Hierodula werneri ( Giglio-Tos, 1912 )

Connors, Matthew G., 2023, Studies in Australian Mantodea: New synonyms, notes on distributions, and an updated checklist, Zootaxa 5239 (4), pp. 477-499 : 483

Hierodula werneri ( Giglio-Tos, 1912)

This species was first described from two female syntypes from the Kei Islands and additional specimens from the Aru Islands, both in Indonesia ( Giglio-Tos 1912). Beier (1935) then tentatively assigned this name to the species living in north-western Australia. From this tentative identification, the name has been applied to this common species without further scrutiny. It seems highly unlikely that the Australian species represents the true H. werneri , but more specimens are needed before this issue can be resolved.

Both Australian and Indonesian H. werneri have been misidentified as H. pustulifera ; the former by Tindale (1923) and the latter by Werner (1911). This has caused considerable confusion, especially considering that H. pustulifera is infrequently collected and is only known from Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait in Queensland ( Wood-Mason 1878). H. werneri is frequently collected and is widespread in the northern portion of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is known as far west as Exmouth (Running Around Australia pers. comm.), and has recently been found in western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland ( Funnell 2021; Hughes 2021). The two species are easily distinguished when compared carefully.