Ciulfina ianrichardi 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 : 34-35

Ciulfina ianrichardi 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: 1♂ Florence Falls, Northern Territory, 13°05’S 130°47’E, 12.ix.2007 (G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao & A. Harmer); 1♂ Wangi Falls, Northern Territory, 13°09’S 130°41’E, 12.ix.2007 (G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao & A. Harmer); 3♂ Manbulloo, Northern Territory, 14°32’S 132°10’E, 14.ix.2007 (G. Holwell, J. O’Hanlon, D. Rao & A. Harmer).

Diagnosis. The distinguishing male genital feature of C. ianrichardi is the heavily sclerotized and generally more robust nature of the whole genital complex. More specifically, (a) the apex of the processo distale (pda) is heavily built, extending well-beyond the rest of the left sclerite L4A, and possessing a series of sclerotized teeth only along its anterior edge; (b) the fallomero dorsale di destra (fda) is sclerotized with a bilobed, somewhat saddle-shaped apex; (c) the processo apicale (paa) is robust with a heavy bulbous cap-like apex. All type material exhibited sinistral genital orientation.

Description of genitalia.

Right phallomere: general shape typical of genus but whole genital complex is very robust and heavily sclerotized compared with other species; first sclerite (R1) thumb-shaped, deeply pouched, oriented posteriorly and attached to ventral phallomere by long arm of uniform width with slightly flanged apex; apex of fallomero dorsale di destra (fda) heavily sclerotized, possessing thin, ridged bi-lobed tip, somewhat saddle-shaped; ventral wall of R1 bears sclerotized groove formed between the piastra ventrale (pia) and processo ventrale sclerificata (pva), pia and entire sclerite R1 (A & B) is more robust and heavily sclerotized than in all other described species; pva is robust, heavily sclerotized, curved and rounded at apex; third sclerite (R3) typically spoon-shaped.

Left complex: general shape typical of genus; apofisi falloide (afa) narrow, heavily sclerotized, gently curved and sharply pointed apically; processo apicale (paa) robust, sclerotized, very slightly tapering, with heavy bulbous cap-like apex; process projects away from right phallomere beyond pubescent membrane of left sclerite L4B; pubescent membrane of L4B reduced, sclerotized, deeply curved, bi-lobed at apex; left sclerite L4B heavily sclerotized distally with sharply rectangular projection between pubescent membrane and base of paa; ventral plate of left sclerite L4A typical; processo distale (pda) robust, anterior edge bearing three long, sharp and heavily sclerotized teeth pointing anteriorly; three vestigial teeth surrounding most proximal tooth; lateral and posterior edges of pda unmodified and slightly curved forming an obtuse angle.

Etymology. Named after Ian Richard Holwell, the father of the author.