 5 B, 19A)

Sampling. ANP.1—One male (GSMC004323). NNP.1—Two males (GSMC004322, GSMC004663). Distribution. Miomantis aurea is previously recorded in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Guinea, but is new to Rwanda.

Miomantis montana ( Giglio-Tos, 1911) ( Fig. 18 C–D)

Sampling. NNP.5— 11 males (GSMC004649–004655, GSMC004669, GSMC005039–41), 13 females (GSMC004656–61, GSMC005042–8), and 28 nymphs (GSMC005049–76). VNP.1—Four males (GSMC004353– 6), four females (GSMC004357–60), and 26 nymphs (GSMC004409, GSMC004421–4, GSMC004426, GSMC004429, GSMC004433–35, GSMC004437, GSMC004439, GSMC004441–8, GSMC004451, GSMC004455–6, GSMC004478–9, GSMC004481).

Distribution. Miomantis montana is previously recorded in Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Miomantis pygmaea (Giglio-Tos, 1917) ( Figs 5 C, 19B)

Sampling. NNP.2—One male (GSMC004321). NNP.3—One male (GSMC004662) and one nymph (GSMC004891).

Distribution. Miomantis pygmaea is previously recorded in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Paramantis prasina ( Audinet-Serville, 1839) ( Figs 5 I, 20D)

Sampling. ANP.1—One male (GSMC004343). ANP.2—Two females (GSMC004709–10).

Distribution. Species within the genus Paramantis range across the African continent as well as Madagascar, but P. prasina and P. natalensis are the first species within the genus recorded in Rwanda. Paramantis prasina is previously recorded in Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Réunion, Tanzania and Togo.

Paramantis natalensis ( Stål, 1856) ( Figs 5 J–K, 20B–C)

Sampling. ANP.1—One female (GSMC004704). ANP.2—Two males (GSMC004707–8) and two females (GSMC004705–6).

Distribution. Paramantis natalensis is previously recorded in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya, Cameroon, Congo, Natal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, but is new to Rwanda.

Polyspilota sp.1 ( Fig. 19 C)

Sampling. NNP.2—One male (GSMC004347).

Distribution. Species within the genus Polyspilota range across the African continent as well as several small islands in the Indian Ocean, but the species within the genus are new to Rwanda.

Comments. As we were unable to make a species level determination on these specimens, they will be referred to as Polyspilota sp.

Polyspilota sp.2 ( Figs 5 H, 19D)

Sampling. ADR.1—Four females (GSMC004339–41, GSMC004482) and 17 nymphs (GSMC004410, GSMC004413–15, GSMC004417–19, GSMC004430, GSMC004436, GSMC004438, GSMC004440, GSMC004449, GSMC004450, GSMC004457, GSMC004461, GSMC004465, GSMC004470).

Polyspilota sp. 3 ( Fig. 20 A)

Sampling. ANP.2—Two nymphs (GSMC004425, GSMC004469). NNP.1—One male (GSMC004337).

Popa spurca Stål, 1856 ( Figs 4 F, 14D)

Sampling. ANP.2—One female (GSMC004588).

Distribution. Species within the genus Popa are found in Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa as well as Madagascar, but P. spurca is the first species within the genus recorded in Rwanda. Popa spurca is previously recorded in Angola, Ghana, Guinea, Cameroon, Cape Province, Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, Natal, Togo, Transvaal, and Zimbabwe.

Sphodromantis cf. baccettii La Greca & Lombardo, 1987 ( Figs 4 I, 21A–C)

Sampling. ANP.1—Four males (GSMC004762, GSMC004764–5, GSMC004767), one female (GSMC004766), and two nymphs (GSMC004471, GSMC004418). ANP.2—Three nymphs (GSMC005034-6). ANP.3—One male (GSMC004763).

Distribution. Species within the genus Sphodromantis range across the African continent and the Middle East. Sphodromantis baccettii is previously recorded in Kenya and Somalia, but has not been previously recorded in Rwanda.

Sphodromantis centralis Rehn, 1914 ( Figs 4 G–H, 21D)

Sampling. NNP.2— 10 males (GSMC004342, GSMC004345, GSMC004349–50, GSMC004352, GSMC004754–6, GSMC004760–1). NNP.3—Four males (GSMC004753, GSMC004757–9) and five nymphs (GSMC004768–9, GSMC005020–2).

