Chlidonoptera roxanae, Moulin, 2020

Moulin, Nicolas, 2020, A cryptic new species of Chlidonoptera Karsch, 1892 from the south west protected zone of the Central African Republic (Insecta, Mantodea, Hymenopodidae), ZooKeys 917, pp. 63-83 : 63

Chlidonoptera roxanae sp. nov. Figures 2A , 3 , 4F , 5 , 6

Repository.

Holotype male. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France.

Holotype label: Pinned. Central African Republic, Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, base camp, Lake #1, 2.4881, 16.2330, light, 4.II.2012, BOLD NMMAN11-0404, Genitalia NM0181, Coll: Sangha 2012 Team.

Paratypes males. Philippe Annoyer Personal Collection (PAPC), Sainte-Croix-Volvestre, France; Research Collection of Nicolas Moulin (RCNM), Montérolier, France; Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France.

Paratypes labels (28♂♂).

Central African Republic. Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, Bayanga, WWF building, diffuse light (1♂), 2.920333, 16.255527, 21.I.2012 (RCNM); Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, M’Boki, South Likembe, Molongo, Sangha river, light (1♂), 2.471972, 16.08125, 25.I.2012 (RCNM); M’Boki, South Likembe, Molongo, Sangha river, light (1♂), 2.471972, 16.08125, 25.I.2012 (MNHN); Base camp, Lake #1, windfall tree, light (7♂♂), 2.477916, 16.217388, 1-4.II.2012 (RCNM); Base camp, Lake #1, windfall tree, light (1♂), 2.477916, 16.217388, 1.II.2012 (MNHN); Lake #7, at the base of a Badamier (Terminalia superba, Combretaceae ), light (1♂), 2.463277, 16.224833, 3.II.2012 (MNHN); Lake #1, at canopy of an Azobe ( Lophira alata , Ochnaceae ), light (1♂), 2.4804, 16.2155, 5.II.2012 (RCNM); Lake #1, base camp, windfall tree, laboratory tent, light (10♂♂), 2.480555, 16.216666, 10.II to 2.III.2012 (RCNM); Lake #3, light (2♂♂), 2.488611, 16.232944, 15 and 22.II.2012 (RCNM); at canopy of an Ayous ( Triplochiton scleroxylon , Malvaceae ), light (1♂), 2.488138, 16.233027, 22.II.2012 (MNHN); at canopy of an Ayous ( Triplochiton scleroxylon , Malvaceae ), light (1♂), 2.488138, 16.233027, 24.II.2012 (RCNM); Lake #7, light (1♂), 2.4806, 16.2167, 29.II.2012 (RCNM), Coll. SANGHA2012 Team.

Other material examined.

Central African Republic. Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, between Bayanga and Lidjombo, pk15 (2♂♂), pk21 (5♂♂), light, 2.883333, 16.254722, 31.V to 16.VI.1998 (PAPC), Coll. P. Annoyer; Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, Lidjombo (9♂♂: light (8♂♂) and day capture (1♂)), 2.833833, 16.137138, 1-13.III.2005 (PAPC), Coll. P. Annoyer; Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, Bayanga, base camp 1, light (2♂♂), 3.066194, 16.149888, 11.X.2008 (PAPC); Bayanga, base camp 2, night capture (1♂), 3.030416, 16.142138, 20.X.2008 (PAPC); Bayanga, at the base of a Kungu ( Piptadenastrium africanum , Fabaceae ) (3♂♂), at canopy of the same tree (1♂), light, 3.030416, 16.142138, 23-24.X.2008 (PAPC), Coll. Epiphyte 2008 Team; Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, base camp, Lake #1, at the base of an Azobé ( Lophira alata , Ochnaceae ), light (3♂♂), 2.480416, 16.215527, 26.XI.2010 (PAPC); Little forest clearing at Lake #5, light (1♂), 2.469055, 16.225583, 29.XI.2010 (PAPC); Base camp, Lake #1, Laboratory tent, diffuse light (3♂♂), 2.480416, 16.215527, 30.XI to 2.XII.2010 (PAPC), Coll. SANGHA2012 Team.

Natural history.

According to the collection locations of different individuals in the canopy, this species is considered to be arboreal. Both nymph and adult specimens, are presumed to reside on the inflorescences of trees. In tropical forests, these flowers are often located at the top, above the canopy, so that pollinators have access to pollen and nectar. In the present study, is only males were captured with a light trap, and were rarely captured during the day. Females Chlidonoptera specimens that were observed by climbing trees or by beating vegetation (Figure 2 ).

Diagnosis.

Larger than Chlidonoptera vexillum and Chlidonoptera lestoni . Males: Body length (mm) 26.2-33.6; forewing length 23.6-30.2; hindwing length 24.9-27.3; pronotum length 5.1-6.9; prozone length 2.1-3.5; pronotum width 4.9-6.3; pronotum narrow width 1.6-2.1; head width 5.0-5.9; frons width 1.4-2.0; frons height 0.6-0.9; prothoracic coxae length 6.1-9.0; prothoracic femur length 8.0-10.2; mesothoracic femur length 6.2-8.1; mesothoracic tibia length 5.5-6.9; mesothoracic tarsus length 4.8-6.1; metathoracic femur length 7.2-9.1; metathoracic tibia length 6.5-8.4; metathoracic tarsus length 5.5-6.9; anteroventral femoral spine count 10-12; posteroventral femoral spine count 4; anteroventral tibial spine count 12-15; posteroventral tibial spine count 14-17. The colour patterns on the wings are almost similar (Figures 2 - 4 ). There are polymorphisms in the size of the forewings’ patterns in each of the species mentioned. The major difference is in the size of body, of genitalia and of the posterior process of sclerite L4A (ventral phallomere) being larger from one species to another (Figures 5 , 6 ).

