Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838)

Svenson, Gavin J., 2014, Revision of the Neotropical bark mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 (Insecta, Mantodea, Liturgusini), ZooKeys 390, pp. 1-214 : 117-121

Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838)

Mantis annulipes : Audinet Serville 1838: 199.

Mantis (Oxypilus) annulipes : De Haan 1842: 84.

Liturgousa annulipes : Saussure 1869: 62; Brauer 1870: 92; Saussure 1871b: 102 (female only; partim); Westwood 1889: 4, 49, pl. 2, fig. 3; Kirby 1904: 271; Werner 1906: 372; Chopard 1911: 323; Chopard 1916: 164; Rehn 1935: 199, pl. 8, fig. 4; Hughes-Schrader 1943: 266, 280, Table 1, Figs 19-28; Hughes-Schrader 1948: 267; Hughes-Schrader 1950: 11, Table 1; Cerdá 1996: 75.

Liturgusa annulipes : Hebard 1922: 337; Giglio-Tos 1927: 294; Beier 1935: 11; Terra 1995: 53, Figs 85-87; Jantsch 1999: 48; Ehrmann 2002: 206; Otte and Spearman 2005: 132; Agudelo et al. 2007: 116, 141.

Hagiomantis parva : Piza 1966: 8; Terra 1995: 54; Ehrmann 2002: 164; Otte and Spearman 2005: 130. syn. n.

Liturgusa sinvalnetoi : Piza 1982: 94; Terra 1995: 54; Jantsch 1999: 48; Ehrmann 2002: 207; Otte and Spearman 2005: 133; Agudelo et al. 2007: 116. syn. n.

Liturgusa parva : Giglio-Tos 1914: 77-78; Giglio-Tos 1927: 295; Beier 1935: 11; Terra 1995: 54; Jantsch 1999: 48; Ehrmann 2002: 207; Otte and Spearman 2005: 133; Agudelo et al. 2007: 116. syn. n.

Lectotype.

Female. Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Germany.

Type locality.

Bahia, Brasilla, Fruhstorfer.

Material examined.

Fuga annulipes (Audinet Serville, 1838).

Taxonomic history.

The oldest described species of Neotropical Liturgusini , its proper identification is rarely achieved historically. It appears to be a default identification for Liturgusa specimens, giving a highly inaccurate account of the species’ distribution and morphological characteristics. When the types were compared to other specimens in this study, it was immediately clear that this species was not a Liturgusa at all, but a different and geographically isolated species unlike all other Liturgusa species.

When describing Mantis annulipes in 1838 Audinet Serville provided a relatively lengthy description, but was ambiguous when referencing the locality of the specimen or specimens by only listing "Of Brazil and of Cayenne". He did reference that the description was based on the female form, but it is unknown if there were one or multiple specimens examined; the distribution information presented suggests multiples. The specimens are presumed to come from the collection of MM. Dejean et Viard, but the current location of Audinet Serville’s specimens is not known. The catalog of Reinhard Ehrmann listed the holotype female as deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, and paratypes deposited in the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Germany. The specimens from EMAU were located and examined, but the holotype in MNHN was not located. A search did not reveal its presence in the collection historically. It is not truly known whether the two EMAU specimens are those examined by Audinet Serville, but they date from the correct period and are from locations in Brazil. However, since a holotype was never designated by Audinet Serville and no subsequent fixation was uncovered, the specimens are treated as syntypes. Therefore, to increase taxonomic stability within the species, under Article 74.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature a the female from Bahia, Brazil deposited in EMAU has been selected to become the unique bearer of the name of the nominal species-group Fuga annulipes (lectotype). The additional specimen also deposited in EMAU is selected as a paralectotype under Article 74.1.3 of The Code.

The types of three species, Hagiomantis parva Piza, 1966, Liturgusa sinvalnetoi Piza, 1982, and Liturgusa parva Giglio-Tos, 1914, were examined and compared with the original description of Mantis annulipes and the two specimens from EMAU and were found to be conspecific. These three new synonymies are likely the result of the historical confusion surrounding the distribution and characteristics of Fuga annulipes .

Diagnosis.

A small species, males being darkly colored with highly contrasting grey and black on forewings. Females also with a darker coloration, but most noticeable is the less elongate pronotum compared to the other two species in the genus. Their squat appearance should be obvious when observed in the field as they are the only species known in eastern Brazil with such short pronota.

Description.

