Sphodropoda viridis Tindale, 1923

Milledge, G. A., 2005, Revision of the Genera Sphodropoda, Trachymantis and Zopheromantis (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), Records of the Australian Museum 57, pp. 191-210 : 199

Sphodropoda viridis Tindale

Figs. 18–19, 36–38, 44

Sphodropoda viridis Tindale, 1923: 446 .

Material examined. Holotype male, Mount Painter, Flinders Range, South Australia, H.G. Stokes, I 14061 ( SAM).— QUEENSLAND. 23, 27 km SE of Cunnamulla, 27 Mar 1972, R.C. Lewis ( ANIC). 13, Gilbert River , 27 Mar 1990, J. Hasenpusch. 23, Georgetown , 13 & 14 Apr 1991, G. Milledge (all NMV). 1♀, Cunnamulla , H. Hardcastle ( SAM).— NEW SOUTH WALES. 13, 1♀, Trangie , 21 Apr 1956, L.J. Chinnick ( ANIC).— NORTHERN TERRITORY. 1♀, Barrow Creek Tel.Sta., 20 Mar 1955, K.H.L. Key. 53, Clay Pan Well , 38 km NW of Tanami, 12 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 1♀, 7 km SW of Coolibah HS, 15°34'S 130°54'E, 6 Jul 1968, M. Mendum (all ANIC). 13, Tourist Camp site, Ormiston Gorge National Park , Horn Centenary Expedition, 23°38'03"S 132°43'23"E, 10 Mar 1995, P.Swinkels ( NMV).— SOUTH AUSTRALIA. 13, Mt. Painter , Flinders Range, H.G. Stokes ( SAM).— VICTORIA. 1♀, Mildura Gun Club, 27 Mar 1990, P. Robertson ( NMV).— WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 13, 17 km NE of Cane River HS, 21°56'S 115°39'E, 27 Apr 1971, Key, Upton & Mitchell. 13, 3 km NNW of Mandora HS, SSW of Broome, 17 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 13, 1 km N of Millstream HS, 21°35'S 117°04'E, 15 Apr 1971, Upton & Mitchell. 13, 1♀, 43 km NW of Wittenoom, 22 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 1♀, 5 km N of Wittenoom, 21 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick. 1♀, 48 km ESE of Wittenoom, 25 Apr 1963, L.J. Chinnick (all ANIC). 13, Hancock Gorge, 15 km S of Wittenoom, 15 May 1980, G. Marney & P. Duncan. 1♀, Minilya. 1♀, 2.5 km E of Marandoo Camp, 22°38'S 118°06'E, 5–19 May 1980, T.F. Houston (all WAM).

Diagnosis. This species can be distinguished by the uniform green colouration, lack of markings on the inner face of the fore coxa ( Fig. 37) and the form of the male genitalia ( Fig. 38).

Description. Body ( Figs. 18–19) medium to rather large. Colour uniform green. Ridge on frontal shield with blunt point at apex. Prothorax with a few scattered tubercles on dorsal surface, more so in female; lateral margin finely denticulate. Fore leg ( Fig. 37) with inner face of coxa without markings, anterior margin with 7–10 denticles; inner face of femur with two small dark spots at base of spines; inner face of all tarsal segments black. Wings of male longer than abdomen, those of female as long as or longer than abdomen; ventral surface of costal area of tegmen reddish; discoidal area completely opaque in female, only partly so in male; hind wing with costal and discoidal area yellowish, anal area mostly hyaline.Abdomen with median black spot on proximal margin of ventral sclerites 2–5. Male genitalia ( Fig. 38) apr of moderate length; pa with smooth, pointed elongate anterior projection, shagreened and blunt posteriorly; distal projections of dpr short and broad, one directed anterolaterally, the other posterodorsally.

Measurements (mm). Body length, 3 48–64, ♀ 44–60. Pronotum length, 3 12–18, ♀ 14–19. Pronotum width, 3 3.5–6, ♀ 5–6.5. Fore coxa length, 3 9–11, ♀ 9–12.5. Fore femur length, 3 9–12, ♀ 10–14. Hind femur length, 3 8– 12, ♀ 9–12. Hind tibia length, 3 8.5–14, ♀ 11–14. Tegmen length, 3 36–47, ♀ 30–40.

Immature stages. Immature stages and ootheca unknown.

Distribution and habits. Found across the drier parts of the continent ( Fig. 44). This species displays cryptic behaviour similar to that described for S. tristis and S. quinquedens .