Trachymantis dentifrons ( Stål, 1877 ) Milledge, 2005

Milledge, G. A., 2005, Revision of the Genera Sphodropoda, Trachymantis and Zopheromantis (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), Records of the Australian Museum 57, pp. 191-210 : 207-208

Trachymantis dentifrons ( Stål, 1877) n.comb.

Figs. 26–27, 31–33, 46

Hierodula (Sphodropoda) dentifrons Stål, 1877: 56 . Sphodropoda dentifrons (Stål) , Kirby, 1904: 242.

Ngawala dentifrons (Stål) , Tindale, 1923: 447.

Material examined. Two syntype females, Australia, Boucard ( NHRM) .

Other material. NEW SOUTH WALES: 13, 3 km NW of Bramah HS, NW of Balranald , 34°24'S 143°14'E, 24 Oct 1983, D.C.F. Rentz & M.S. Harvey. 13, 26 km S of Pooncarie , 21 Jan 1980, M.J.D. White (both ANIC) .— NORTHERN TERRITORY: 13, 17 km SSE of Mt. Harris , 25 Aug 1955, L.J. Chinnick ( ANIC) . 23, Uluru Camp Site, Horn Centenary Expedition, 25°23'10"S 131°00'46"E, 24 & 25 Oct 1994, G. Milledge. 13, Uluru Mallee site, Horn Centenary Expedition, 25°24'07"S 130°59'19"E, 26 Mar 1995, G. Milledge. 13, Kathleen Creek , Mallee site, Horn Centenary Expedition, Watarrka NP , 24°20'54"S 131°40'36"E, 24 Mar 1995, P. Lilywhite (all NMV) .— SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 juv, Lowan Stn., 7 km S of Sherlock, 4 Mar 1953 & 20 Dec 1954, L.J. Chinnick. 2 juv, Lowan Stn., 7 km S of Sherlock, 9 Mar 1953. 13, 56 km W of Amata, Musgrave Ranges , 26°09'S 130°35'E, 20–21 Jan 1982, D.C.F. Rentz & R. Honeycutt. 23, 1♀, 20 km NE of Kimba , 33°07'S 136°38'E, 5 Oct 1982, D.C.F. Rentz. 13, Brachina Gorge, Flinders Ranges, 9 Nov 1987, J.C. Cardale. 2 juv, 13 km WNW of Minnipa, 22 Oct 1968, J. Balderson & M.S. Upton. 1 juv, 5 km SSE of Minnipa, 30 Oct 1969, Key & Upton. 13, 18 km SSW of Pinnaroo , 35°24'S 140°48'E, 25 Oct 1983, D.C.F. Rentz & M.S. Harvey. 13, 1.5 km ESE of Ooldea , 3 Oct 1968, Key, Upton & Balderson (all ANIC) . 1♀, Overland Railway , 40 km W of Kychering Soak, Dec 1908, Mr Chandler ( NMV) . 13, Darke’s Peak, R.G. Walsh ( SAM) .— VICTORIA: 1♀, Big Desert, P. Robertson . 1♀, Big Desert , 35°46'S 140°58'E, 15 Apr 1987, P. Johnson . 1♀, N of Chinamans Well, Big Desert, 2 Mar 1982, A.J. Coventry. 1 juv, Grampians , Nov 1885 . 1♀, 5.4 km E of Hattah , 34°47'S 142°20'E, 24 Jan 1986, G. Milledge. 13, 15 km SSW of Hattah , 34°54'S 142°15'E, 24 Jan 1986, G. Milledge. 1♀, 19.2 km SW of Hattah , 34°54'S 142°09'E, 21 Jan 1987, G. Milledge . 1♀, 20.8 km SE of Hattah , 34°52'S 142°28'E, 25 Jan 1987, G. Milledge. 13, Inglewood . 1 m, 0.5 km W of Lake Hattah , 28 Jan 1986, G. Milledge . 1♀, Lake Hattah , 18 Oct 1985, G. Milledge . 1♀, Lake Hattah, 8 Apr 1982, G. Milledge. 13, Mallee District , 3 Mar 1914, C. French . 1♀, 12.8 km N of Millewa South Bore , 34°40'S 141°04'E, 27 Mar 1986, G. Milledge . 1♀, 3.1 km N of Millewa South Bore , 34°45'S 141°04'E, 14 Nov 1985, G. Milledge . 1♀, 0.6 km N of Millewa South Bore , 34°46'S 141°04'E, 21 Feb 1986, G. Milledge. 13, 7 km SSW of Morkalla , 34°26'S 141°08'E, 15 Nov 1985, G. Milledge. 1♀, 6 km SW of Murray Valley Hwy & Annuello Rd junction , 34°50'S 142°35'E, 10 Feb 1986, G. Milledge. 23, 16.8 km SSW of Murrayville , 35°25'S 141°10'E, 18 Feb 1987, G. Milledge. 2♀, 16.8 km SSW of Murrayville , 35°25'S 141°10'E, 23 Feb 1987, G. Milledge . 