Paraoxypilus atra ( Giglio-Tos, 1913 ), 2024

Milledge, Graham A., 2024, Review of the genera Glabromantis, Paraoxypilus, and Phthersigena (Mantodea: Nanomantidae: Fulciniinae), Records of the Australian Museum 76 (2), pp. 69-103 : 76

Paraoxypilus atra ( Giglio-Tos, 1913)

comb. nov.

Figs 2A : 4C–D: 10A–F; 17C–D; 21A

Myrmecomantis atra Giglio-Tos, 1913: 5 .

Type material. Not examined but good image of type female examined.

Material examined. Queensland. 1♀ juv., near Station Creek , 16°36'48"S 145°13'18"E, 3 Jun 2000, J. Thompson & J. Olive (w) ( AM) . 1♂, Bin Bin Ra., near Didcot , 7 Jan 1975, H. Frauca . 1♂, Ingham , 29 Mar 1961, K.L. Harley . 2♂, Ingham , 20 Apr 1961, R . Straatman . 1♂, 16.6km WSW of Mt Faulkner, Clermont distr. , 7 Jan 1965, M.J.D. White . 1♀, Silver Plains Homestead, Cape York Pen. , 18 Nov 1961, J.L. Wassell . 1♀, 3.3km N of Warrigal Rly. Sta., Pentland distr. , 9–10 Jan 1965, M.J.D.White (all ANIC) . New South Wales. 1♀, Brummagem Ck., near Dubbo , 1–15 Apr 1962, M. & V . Gregg ( AM) . 1♂, 1.6km ESE of Warrigal , 25 Apr 1954, Key & Chinnick ( ANIC) .

Western Australia. 1♀, Kimberley Region , Great Northern Hwy. , Dunham Hill, 68km N of Turkey Creek, 16°22'36"S 128°13'06"E, 1–12 Jun 1999, Gray, Milledge & Smith (w) ( AM). 2♂, 4km W of King Cascade, CALM Site 28/3, 15°38'S 125°15'E, 12–16 Jun 1988, T . A. Weir (w). 1♀, 30km NE of Nullagine , 21°49'S 120°24'E, D.C.F. Rentz & J. Otto ( ANIC) .

Diagnosis. P. atra can be separated from other species in the genus by the absence of distinct par-ocular spines, rounded vertical apophyses, reduced spination of the pronotal margin and distinct colour pattern on the inner face of the foreleg. From P. kimberleyensis it can be distinguished by the lack of a distinct spine on the pronotal margin above the coxal insertion.

Description. Body colour blackish to lighter brown, lighter specimens peppered with darker spots. Head ( Fig. 10A–B ) with vertical apophyses reduced, rounded and very lightly tuberculate; par-ocular spines absent; ocelli without projections; frontal shield with subantennal ridge not produced into small tooth at mid-point; antenna in female with white coloured mid-section.

Pronotum short and broad, dorsal surface without prominent spines or ridges ( Fig. 10C– D ); median carina low, with only small projections; pronotal margin finely spinose or tuberculate, only slightly expanded and produced into only a very small point above coxal insertion; prosternum black with white markings, with prominent pre-acetabular spine.

Wings ( Fig. 4C ) with tegmina semi opaque brown or blackish, with whitish patch at discoidal spot; hindwings with costal margin brownish tinged, tip similar colour to tegmina, remainder hyaline.

Forecoxa ( Fig. 10E–F ) with several small spines on anterior margin and a prominent single or paired spine on inner face adjacent to anterior margin near coxal base, posterior margin with double row of fine tubercles; inner face with scattered small tubercles and a larger group of 2–3 tubercles or spines near coxal base posteriorly, colour yellowish with black band proximally; outer face with anterior half similar to inner face, posterior half similar in colour to rest of body. Inner face of fore femur ( Fig. 10E–F ) yellowish in proximal half, distal half dark brown, femoral brush somewhat raised; outer face body coloured, with central longitudinal ridge. Inner face of fore tibia blackish brown. Fore tarsus dark with white banding.

Dpr of male genitalia ( Fig. 17C–D ) with narrow central process and narrow dextral process with shagreened tip, sinistral margin not noticeably expanded. Pa with single moderate, distinctly spinose, anterior projection and narrow sclerotized section between it and ml. Ml squat, stout and shagreened.

Immature stages. Juvenile stages unknown.

Distribution and habits. Scattered records from across the northern and eastern parts of Australia ( Fig. 21A ), possibly rare in nature. Habits not known. Males attracted to lights at night. This species is clearly an ant mimic and some of its morphological features parallel those found in Nesoxypilus , another paraoxypiline ant mimic.

Remarks. This is the likely sister species P. kimberleyensis . The form of the male genitalia is similar to that species.

Figures

Figure 2. Live photographs Paraoxypilus, Phthersigena and Glabromantis species. A. Paraoxypilus atra, female (Lorenzo Bertola). B. Phthersigena conspersa, female (Aaron Bean). C. Glabromantis nebulosa, male (Tony Eales). D. Ph. conspersa. male (Simon Ong). E. G. nebulosa, female (Gunter Maywald).

Figure 4. Preserved specimens of Paraoxypilus species. P. kimberleyensis, A. male, B. female (arrow indicates pronotal marginal spine). P. atra, C. male, D. female.

Figure 10. Paraoxypilus atra, frontal view of head, A. female, B. male, lateral view of head and pronotum, C. female, D. male, internal face of foreleg, E. female, F. male.

Figure 17. Male genitalia of Paraoxypilus species, left dorsal and ventral phallomeres. P. kimberleyensis,A. dorsal view, B. ventral view. P. atra, C. dorsal view, D. ventral view. Scale bars = 0.5mm.

Figure 21. Distribution maps for Paraoxypilus and Phthersigena species, A. P. atra, B. Ph. conspersa.