Mantispilla Enderlein

Snyman, Louwrens P., Sole, Catherine L. & Ohl, Michael, 2018, A revision of and keys to the genera of the Mantispinae of the Oriental and Palearctic regions (Neuroptera: Mantispidae), Zootaxa 4450 (5), pp. 501-549 : 523-524

Genus Mantispilla Enderlein

Mantispilla Enderlein, 1910 (as subgenus of Mаntispа Illiger in Kugelann, 1798 ). Type species: Mаntispа indicа Westwood, 1852 , by original designation.

Synonymised with Mаntispа by Penny (1982). (Restored here)

Sаgittаlаtа Handschin, 1959a . Type species: Mаntispillа hilаris Navás, 1925 (as " Sаgittаlаtа hilаris (Navás 1924 [sic])"), by original designation. (New synonym)

Perlаmаntispа Handschin, 1960a . Type species: Mаntis perlа Pallas, 1772 (as " Mаntispа perlа "), by original designation. Synonymised with Sаgittаlаtа by Snyman et аl. (2012).

Distribution: Afrotropical, Oriental and Palearctic: widespread across all areas.

Diagnosis ( Fig. 13 ): Mantispilla is most easily identified by excluding the other genera found in the regions, however, the following features characterize a cohesive generic group. Mantispilla can be distinguished from other Oriental and Palearctic genera by the forecoxae with longitudinal pigmentation (line) on the anterior or inner lateral sides, pronotum lacks short stout setae, but may have a few sparsely distributed setae, mesothorax either glabrous or pubescent (velvet appearance), the gonocoxites always with a well-developed inward directed flange on distal apex. These characteristics combined with an attenuated or absent crossvein between A1 and CuP distinguish Mantispilla from all other genera. The general colour of Mantispilla is yellow accompanied by black, brown or dark red (oxblood).

Head: vertex with slight longitudinal ridge from the well-developed dome posterior to the interantennal space to the occiput, slight indentation halfway sometimes present, flattening out laterally towards the ocular margin, postocular margin broad, bearing setae, interocular space at anterior margin of scape broader than or similar to width of eyes; scape bearing few setae, flagellum length significantly shorter than prothorax, flagellomeres simple/ unmodified, similar in length than width, squircular in shape, basal half of flagellomeres with prominent whorl of setae on anterior margin which gradually changes towards the apex into fine setae covering entire flagellomeres.

Thorax: anterior margin with slight dorsoanteriorly directed cusp, cusp lacks short stout setae, pronotal shape of mid-section almost cylindrical, usually with regular corrugations in dorsal view, dorsum lacks setae or with sparsely distributed setae; maculae inconspicuous acute cusps, dorsolaterally directed (away from medial plane), posterior to maculae pronotum gradually increases in width; prothorax longer than pterothorax; ventral outline of pronotum in lateral view straight; pterothorax: mesothorax lacks setae, glabrous or pubescent (velvet appearance), mesoscutal furrows conspicuous, meet at prominent central furrow or abruptly end right before meeting, central furrow shaped as laterally compressed conical pit; mesoscutellum triangular, terminates just posterior to central furrow, metathorax smooth, lacks setae, may be pubescent (velvet appearance).

Legs: meso- and metatarsus with segment I longer in length than segments II–IV combined; segment IV the shortest; metatarsus with segment I similar in length than segments II–IV combined; segment II–IV similar in size; segment V slightly globose anterodorsally; meso- and metatarsal claws consisting of four to six teeth, with a collective triangular shape (middle teeth distinctly longer in length than lateral teeth).

Wings: wings hyaline, unpigmented; pterostigma unmodified. Forewing: costal space terminating midway of RS1; pterostigma commencing at r-rs1 or just distal of r-rs1, terminates midway of RS3; sc-ra crossvein distinctly less than half the length of RS3, c-ra crossveins distal to pterostigma one; A2 simple, A2 and A3 fused basally, CuP straight. Hindwing: cu-m straight; A1 forked, A2 present, CuA distinctly bent towards A1, cu-a attenuated or absent, CuA and A1 never completely fused.

Male abdomen: length short, not extending past wing apices; all tergites lack pores, intertergal membrane between V–VI; ectoprocts simple in dorsal view, do not extend past apex of sternite IX in lateral, in caudal view usually ventrolaterally slightly globose, tapering off towards dorsomedial line (teardrop shaped); ventromedial lobes prominent, posteroventrally or posteriorly directed; sternite IX variable, may be truncated, rounded or with apical protrusion; pseudopenis prominent and acute, longer or similar in length than pseudopenal membrane; pseudopenal membrane variable but always triangular, tapering towards pseudopenis; hypomeres prominent on lateral apices of pseudopenal membrane; distal apices of gonocoxites level with or just short of distal apex of mediuncus; gonocoxites, always with well-developed inward directed flange on distal apex of gonocoxite; median gonarcal lobe an acute or sub-acute protrusion, shorter or similar in length than the length of pseudopenis; distal apex of mediuncus bifid, proximal apex of mediuncus variable, usually arrow shaped, usually extends past proximal apices of the gonocoxites.

Biology: The biology of Mantispilla japonica was studied by Hirata & Ishii (1995). Several species of spiders from the Clubionidae , Philodromidae , Salticidae and Thomisidae are reported as hosts of M. japonica . The first instar is known to board spiders and prefer the spider pedicel as attachment position.

Figures

FIGURE 13. Mantispilla sp. undescribed: a. Prothorax, lateral view; b. habitus; d. prothoracic dorsum; e. terminalia, ventral view, arrows indicating inner flanges; f, terminalia caudal. Mantispilla perla: c. Prothorax, lateral view; g. terminalia, caudal view; h. terminalia, dorsal view. Mantispilla hilaris: i. terminalia, dorsal view; j. terminalia, caudal view.