Ima fusca Tindale

Connors, Matthew G., Yeeles, Peter, Lach, Lori & Rentz, David C. F., 2023, A revision of the genus Ima Tindale (Mantodea: Nanomantidae: Fulciniinae) with the description of a new genus, Zootaxa 5380 (3), pp. 201-226 : 206-209

Ima fusca Tindale

Figures 1–5 , 14 , 15A–D

Ima fusca Tindale, N.B. 1924 , Review of Australian Mantidae . Part II. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide), vol. 2, pp. 547–552 [549].

Type material. Holotype male. Label 1 front. “I.14591 Ima fusca Tindale Cairns dist. A.M.Lea Type ”. Label 1 back. “NB Tindale Type a ♂ also Genotype”. Label 2. “Cairns dist. A. M. Lea ”. Label 3. “ SAMA Database No. 11- 000001” . Holotype in South Australian Museum , Adelaide .

Additional material. QLD: 1♂ South Alice Ck, 20km S of Dalhunty R. crossing, Cape York Peninsula , 30 OCT 1979, M.S. & B.J. Moulds ( ANIC) ; 4♂♂ 13km E by S of Weipa , 12.40 S 142.00 E, 25 OCT 1993, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop CY-53 ( ANIC) ; 1♂ 2km NE. by E. of Mt. Tozer, Iron Range Nat. Park , 12.44 S 143.13 E, 3 JUL 1986, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop I-6 ( ANIC) ; 1♂ 5km N by W of Weipa , 12.35 S 141.51 E, 24 OCT 1993, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop CY-52 ( ANIC) ; 4♂♂ Weipa , 12.615 S 141.896 E, 11–19 SEP 2021, D. Funnell ( ANIC) ; 1♂ Weipa Vicinity [no date or collector] ( ANIC) ; 1♂ 2km N of Archer River , 13.25 S 142.56 E, 25 OCT 1993, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop CY-54 ( ANIC) ; 1♀ The Bend Campsite, Coen , 13.925 S 143.194 E, 1 JUN 2022, M.G. Connors, C. Henderson, & M. Allan ( ANIC) ; 5♀♀ 4♂♂ 3.5km SW. by S. of Mt. Baird, nr. Cooktown , 15.10 S 145.07 E, 3–5 MAY 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop 31. on Melaleuca , Genitalia prep. MG399–402 J. Balderson ( ANIC) ; 1♀ 1♂ same data, collected as nymph: reared in laboratory ( ANIC) ; 1♀ same locality, date, and collector, Stop 31 Melaleuca & bloodwood ( ANIC) ; 2♂♂ 7km N. of Hope Vale Miss., nr. Cooktown , 15.14 S 145.07 E, 4 OCT 1980, T. A. Weir & R. A. Barrett, Genitalia prep. MG311 J. Balderson ( ANIC) ; 1♂ 14km W. by N. of Hope Vale Mission, nr. Cooktown , 15.16 S 144.59 E, 9 OCT 1980, T.A. Weir & R. A. Barrett ( ANIC) ; 2♀♀ same locality, 7–10 MAY 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop 34. on paperbark, wet Melaleuca swamp ( ANIC) ; 1♀ nymph 1♂ 1km N. of Rounded Hill, nr. Cooktown , 15.17 S 145.13 E, 6 OCT 1980, T.A. Weir & R. A. Barrett ( ANIC) ; 4♀♀ 5♂♂ same locality, 5–7 MAY 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop 32 on Melaleuca paperbark, Genitalia prep. 415–418 J. Balderson ( ANIC) ; 2♂♂ same data, collected as nymph and reared in laboratory ( ANIC) ; 1♀ Walker’s Bay, Cooktown , 15.28 S 145.15 E, 26 JAN 1995, L. R. Ring ( ANIC) ; 1♀ 1♂ Cooktown Botanic Gardens , 7 APR 1991, G. Milledge, MAN-41 & MAN-42 ( MV) ; 2♂♂ Cooktown Botanic Gardens , 15.47 S 145.26 E, 2 OCT 2022, M.G. Connors, G. Kruger-Ilingworth, & R. Kinnaird, on Melaleuca (ANIC) ; 1♀ Cattana Wetlands, Cairns , 16.83 S 145.70 E, 4 JUN 2022, M.G. Connors, on Melaleuca (ANIC) ; 1♂ Cattana Wetlands intake road, 16°49’46.0’’ S 145°42’25.8’’ E, [no date], J. Kramer, specimen 21 ( ANIC) ; 1♂ Holloways Beach Swamp Edge , 16°50’18.5’’ S 145°44’10.0’’ E, 8 FEB 2020, J. Quinn, species #8 ( ANIC) ; 3♀♀ 2♂♂ Cairns Botanic Gardens , 16.901 S 145.751 E, 25 MAR 2022, M.G. Connors, on Melaleuca (ANIC) ; 2♂♂ Les Davies Park, Cairns , 16.909 S, 145.763 E, 29 SEP 2022, M.G. Connors, on Melelauca ( ANIC) ; 4♂♂ Clohesy River Rd Dinden State For. Nr Koah , 417m, 16°55’.422’ S 145°35.490’ E, 19 JUL 2017, D.C.F. Rentz & B. Richardson, Stop 31 ( ANIC) ; 1♂ Clohesy River Rd. Dinden State Forest, nr Koah , 412 m, 16°55.456’ S 145°35.508’ E, 4 OCT 2021, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop 23 ( ANIC) ; 1♂ Clohesy River Rd Dinden State For. Nr Koah, 410m, 16°55’.416’ S 145°35.483’ E, 5 OCT 2018, D.C.F. Rentz, Stop 28 ( ANIC) ; 1♀ Townsville , DEC 1981, Preston-Maffam ( ANIC) .

