Choeradodis rhombicollis (Latreille, 1833)

de Luna, Manuel, Hernández-Baltazar, Erick, Cubillos-Macías, Iker & García-Barrios, Roberto, 2024, New northernmost records of the shield mantis Choeradodis rhombicollis (Latreille, 1833) (Mantidae: Choeradodinae) in Mexico, Revista Chilena de Entomología (Rev. Chil. Entomol.) 50 (1), pp. 5-11 : 6-10

Choeradodis rhombicollis (Latreille, 1833)

( Figs. 1-3 )

Diagnosis. Choeradodis are large, green ( Fig. 1 ) (yellow in old, dried specimens ( Fig. 2 ) or ethanol preserved specimens), leaf-like mantises that have a pronotum that is laterally expanded into a hood making it about as wide as long ( Figs. 1-2 ); in America it is the only genus with this characteristic, making it impossible to confuse it with anything else. Choeradodis rhombicollis has fine and irregular denticles in the anterior border of the forecoxae ( Fig. 1 ), this distinguishes it from Choeradodis columbica Beier, 1913 , C. rhomboidea , Choeradodis stalii Wood-Mason, 1880 and Choeradodis strumaria (Linnaeus, 1758) which have 6 to 12 strong spines in the same position.

Remarks. Choeradodis rhombicollis is the only species of its genus which ranges into North America (southern Mexico) and Central America north of Costa Rica.

Material examined. MEXICO. Chiapas. 1 male, RÍo Santo Domingo near border with Guatemala , IX-1952 ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 female, Cintalapa, Selva del Mercadito, VIII-1948, Álvarez del Toro ( CNIN-UNAM) . Oaxaca. 1 male, San Gabriel Mixtepec, Juquila , XII-1963 ( CNIN-UNAM) . Veracruz. 1 male, Estación de BiologÍa Tropical “Los Tuxtlas”, San Andrés Tuxtla , 18°35’05.28’’N, 95°04’26.76’’W, 147 m .a.s.l., 20-IX-2018, col. Manuel de Luna ( FCF-MANTO 001 ) . 2 males, same locality, 18°35’2.13’’N, 95°4’25.81’’W, 158 m .a.s.l., 2-IX-2018, col. J.C. Vázquez ( EBTLT, Specimen No 58 and 59) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates) ( EBTLT, Specimen No 60) . 2 males, same locality (no coordinates), 3/ 11-XI-1988, col. E. Mejorada ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 30-V-1976, col. R. Sánchez ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 3-VI-1989, col. S.L. Colin ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 9-V-1975, col. S. Ortega L. ( CNIN-UNAM) . 3 males, same locality, 18°35’6.3’’N, 95°04’ 30.3°W, col. M. Ga. Paris ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 30-II-1976, col. R. Sánchez ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 24-V-1989, col. J.L. Colin ( CNIN-UNAM) . 2 males, same locality (no coordinates), 24-V-1989, col. J.L. Colin and H. Rojas ( CNIN-UNAM) . 2 males, same locality (no coordinates), 24/ 29-I-1986, col. G. Ortega ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 18-X-1988, col. M.A. [illegible] and E. Mejorada ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality (no coordinates), 16/ 18-V-2015, col. G. Garfias-Lozano ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, Poza Reyna, Municipality of Catemaco , 18°21’9’’N, 94°58’20’’W, 7-VI- 2009, 440 m. a.s.l., col. L. Cervantes and D. Brzoska ( CNIN-UNAM). 1 male, El VigÍa, Santiago Tuxtla , 8-XI-1963 ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, Hidalgotitlán , 14-VI-1958, col. G. Velázquez ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, Las Cabañas , 12-I-1972 ( CNIN-UNAM) . 1 male, same locality, 20-VII-1972 ( CNIN-UNAM) .

