Liturgusa cura, Svenson, Gavin J., 2014

Svenson, Gavin J., 2014, Revision of the Neotropical bark mantis genus Liturgusa Saussure, 1869 (Insecta, Mantodea, Liturgusini), ZooKeys 390, pp. 1-214 : 47-50

Liturgusa cura sp. n.

Type.

Holotype Male, pinned. Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Type locality.

Venezuela, Villa de Cura, AR. Venezuela, 1-VII-57, E. Doreste (Lat. 10.003890, Long. -67.476421).

Material examined.

Liturgusa cura sp. n.

Diagnosis.

The smallest Liturgusa species, Liturgusa cura is most similar to Liturgusa bororum and Liturgusa manausensis , but is located only in northern Venezuela, a unique distribution. Also, Liturgusa cura has rounded posterolateral margins of the metazone, distinct from Liturgusa manausensis , as well as a mostly pale ventral prothoracic femoral surface (male has a medial brown marking) that is distinguished from Liturgusa bororum .

Description.

Male. (Fig. 9A) N=1: Body length 18.74; forewing length 12.36; hindwing length 9.73; pronotum length 5.16; prozone length 1.57; pronotum width 2.19; pronotum narrow width 1.62; head width 4.42; head vertex to clypeus 1.78; frons width 1.51; frons height 0.52; prothoracic femur length 5.22; mesothoracic femur length 6.47; mesothoracic tibia length 4.83; mesothoracic tarsus length 4.56; metathoracic femur length 6.56; metathoracic tibia length 6.90; metathoracic tarsus length 6.38; pronotal elongation measure 0.30; pronotal shape measure 0.42; head shape measure 0.40; frons shape measure 0.34; anteroventral femoral spine count 15; anteroventral tibial spine count 10; posteroventral tibial spine count 7.

Head (Fig. 41C): Transverse, the juxta-ocular protuberances small, the apex in the lateral half; the vertex is straight; vertex just below the dorsal margin of the eyes. Frontal suture with a slight medial carina forming a continuous arc, the region ventral and dorsal to the suture not depressed. Ocelli small and protruding slightly on small cuticular mounds; the central ocellus slightly larger than the lateral ocelli; the lateral ocelli oriented outward. The carina on the frons not pronounced. Clypeus transverse, the upper margin slightly convex, the lower margin straight or slightly concave; the central, transverse carina not very pronounced, straight. Antennae scape and pedicel pale, the flagellum light brown. Area around frontal suture, vertex and the juxta-ocular protuberances brown with black or darker markings, no distinct transverse band. Lower region of frons dark brown, a small pale region along ventral margin; clypeus pale; the mandibles and labrum pale with darker brown markings. Palpi are pale.

Pronotum (Fig. 47J): Slightly less than three times as long as wide with a moderately defined supra-coxal bulge; dorsal surface mostly smooth, but with tubercles in the posterolateral corners of the metazone. Prozone a little broader than long, the lateral margins nearly parallel, tapering toward a broad and rounded anterior margin; margins smooth or with very small tubercles. Metazone with shallow concave lateral margins; posterior margin with an emargination; margins with small, disperse tubercles; the dorsal surface of the posterior third of the metazone slightly depressed. Mostly pale or brown with darker brown or black markings, two prominent black marks positioned anterolaterally in the metazone.

Prothoracic Legs: Femur normal with a concave dorsal margin; defined pale to dark banding on posterior (external) surface; anterior (internal) surface with an irregular medial band that is interrupted with pale areas; the ventral surface mostly pale, but with a dark brown mark medially between the second and third posteroventral spines. Posterior surface of femur with few tubercles. A relatively large and shallow femoral pit to accommodate terminal posteroventral tibial spine positioned medial to and just distal to the proximal most posteroventral spine, in line with the most distal discoidal spine; pit is pigmented black. Posterior prothoracic femoral genicular spine a little smaller than posteroventral spines, originating distal to the beginning of the genicular lobe. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first (proximal) of similar size to the third through sixth, the second longer. Prothoracic coxae smooth, the anterior surface with a small, black mark medially in the proximal half as well as a small black spot medially towards the distal terminus.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: Femora with ventral (posterior) carina; dorsal (anterior) carina present. Mesotarsi with first segment shorter than the remaining segments combined.