1♀, 16.8 km SSW of Murrayville , 35°25'S 141°10'E, 19 Feb 1986, G. Milledge . 1♀, 7 km SW of Nowingi , 34°39'S 142°16'E, 16 Oct 1985, G. Milledge . 1♀, 1 juv, Ouyen, 26 Jun 1912, W.A. Hall. 13, Ouyen , 26 Apr 1911, S.S. Scaree. 13, Round Swamp, Big Desert , 35°42'S 141°43'E, 28 Mar 1985, G. Milledge. 13, 6.9 km N of Round Swamp, Big Desert, 35°41'S 141°43'E, 28 Mar 1983, G. Milledge. 3♀, The Springs, Murrayville Track, Big Desert, 28 Mar 1985, G. Milledge . 2♀, Waithe Fauna Reserve , 19 & 22 May 1986, G. Milledge . 1♀, 4 km N of Wedderburn , 36°23'S 143°37'E, 18 Nov 1989, G. Milledge. 13, Woomelang , 4 Dec 1902, Mr Hill (all NMV) .— WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 1♀, Nedlands, Jan 1941, K.R. Norris. 13, Eyre Tower Microwave Station , 22 km ESE of Cocklebiddy , 32°08'S 126°17'E, 7 Oct 1982, D.C.F. Rentz. 1 juv, 23 km ESE of Cocklebiddy , 32°08'S 125°18'E, 25 Oct 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan. 13, Cocklebiddy Repeater Stn., 36 km SW of Caiguna, 3 Nov 1984, D.C.F. Rentz. 23, Lake Douglas , 12 km SW of Kalgoorlie, 13 Jan 1989, M.S. & B.J. Moulds. 13, Kununurra, 16–19 Sep 1979, L.P. Kelsey . 2♀, 13 km SSE of Dongara , 28°21'S 115°00'E, 12 Sep 1981, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♀, Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse , 33°32'S 115°01'E, 15 Feb 1980, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♀, 19 km S of Menangina HS, 85 km E of Menzies, 24 Feb 1983, M.J. Whitten . 1♀, 27 km S of Balladonia Motel , 32°35'S 123°36'E, 13 Feb 1978, D.C.F. Rentz & M.J.D. White . 1♀, 31 km S of Balladonia Motel, 9 Feb 1980, D.C.F & B.G.F. Rentz. 13, 36 km WNW of Balladonia Hotel, 5 Mar 1982, M.J.D. White. 13 60 km SSW of Norseman , 32°38'S 121°29'E, 17 Nov 1969, Key & Upton. 1♀, Cockleshell Gully , 19 km NNE of Jurien, 30°09'S 115°07'E, 25 Oct 1984, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♀, Crawley, 15 Mar 1934, K.R. Norris. 23, 33 km ENE of Perth, 30 Jan 1967, M.S. Upton. 1 juv, 37 km SW of Mt. Ragged , 33°40'S 123°11'E, 2 Nov 1977, M.S. Upton & J.E. Feehan. 23, 5 km SW of Mt. Ragged, 12 Nov 1969, Key & Upton. 13, 20 km SSE of Yanchep , 9 Sep 1981, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♀, 15 km WSW of Fraser Range HS, 32°04'S 122°39'E, 6 Sep 1981, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♀, 27 km W of Eneabba , 29°49'S 114°59'E, 9 Sep 1981, D.C.F. Rentz. 13, Fitzgerald National Park , 12 km NE of Hopetoun , 33°51'S 120°09'E, 10 Feb 1980, D.C.F. & B.G.F. Rentz (all ANIC) . 13, Junga Dam, 23 km ESE of Kalbarri, 6 Jan 1969, Kalbarri Survey. 13, Miling , Jan 1976, T.Verbakel. 13, 7.5 km E of Yuinmery HS , 28°34'S 119°01'E, 11–19 Feb 1980, T.F. Houston et al., 1 juv, Roebourne, 1922. 1 juv, Cunderdin, Jul–Aug 1913. 1 juv, Fitzgerald River Reserve , Jul 1970, A. Baynes. 1 juv, 13.6 km SSW of Mt Jackson , 30°59'S 119°07E, 5–11 Sep 1979, T.F. Houston et al., 1 juv, Corrigin. 1 juv, 1.6 km W of Mundaring Weir , 6 Mar 1963, J. Dell. 1 juv, 30 km N of Bullfinch , 30°59'S 119°07'E, 7 Sep 1979, T.F. Houston et al., 1 juv, Kanowna, 30°36'S 121°36'E, 16 Oct 1968, R.P. McMillan. 1 juv, Carollgouda Well, Kalbarri area , 30 Nov 1968, Hale School (all WAM) .

