Statilia Stål, 1877

Related to Mantis, this genus includes 10 species in S and SE Asia, one of which is widespread across most of the afrotropical, oriental and australo-papuan realms. Two species occur in Borneo. Members of this genus are generalist ambush hunters, exhibiting green/brown polyphenism. They are found on grass and weeds, in open, disturbed habitats, avoiding dense forests.

Statilia maculata maculata (Thunberg, 1784)

Mantis maculata Thunberg, 1784

= Pseudomantis haani Saussure, 1871

= Statilia haani var. major Werner, 1922

Distribution. India (Annam), Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Japan, Myanmar, Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Labuan, Palawan, Maluku Islands, New Guinea (?) (Giglio-Tos 1912, 1927, Hebard 1920, Ehrmann 2002).

Bornean records. Sarawak: Mt. Santubong (SMNK), Batang Ai (SMNK), Mt. Dulit (Beier 1937); Sabah: Labuan Island (Hebard 1920), Sandakan (Hebard 1920), Poring Hot Springs (SMNK), Maliau Basin (OK in situ), Kalabakan (OK in situ); Kalimantan: Mentawir (Beier 1958), Tabang (Beier 1958), Bengen River (Beier 1958), Marah (Werner 1933).

Remarks. We consider its occurrence in New Guinea (Ehrmann 2002) doubtful; no specimens listed by Beier (1965).

Statilia nemoralis (Saussure, 1870) §

Pseudomantis nemoralis Saussure, 1870

= Mantis orientalis Saussure, 1870

= Statilia nemoralis var. infuscata Giglio-Tos, 1927

= Mantis nobilis Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1892

Distribution. E India, S China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines (Giglio-Tos 1912, 1927, Ehrmann 2002).

Bornean records. Sarawak: Kuching (Giglio-Tos 1912), Mt. Matang (Giglio-Tos 1912); Sabah: Mt. Kinabalu (SMNK).

Remarks. This species was described as Pseudomantis nemoralis after a female from the N Philippines (Saussure 1870, page 229) and later (Saussure 1971) united “with some doubt” with a male from “Indes orientales” described as Mantis orientalis in the same work (Saussure 1870, page 233). The male does not exactly fit the diagnosis of the female. Statilia nemoralis as currently conceived, particularly material from the Sunda Islands, needs to be re-evaluated.