Photographic records (iNaturalist). MEXICO. Chiapas. Municipality of Palenque, 19-VII-2018, photo by “compass_expeditions_ne”. Municipality of Palenque, 28-VII-2018, photo by “solgo”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 19-XII-2022, photo by “gacrmiguel”. Municipality of Palenque, 19-VII-2018, photo by “compass_expeditions_ne”. Municipality of Cintalapa, 8-XI-2022, photo by “el_neotropico”. Municipality of Berriozábal, 13-X-2021, photo by “gaspar_moreno”. Municipality of Berriozábal, 11-X-2021, photo by “matteocassella”. Municipality of Las Margaritas, 4-VII-2021, photo by “magui_morales”. Municipality of Chillón, 25-XI-2015, photo by “samuel178”. Municipality of Francisco León, 31-X-2011, photo by “manuel_chame”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 3-XI-2020, photo by “emmanuemartinez”. Municipality of Palenque, 5-IX-2020, photo by “sypie”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 3-I-2020, photo by “sabrewing”. Municipality of Palenque, 3-VIII-2018, photo by “solootrocuentodehadas”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 26-VIII-2018, photo by “gacrmiguel”. Municipality of Palenque, 27-III-2012, photo by “sandra_lgtz”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 1-VII-2020, photo by “dianafr”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 18-IV-2017, photo by “irismmelgar”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 4-I-2012, photo by “manuelhernandezancheita”. Municipality of Berriozábal, 22-VIII-2016, photo by“kaibilbalam”.Municipality of Ocosingo, 19-I-2015, photo by “marroquidavi” (once repeated). Municipality of Ocosingo, 24-VII-2012, photo by “yamaneko”. Municipality of Ocosingo, 17-XII-2006, photo by “huracan”. Oaxaca. Municipality of Santa MarÍa Chimalapa, 30-XI-2019, photo by “geroherdez”. Municipality of San Juan Cotzocón, 24-X-2019, photo by “yediael”. Municipality of San Juan Bautista Atatlahuca, 15-VI-2018, photo by “franciscoacos”. Municipality of San Felipe Usila, 15-VI-2018, photo by “franciscoacos” (once repeated). Municipality of San Juan Bautista Valle Nacional, 11-I-2017, photo by “gomeztoledorozzio”. Veracruz. Municipality of Catemaco, 9-VI-2022, photo by “patyletona”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 10- XII-2017, photo by “franj36”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 1-VI-2023, photo by “thatsadmachine”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 11-V-20123, photo by “deneb16”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 13-V-2023, photo by “deneb16”. Municipality of Camarón de Tejeda, 10-III-2023, photo by “evelynblanco28”. Municipality of Catemaco, 16-XI-2022, photo by “florjaramillo95” (once repeated). Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 5-VI-2022, photo by “victor_jimenez_arcos”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 14-VI-2022, photo by “a_mf98”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 6-VI-2022, photo by “carmen_vr”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 18-VI-2017, photo by “kimbanessie”. Municipality of Catemaco, 1-VI-2021, photo by “hector_enrique_jimenez_hernandez”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 9-VI-2009, photo by “eric_centenero-alcala”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 21-VIII-2019, photo by “jorge-ramos”. Municipality of Catemaco, 4-VII-2019, photo by “agoutiboy”. Municipality of Catemaco, 23-VI-2009, photo by “ivanpazvinas”. Municipality of Catemaco, 9-X-2006, photo by “vireolanius”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 30-V-2008, photo by “franciscojosegomezmarin”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 13-VI-2018, photo by “elugo”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 18-V-2013, photo by “leonardoac”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 23-XI-2019, photo by “alejandrocalzada”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 19-VI-2018, photo by “jacobgorneau”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 6-VI-2019, photo by “littlewhitbit”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 6-VI-2019, photo by “jmaley”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 3-VI-2018, photo by “mauricioteposramirez”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 10-XII-2017, photo by “gisel_15”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 28-VI-2018, photo by “alexiz”. Municipality of Catemaco, 17-VI-2015, photo by “alexandrus”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 10- XI-2016, photo by “lichotarantula” (once repeated). Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 23-V-2015, photo by “santis”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 15-V-2017, photo by “esteph_”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 30-VIII-2011, photo by “ivanresendizcruz”. Municipality of San Andrés Tuxtla, 10-XII-2013, photo by “hydaticus”.

The species of the genus Choeradodis are found in the Neotropics: C. columbica is found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru; C. rhombicollis in Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Suriname, not in Guyana; C. rhomboidea in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, not in Mexico; C. stalli in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Panama and Peru; and C. strumaria in Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru and Suriname, not in Belize ( Roy 2004; Agudelo et al. 2007; de Luna and Hernández-Baltazar 2020; Moulin and Roy 2020). Choeradodis rhombicollis is found in three Mexican states, Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz, the latter having the new northernmost records for the species, genus, and subfamily in America; it is likely that the species is also found in the state of Tabasco.

Figures

Figure 1. Choeradodis rhombicollis, male from Veracruz, Mexico. Scale bars: 1 cm. A. Dorsal aspect. B. Ventral aspect. / Figura 1. Choeradodis rhombicollis, macho de Veracruz, México. Barras de escala: 1 cm. A. Aspecto dorsal. B. Aspecto ventral.

Figure 2. Choeradodis rhombicollis, female from Chiapas, Mexico. Scale bars: 1 cm. A. Dorsal aspect. B. Ventral aspect. / Figura 2. Choeradodis rhombicollis, hembra de Chiapas, México. Barras de escala: 1 cm. A. Aspecto dorsal. B. Aspecto ventral.

Figure 3. Distribution of Choeradodis rhombicollis in Mexico. Literature records (red circles). New records (green triangles). / Figura 3. Distribución de Choeradodis rhombicollis en México. Registros de literatura (cÍrculos rojos). Nuevos registros (triángulos verdes).