Diagnosis. Can be distinguished from T. obesa by the facial shield being approximately as high as wide.

Description. Body ( Figs. 26–27) rather large. Colour uniform green or bluish green. Head ( Fig. 31) and frontal shield approximately as high as wide with ridge of frontal shield produced into prominent point at apex. Prothorax with fine scattered tubercles on dorsal surface, more so in female; lateral margin finely denticulate. Fore leg ( Fig. 32) with inner face of coxa without markings, anterior margin with 9–11 small denticles; inner face of fore femur with large dark patch proximal to claw groove (not apparent in some specimens) and three small dark spots distal of claw groove; femora of mid and hind legs often orange red in proximal half. Wings of male longer than abdomen, those of female shorter than abdomen; ventral surface of costal area of tegmen dark bluish grey in anterior half; discoidal area completely opaque in female, only partly so in male; hind wing with costal and discoidal area yellowish green, anal area hyaline.Abdomen of female with posterior margin of fourth and particularly fifth sternite curved ventrally. Male genitalia ( Fig. 33) with moderately elongate apr, narrowed distally; pa with anterior hook-like projection and posterior knob-like projection; distal projections of dpr of moderate length, anterior one longer than posterior one.

Measurements (mm). Body length, 3 53–75, ♀ 59–75. Pronotum length, 3 19–20, ♀ 21–26. Pronotum width, 3 5.5–6, ♀ 7–9. Fore coxa length, 3 12–15, ♀ 15–19. Fore femur length, 3 13–16, ♀ 18–22. Hind femur length, 3 14.5–15, ♀ 17–22. Hind tibia length, 3 15–16, ♀ 17–23. Tegmen length, 3 42–54, ♀ 28–38.

Immature stages. First two instars dark coloured and antlike in behaviour and appearance. Ootheca squat, cream to sandy orange in colour. Appears to be mostly laid on the ground, usually attached to a piece of timber. The peculiar form of abdominal sternites 4–5 in the female may play a role in ootheca deposition.

Distribution and habits. Found across the arid regions of southern and central Australia ( Fig. 46). Appears to be most commonly associated with mallee vegetation where the blue green body colour blends well with the leaves of certain mallee eucalypts. I have observed numerous individuals of this species, in nature and captivity, and never seen the cryptic behaviour displayed by members of the genus Sphodropoda . Adult females are commonly caught in pitfall traps, probably in the process of seeking oviposition sites.This would also suggest they are not capable of effective flight.

Remarks. The original description appears to be based on one specimen although this is not specified. One of the two female syntypes is labelled type, the other cotype. These are printed labels and there is no indication that they were placed there by the author. Therefore, I have decided not to designate a lectotype. A syntype specimen is illustrated by Sjöstedt (1930, plate 8, fig. 1)