Differential diagnosis. Ima fusca can be distinguished from Ima corymbia sp. nov. only by the male genitalia having afa without a strong indentation on the right side.

Description. As for the generic description in external morphology and colouration. Male genitalia with afa directed posteriorly, with tip broadly rounded, often poorly sclerotised, right side straight or at most very weakly concave ( Figure 1C–D ).

Nymph. Older nymphs are similar in morphology and colour to adults, but lack wings ( Figure 4E ). Very young nymphs are pale with relatively long legs and shorter abdomen.

Ootheca. Small, cryptic; pale salmon pink externally, internally a deeper reddish pink; ovate, strongly flattened, distal end slightly pointed; with two irregular rows of eggs, these laying almost flat but not parallel with each other; external foam layer thin but covering almost entire ootheca; emergence area obscured by foam ( Figure 3 ). In nature, oothecae are deposited in the very narrow space between layers of bark such that the two broadest sides both attach to the substrate. Even if removed from the tree, a thin layer of bark usually remains glued to the external surface of the ootheca. If deprived of bark, females will deposit oothecae in narrow cracks between other items.

Measurements (in mm). Body length, 20.9–22.5 (♀) 18.7–22.4 (♂). Pronotum length, 4.0–6.4 (♀), 4.1–5.1 (♂). Pronotum width, 2.2–2.7 (♀), 1.7–2.3 (♂). Tegmen length, 12.2–13.6 (♀), 13.4–15.5 (♂).

Distribution. Ima fusca has been collected from a variety of different habitats in northeastern Queensland, from human-modified suburban areas to dry sclerophyll forest; it is particularly abundant in Melaleuca swamp forests. It is known from Mapoon in the north to Cairns in the south. A single record from Townsville may represent an accidental translocation, as repeated searches in the area have failed to find any further specimens. South of Cooktown, Ima fusca has only been collected close to the coast, whereas it has been collected well inland in the northern portion of its range ( Figure 14 , 15A–D ).