Wings: Forewings mottled with pale, green, and brown coloration; the costal region with regular banding with alternating pale and dark brown, less defined proximally; vein coloration is pale and brown depending on surrounding coloration; discoidal region with a large centrally located pale marking. Forewings asymmetrically colored, one slightly darkened; extending to approximately the terminus of the abdomen. Hindwings with opaque black discoidal region, darker in the anterior half; the anal region smoky black and translucent; the terminus of the discoidal region projecting far beyond the distal margin of anal region, the wing appearing elongate.

Abdomen: Slightly widened, the fifth tergite the widest region before a gradual posterior narrowing; a smooth, brown and black colored dorsal surface. Tergites without posterolateral tergal projections. Supra-anal plate slightly transverse, an evenly rounded lobe. Subgenital plate irregularly rounded and without styli.

Genital Complex (Fig. 51E.1): The main body of ventral left sclerite (L4A) slightly elongate, the left margin with a large depression near the terminus, the left side with an elongate depression, lacking a distal process (pda). The apofisis falloid (afa) of the main body of dorsal left sclerite (L4B) short, tapering to a sharp point; the apical process (paa) elongate, the terminus evenly rounded. The right dorsal phallomere (fda) of the first sclerite of right phallomere (R1) tapers to a rounded, membranous terminus; the ventral plate (pia) small and narrow, not expanded proximally, with a smooth surface; the ventral process (pva) small and c-shaped, with irregular margins.

Female. (Fig. 9B) N=1: Body length 24.15; forewing length 14.24; hindwing length 10.75; pronotum length 6.84; prozone length 2.00; pronotum width 2.76; pronotum narrow width 2.09; head width 5.72; head vertex to clypeus 2.36; frons width 2.16; frons height 0.89; prothoracic femur length 6.32; mesothoracic femur length 7.68; mesothoracic tibia length 6.18; mesothoracic tarsus length 5.23; metathoracic femur length 7.57; metathoracic tibia length 8.61; pronotal elongation measure 0.29; pronotal shape measure 0.40; head shape measure 0.41; frons shape measure 0.41; anteroventral femoral spine count 15; anteroventral tibial spine count 10; posteroventral tibial spine count 7.

Head (Fig. 41D): Transverse, the juxta-ocular protuberances large, the apex just lateral to the middle; the vertex is convex; vertex just above the dorsal margin of the eyes. Frontal suture with a slight medial carina forming a continuous arc, the region ventral and dorsal to the suture not depressed. Entire vertex above the frontal suture projecting anteriorly, more pronounced than the carina of the frontal suture; two depressions present at the ventral terminus of the parietal suture. Ocelli small and protruding slightly on an elevated carina connecting all three. Clypeus transverse, the upper margin convex, the lower margin concave; the central, transverse carina pronounced, straight. Antennae scape and pedicel pale, the flagellum pale. Area around frontal suture, vertex and the juxta-ocular protuberances mostly pale with brown and black speckling and larger markings, no distinct transverse band. Frons, clypeus, and labrum pale with some brown speckling.

Pronotum (Fig. 47K): As described for males.

Prothoracic Legs: Anterior (internal) surface with an irregular medial band that is interrupted with pale areas; the ventral surface pale. A relatively large and shallow femoral pit to accommodate terminal posteroventral tibial spine positioned medial to and just distal to the proximal most posteroventral spine, in line with the most distal discoidal spine; the lateral margin of the pit extends to the lateral margin of the femur, therefore the margin is depressed between the two posteroventral spines; pit is pigmented black. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first (proximal) smallest and the fourth through sixth of similar length, the second and third are longer. Prothoracic coxae smooth; the anterior surface with a small black band medially in the proximal half as well as a small black spot medially towards the distal terminus.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: As described for males.

Wings: The terminus of the discoidal region of the hindwing projecting beyond the distal margin of anal region, the wing appearing elongate.

Abdomen: Widened, the fifth tergite the widest region before a gradual posterior narrowing; a smooth, brown and black colored dorsal surface. Tergites without posterolateral tergal projections. Supra-anal plate longer than broad, an evenly rounded lobe.

Etymology.

A noun in apposition, Liturgusa cura is named from the Villa de Cura in northern Venezuela where the species was collected.