Description.

Male. General colour of the body green and pale yellow. Holotype: Body length (mm) 30.4; forewings length 27.5; hindwings length 25.6; pronotum length 6.3; prozone length 3.0; pronotum width 5.5; pronotum narrow width 2.0; head width 5.8; frons width 1.9; frons height 0.9; prothoracic coxae length 8.1; prothoracic femur length 9.8; mesothoracic femur length 8.0; mesothoracic tibia length 6.5; metathoracic tarsus length 5.2; metathoracic femur length 8.4; metathoracic tibia length 7.7; metathoracic tarsus length 6.2; anteroventral femoral spine count R12/L12; posteroventral femoral spine count R4/L4; anteroventral tibial spine count R13/L14; posteroventral tibial spine count R15/L16.

Head: Oval with anteriorly protruding eyes; vertex arcuate with pronounced tubercles at the sides; prolongation of the bifid vertex; lower frons markedly concave, superior margin angles have a tubercle, raised lateral margins; the median region of third antennal segment is black.

Pronotum: Presenting no special features in comparison with C. vexillum and C. lestoni . Pronotum slightly longer and wider than in other species with always two tubercles slightly directed forward, just above the supracoxal sulcus. Crenellated edges with tubercles of variable sizes. Greenish prozone in the centre and whitish on the sides. Green metazone except on the margin.

Forelegs : Legs very similar in their morphology and coloration to those of the other species previously cited. The anterior femora always with four discoidal spines, four posteroventral femoral spines, and 10-12 anteroventral femoral spines. Anterior tibia has 12-14 anteroventral tibial spines and 14-17 posteroventral tibial spines.

Meso- and metathoracic legs: Legs very similar in their morphology and coloration to those of the other species previously cited.

Wings: Forewing 23.6-30.2 mm in length, featuring the usual colour pattern for the genus, with a yellow spot contained between the two black arcs in a relatively large circle. Hindwings 24.9-27.3 mm long, hyaline, with basal region more or less yellow with red-brownish veins.

Abdomen: It presents no special features in comparison with C. vexillum and C. lestoni . Laterally lobed abdominal segments. Subgenital plate more or less asymmetrical as in the other species; supraanal plate and cerci without special features.

Genitalia: Same type of C. vexillum with the posterior process of the ventral phallomere longer and thicker than in C. vexillum and a ventral phallomere longer (Figures 5 , 6 ).

Etymology.

This species is named in honour of my oldest daughter, Roxane, who was growing in her mother’s womb, while I was deep in the primary forest of the Central African Republic, for field work in February 2012.

DNA barcoding.

Nineteen sequences were obtained from the 25 specimens sampled (Figure 7 ). C. roxanae sp. nov. and C. vexillum are distant enough from each other (9.4% between them), to allow us to consider them as two different species. BINs (Barcode Index Number) have been attributed to them: BIN: BOLD: ACX2872 for C. roxanae sp. nov. (mean intraspecific divergence 0.19%) and BIN: BOLD: AAZ5470 for C. vexillum (mean intraspecific divergence 0.76%). No fresh specimens of C. lestoni were obtained for barcoding. Nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts) sometimes lead to the creation of different BINs, a problem which was not encountered here with the differences on the genitalia and the larger general morphology. PCR did not work for six specimens, presumably due to their condition, as they had to be relaxed in order to be mounted, or due to the preserving liquid. These specimens came from Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Figures

Figure 2. A Male Chlidonoptera roxanae sp. nov. photographed in the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park (CAR), by Philippe Annoyer B female Chlidonoptera vexillum group photographed in the forest surrounding Sanaga Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Centre, Belabo, East Province (Cameroon), by Sean Brogan.

Figure 3. Chlidonoptera roxanae sp. nov., holotype male, dorsal and ventral habitus. Scale bar: 10.00 mm.

Figure 4. Chlidonoptera, dorsal habitus: A C. vexillum, male, Mbalmayo, Cameroon, BOLD NMMAN 11 - 0541 B C. vexillum, male, Arboretum Raponda Walker, Gabon, BOLD MANGAB 15 - 094 C C. vexillum, male, Biosphere Reserve of Dimonika, Republic of the Congo, BOLD NMMAN 11 - 0487 D C. vexillum, male, Minziro Forest, Tanzania, BOLD NMMAN 11 - 0533 E C. vexillum, male, Kalinzu Forest, Uganda F C. roxanae sp. nov., holotype male, base camp, lake 1, Dzanga-Ndoki NP, CAR, BOLD NMMAN 11 - 0404 G C. lestoni, paratype male, Tafo, Ghana (S. Poulain) H C. chopardi, male, San Pedro, Ivory Coast.

Figure 5. Chlidonoptera roxanae sp. nov., holotype male, Genitalia. afa = phalloid apophysis; paa = apical processof left phallomere, titillator; bl = basal lobe of ventral phallomere; loa = membranous lobe; pda = primary distal process; sdpl = lateral secondary distal process; sdpm = median secondary distal process; vla = ventral lobe of ventral phallomere. Scale bars: 1.00 mm.

Figure 6. Differences between genitalia: left to right, C. lestoni, C. vexillum, and C. roxanae sp. nov. Scale bar: 1.00 mm.

Figure 7. Barcode tree of Chlidonoptera from Central Africa created in BOLD using a Neighbour-Joining analysis.