Ciulfina terrymariceae Holwell

Holwell, Gregory I., 2014, Four new species of Ciulfina Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Mantodea: Liturgusidae, Liturgusinae) from the Northern Territory, Australia, Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 29-38 : 35-36

Ciulfina terrymariceae Holwell sp. nov.

Type material. AUSTRALIA: Holotype male: Florence Falls, Northern Territory, 13°05’S 130°47’E, 12.ix.2007, G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao, A. Harmer. Paratypes: 2♂ Florence Falls, Northern Territory, 13°05’S 130°47’E, 12.ix.2007 (G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao & A. Harmer); 2♂ Wangi Falls, Northern Territory, 13°09’S 130°41’E, 12.ix.2007 (G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao & A. Harmer); 2♂ Umbrawarra, Northern Territory, 13°53’S 131°47’E, 13.ix.2007 (G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao & A. Harmer).

Diagnosis. The distinguishing male genital feature of C. terrymariceae is the very long and sharply pointed sclerotized tooth on the anterior apex of the processo distale (pda), which also bears two sharp but smaller teeth projecting from midway along the tooth itself. A shorter widely separated tooth also projects from the posterior apex of the pda. Also useful for diagnosis is the sclerotized and finely pegged ridge along the medial surface of the fallomero dorsale di destra (fda). All type material exhibited dextral genital orientation.

Description of genitalia

Right phallomere: general shape typical of genus; first sclerite (R1) thumb-shaped, deeply pouched, oriented posteriorly and attached to ventral phallomere by long arm of uniform width with slightly flanged apex; medial apex of fallomero dorsale di destra (fda) heavily sclerotized, rounded, possessing short peg-like projections along a medial raised edge halfway along fda, and fine hairs along inner apical edge; ventral wall of R1 bears sclerotized groove formed between the piastra ventrale (pia) and processo ventral sclerificata (pva), which is heavily sclerotized, straight, moderate in length and apically rounded; third sclerite (R3) typically spoon-shaped.

Left complex: general shape typical of genus; apofisi falloide (afa) short, sclerotized and bluntly conical; processo apicale (paa) slender and slightly sinuate, gradually tapering apically, apex slightly bulbous and moderately sclerotized, process projects away from right phallomere parallel to base of left sclerite L4A, and beyond pubescent membrane of left sclerite L4B; pubescent membrane of L4B deeply curved, and rounded without distinct tip; left sclerite L4B moderately sclerotized distally with square projection between pubescent membrane and base of paa; ventral plate of left sclerite L4A typical; processo distale (pda) bearing sclerotized teeth; one short posterior tooth pointing laterally, one very long curved anterior tooth pointing anteriorly with two very small teeth emerging from halfway along anterior tooth.

Etymology. Named after Terry Marice Holwell, the mother of the author.