Distribution. Sphodromantis centralis is previously recorded in Burundi, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Tenodera superstitiosa (Fabricius, 1781) ( Fig. 12 C–D)

Sampling. ANP.2—One male (GSMC004810), one female (GSMC004811), and 22 nymphs (GSMC004985– 5006).

Distribution. Species within the genus Tenodera are found in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Tenodera superstitiosa occurs across the African content, but is new to Rwanda.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Live habitus. A – B, Oxyelaea elegans (A, male from NNP; B female from ANP); C – E, Tarachodes sanctus (C, male from ANP; D, female from ANP; E, female from ANP); F, Galepsus sp. 1 (male) from NNP; G, Galepsus sp. 2 (female) from ANP; H – I, Dystacta tigrifrutex (H, male from NNP; I, female from NNP).

FIGURE 3. Live habitus. A, Hoplocorypha lacualis (male) from ANP; B, Idolomorpha dentifrons (male) from ANP; C – D, Entella rukwaensis (C, male from ANP; D, female from ANP); E – F, Gonypetella fuscipes (E, male from ANP; F, female from ANP); G, Hapalomantis minima (female) from ANP; H, Negromantis gracillima (male) from ANP; I, Pyrgomantis nana (female) from ANP.

FIGURE 4. Live habitus. A – B, Agrionopsis brachyptera (A, male from ANP; B, female from ANP); C – D, Compsothespis sp. (C, male from ANP, D, female from ANP); E, Danuria affinis (female) from ANP; F, Popa spurca (female) from ANP; G – H, Sphodromantis centralis (G, male, brown morph, from NNP; H, male, green morph, from NNP); I, Sphodromantis cf. baccettii (male) from ANP.

FIGURE 5. Live habitus. A, Miomantis andreinii (female) from NNP; B, Miomantis aurea (male) from NNP; C, Miomantis pygmaea (male) from NNP; D – G, Miomantis abyssinica (D, male, green morph, from ANP; E, male, brown morph, from ANP; F, female, green morph, from ANP; G, female, brown morph, from ANP; H, Polyspilota sp. 2 (female) from ADR; I, Paramantis prasina (female) from ANP; J – K, Paramantis natalensis (J, male from ANP; K, female from ANP); L, Sibylla

FIGURE 12. Dorsal habitus of voucher specimens. A – B, Dystacta tigrifrutex (A, male holotype from NNP [CMNH— GSMC 004381]; B, female allotype from NNP [CMNH—GSMC 004420]); C – D, Tenodera superstitiosa (C, male from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 004810]; D, female from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 004811]). Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 14. Dorsal habitus of voucher specimens. A, Gonypetella killimandjarica (male) from NNP [CMNH— GSMC 004323]; B, Sibylla pretiosa (juv.) from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 4589]; C, Idolomorpha dentifrons (male) from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 4603]; D Popa spurca (female) from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 004588]. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 18. Dorsal habitus of voucher specimens. A – B, Miomantis andreinii (A, male from VNP [CMNH—GSMC 004356]; B, female from VNP [CMNH—GSMC 004357]); C – D, Miomantis montana (C, male from NNP [CMNH—GSMC 004651]; D, female from NNP [CMNH—GSMC 004658]). Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 19. Dorsal habitus of specimen vouchers. A, Miomantis aurea (male) from NNP [CMNH—GSMC 004322]; B, Miomantis pygmaea (male) from NNP [CMNH—GSMC 004321]; C, Polyspilota sp. 1 (male) from NNP [CMNH— GSMC 004347]; D, Polyspilota sp. 2 (female) from ADR [CMNH—GSMC 004339]. Scale bar = 10 mm.

FIGURE 20. Dorsal habitus of voucher specimens. A, Polyspilota sp. (male) from NNP [CMNH—GSMC 004337]; B – C, Paramantis natalensis (B, male from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 004707]; C, female from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 004705]); D, Paramantis prasina (female) from ANP [CMNH—GSMC 004343]. Scale bar = 10 mm.