Male. (Fig. 30A) N=3: Body length 18.84-19.03 (18.93); forewing length 12.76-13.00 (12.89); hindwing length 10.23-10.58 (10.40); pronotum length 4.75-4.96 (4.86); prozone length 1.54-1.64 (1.60); pronotum width 2.02-2.20 (2.10); pronotum narrow width 1.66-1.75 (1.69); head width 4.33-4.63 (4.51); head vertex to clypeus 1.60-1.64 (1.62); frons width 1.54-1.59 (1.57); frons height 0.52-0.59 (0.55); prothoracic femur length 5.09-5.38 (5.23); mesothoracic femur length 6.58-6.72 (6.65); mesothoracic tibia length 5.20-5.27 (5.23); mesothoracic tarsus length 4.79-5.16 (4.97); metathoracic femur length 6.33-6.89 (6.64); metathoracic tibia length 6.86-7.44 (7.21); metathoracic tarsus length 6.98-7.88 (7.43); pronotal elongation measure 0.32-0.33 (0.33); pronotal shape measure 0.43-0.44 (0.43); head shape measure 0.34-0.38 (0.36); frons shape measure 0.34-0.37 (0.35); anteroventral femoral spine count 15; anteroventral tibial spine count 9; posteroventral tibial spine count 8.

Head (Fig. 45E): Juxta-ocular protuberances small, the middle being the most pronounced; the vertex between the parietal sutures is slightly concave; vertex lower than the dorsal margin of the eyes. Frontal suture with a curved carina forming a continuous arc. Ocelli small with the central ocellus oriented anteriorly while the lateral are oriented slightly off 90 degrees from the central axis of the head; protruding slightly on cuticular mounds. Frons narrowed between the antennal insertion sites and depressed below the central ocellus; a transverse carina present below the central ocellus, running from lateral margins under the antennal insertion sites medially in a dorsally oriented curve. Upper margin of clypeus slightly convex, lower margin slightly concave; a central protruding carina; the lateral margins tapering, widest at the upper margin. Antennae pale proximally and fading to brown distally. Varying levels of black markings across the anterior surface of head; the vertex, juxta-ocular protuberances, frons, mandibles, and labrum with black and pale mottling, but giving a darker appearance. Palpi are darkened terminally.

Pronotum (Fig. 50A): Shortened, but not squat with a slightly defined supra-coxal bulge; dorsal surface mostly smooth with a few tubercles present; prozone with parallel lateral margins prior to a rounded anterior margin; metazone with concave lateral margins, smooth or at most with tiny tubercles associated with setae; posterior margin of the metazone rounded with a slight medial emargination; the dorsal surface of the posterior half of the metazone slightly depressed. Supra-coxal sulcus strongly defined. The lateral margins of the pronotum slightly expanded to form a small ledge. Colored with black and pale markings that vary across specimens.

Prothoracic Legs: Femur robust with a straight dorsal margin. Brown to dark banding on posterior (outer) surface of femur with less than 10 tubercles; anterior (internal) surface amber or pale with one black spot in the groove for the tibial spur; ventral surface amber or pale. Well developed femoral pit on the ventral surface to accommodate terminal posteroventral tibial spine positioned medial to the most proximal posteroventral spine; pit is black. Posterior prothoracic femoral genicular spine slightly smaller than posteroventral spines, originating distal to the beginning of the genicular lobe. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first and second (proximal) short with the fourth through seventh of similar length, the third and terminal spines much longer; the anteroventral spines longest at distal end and shortening proximally. Posterior surface of the prothoracic tibiae smooth and banded, but dark brown; anterior surface amber, the ventral surface amber. Prothoracic coxae smooth with varying black markings on the posterior and ventral surface, the anterior surface with a proximal (near center) and a distal black marking.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: Femora with a pronounced dorsal and ventral carina; posterior (upper) surface with two carinae, one running nearly the entire length, fading proximally and positioned ventrally to the dorsal carina, the other in the distal third and positioned parallel and between the previous and the ventral carina. Mesotarsi with first segment as long as the remaining segments combined. Metatarsi with first segment slightly longer than remaining segments combined.

Wings: The same length or slightly longer than the abdomen. Forewings mottled with contrasting regions of black and pale white or grey; the costal region alternating from pale to dark its entire length, mostly brown proximally; the costal region slightly widened. The forewings may be colored asymmetrically, one being mottled as described above while the other is much darker and usually folded under the other. Hindwings opaque and smoky with near black veins; the terminus of the discoidal region truncate and not projecting beyond the distal margin of anal region, giving a stubby appearance.