Remarks. Ima fusca is quite common where it occurs but is usually very localised. Although males are strong flyers and will readily come to lights, females and nymphs have been collected almost exclusively from the trunks of paperbark trees ( Melaleuca spp. ), particularly from Melaleuca leucadendra in the Cairns region. Notably, however, individuals have been recorded on Corymbia stockeri in Coen. Collection localities for this species have been mostly restricted to areas where these trees are common, but cover a wide range of habitats from undisturbed heath and paperbark swamp to suburban parks, gardens, and beaches.

Adults and nymphs of both sexes have been collected throughout the year, but are generally more common in the wet season (November to March). In particular, the abundance of adult males appears to drop significantly during the dry season (April to October), and nymphs appear to be most abundant in the late dry season and early wet season.

Unusually among mantises, Ima fusca appear to be remarkably tolerant of both conspecifics and unrelated mantises living in close proximity. Multiple individuals of different life stages can frequently be found on a single tree, and we have recorded the species living on the same tree trunk as both Ciulfina rentzi Holwell et al., 2007 and Metoxypilus costalis Westwood, 1889 .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Ima fusca Tindale.A. Dorsal habitus, adult female. B. Dorsal habitus, adult male. C. Male genitalic complex, dorsal view. D. Male genitalic complex, ventral view. A–B. Scale = 10mm. C–D. Scale = 1mm.

FIGURE 2. Ima fusca Tindale. A. Subgenital plate, adult female. B. Subgenital plate, adult male. Scale = 1mm.

FIGURE 3. Ima fusca Tindale, ootheca. A. Dorsal view. B. Ventral view. Scale = 5mm.

FIGURE 4. Ima fusca Tindale, live photographs. A. Adult female, Yorkeys Knob, Queensland. B. Adult female, Whitfield, Queensland. C.Adult male, Cooktown, Queensland. D.Adult female depositing ootheca, Yorkeys Knob, Queensland. E. Nymph feeding on an unidentified orthopteran, Redden Island, Queensland. F. Adult female, Yorkeys Knob, Queensland.

FIGURE 5. Running behaviour of Ima fusca Tindale. Time is taken from the moment the mantis begins to move. A. Prior to running, the mantis sits vertically with its body away from the substrate at the top left; t = 0 ms. B. Beginning to turn diagonally; t = 13 ms. C. Turning and beginning to run; t = 42 ms. D. Running; t = 96 ms. E. Preparing to stop; t = 192 ms. F. Stopping and turning to face vertically again; t = 204 ms. G. Finished turning and facing vertically again; t = 213 ms. H. The mantis presses itself against the substrate and sits motionless; t = 254 ms. Photographs by Laura Lopresti.

FIGURE 14. Distribution of Ima and Inimia spp. A. Distribution in Queensland. B. Distribution in the Cairns and Cooktown regions. Yellow = Ima fusca, Red = Ima corymbia sp. nov., Purple = Inimia nat gen. et sp. nov., White = unidentified Ima spp. Stars = type locality, Circles = specimens, Triangles = photographic records. Base map courtesy of Google Maps ©2023 and TerraMetrics ©2023.

FIGURE 15. Typical habitat of Ima and Inimia spp. A. Melaleuca swamp forest at Weipa, Queensland, habitat of Ima fusca. B. Acacia- and Melaleuca-dominated open sclerophyll forest at Redden Island, Queensland, habitat of Ima fusca. C. Melaleuca swamp forest at Whitfield, Queensland, habitat of Ima fusca. D. Human-modified habitat at Yorkeys Knob, Queensland, habitat of Ima fusca. E. Syncarpia- and Eucalyptus-dominated open dry sclerophyll forest at Davies Creek, Queensland, potential habitat of both Ima fusca and Ima corymbia. F. Corymbia- and Eucalyptus-dominated dry shrubby woodland at White Mountains, Queensland, habitat of Ima corymbia. G. Eucalyptus- and Casuarina-dominated open dry sclerophyll forest at Koah, Queensland, habitat of Ima corymbia. H. Parkland at Cooyar, Queensland, habitat of I. nat, photograph by Glenda Walter.