Abdomen: Elongate, tubular, and smooth. Tergites without posterolateral tergal projections. Cerci cylindrical, long and setose, tapering to a point. Supra-anal plate transverse, evenly rounded. Subgenital plate rounded and without styli.

Genital Complex (Fig. 53A.1-A.2): The main body of ventral left sclerite (L4A) with a prominent, thin, curved distal process (pda), the entire structure curving laterally and back onto the L4A. The apofisis falloid (afa) of the main body of dorsal left sclerite (L4B) well sclerotized and roughly textured with a short, broad terminus, the tip broader than medial region; the apical process (paa) cylindrical and gently curved, terminating with a rounded terminus; numerous, very long, slightly curved setae emerging from a central point between the apofisis falloid (afa) and the apical process (paa) that extend distally as long as the apical process. The right dorsal phallomere (fda) of the first sclerite of right phallomere (R1) tapers to a broadly, rounded and well sclerotized terminus and has few fine setae; the ventral plate (pia) strongly sclerotized, long and thin, but without a knob or tooth proximally, the surface smooth; the ventral process (pva) strongly sclerotized, large and curved, tapering to a point, each edge serrated with small, pointed teeth.

Redescription.

Female. (Figs 30B, 31 A–C, 32A, 32C) N=10: Body length 21.70-26.74 (24.25); forewing length 14.89-18.41 (16.26); hindwing length 12.32-13.77 (12.92); pronotum length 5.75-6.74 (6.20); prozone length 1.93-2.25 (2.06); pronotum width 2.55-2.93 (2.70); pronotum narrow width 1.98-2.30 (2.13); head width 5.30-6.05 (5.65); head vertex to clypeus 2.08-2.35 (2.21); frons width 2.00-2.32 (2.16); frons height 0.67-0.88 (0.76); prothoracic femur length 6.26-7.18 (6.65); mesothoracic femur length 7.22-8.24 (7.63); mesothoracic tibia length 5.83-6.73 (6.22); mesothoracic tarsus length 5.26-6.13 (5.63); metathoracic femur length 7.24-8.23 (7.70); metathoracic tibia length 8.07-9.84 (8.75); metathoracic tarsus length 7.81-9.76 (8.61); pronotal elongation measure 0.32-0.34 (0.33); pronotal shape measure 0.41-0.49 (0.44); head shape measure 0.38-0.40 (0.39); frons shape measure 0.33-0.38 (0.35); anteroventral femoral spine count 14-16 (15); anteroventral tibial spine count 9; posteroventral tibial spine count 8.

Head (Fig. 45F): Juxta-ocular protuberances moderate size, the middle being the most pronounced; the vertex between the parietal sutures is slightly concave; vertex higher than the dorsal margin of the eyes. Ocelli protruding slightly on a carina connecting all three and extending laterally. Varying levels of black markings across the anterior surface of head; the vertex, juxta-ocular protuberances, frons, mandibles, and labrum with fine black speckling over a largely pale coloration, giving a lighter appearance than males. Palpi are darkened brown terminally.

Pronotum (Fig. 50B): Shortened, but not squat with a slightly defined supra-coxal bulge; dorsal surface mostly smooth, but some tubercles are present; prozone with parallel lateral margins prior to a rounded anterior margin; metazone with concave lateral margins, with small tubercles in the posterior two thirds; posterior margin of the metazone rounded with no medial emargination.

Prothoracic Legs: Femur robust with a nearly straight dorsal margin; anteroventral spines black, posteroventral spines pale basally with a black terminus. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first and second most proximal and fifth through seventh shorter than the proximal third, fourth and terminal spines; the anteroventral spines longest at distal end and shortening proximally, but the sixth and seventh from the distal end longer than adjacent spines. Posterior surface of the prothoracic tibiae smooth and banded; anterior surface pale, the ventral surface pale. Prothoracic coxae smooth with varying black markings on the posterior and ventral surface, the anterior surface with a small proximal (near center) and a small distal black marking.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: Femora with a pronounced dorsal and ventral (posterior) carina. Mesotarsi with first segment as long as or shorter than the remaining segments combined. Metatarsi with first segment slightly longer than remaining segments combined.

Wings: Costal region of hindwings and the anterior margin of the discoidal region more pale than the rest.

Abdomen: Broad and smooth, widening from first segment until the beginning of the distal half (segments 4-5) when the lateral margins narrow gradually to the terminus, the middle being the broadest region. Tergites with small posterolateral projections on the sixth and seventh segments. Supra-anal plate longer than wide, broadly rounded.