Bolbella uhligi, Stiewe, Martin B. D., 2007

Stiewe, Martin B. D., 2007, Two new species of Bolbella Giglio-Tos, 1915 from Southern Africa (Dictyoptera: Mantodea), Zootaxa 1495, pp. 53-60 : 55-58

Bolbella uhligi n. sp.

( Figs. 2 , 14–16 )

Type locality. Matabeleland, Zimbabwe

Diagnosis (based on male only; female unknown). The new species is very extraordinary. If a comparison can be made at all, this species seems to resemble Bolbella rhodesiaca most closely, yet there are still some striking differences: The hypophallus of Bolbella uhligi n. sp. has a very unique lateral abrasively jagged appendage ( Fig. 15 ). Right part of apophysis has a conspicuous big medial plate with grained margin ( Fig. 16 ). The most striking feature distinguishing Bolbella uhligi n. sp. from all other known species is its phalloid apophysis which has a three-pronged fork-like flagellum ( Fig. 14 ). In comparison, the phalloid apophysis of Bolbella rhodesiaca has a four-pronged fork-like flagellum ( Fig. 6 ) and its hypophallus has a completely different lateral appendage ( Fig. 13 ).

Description. Head. About 1.47x as wide as pronotal supracoxal dilatation, vertex very slightly arched and on same height as eyes, frontal scutellum transversal with slightly arched vertex, eyes rounded and wide, ocelli protruding and very large. Antennae are slightly haired but normally shaped.

Thorax. Pronotum short but a little longer than of B. kaltenbachi n. sp., with recognizable supracoxal dilatation, lateral margin grained with dark tubercles. Metazone behind supracoxal dilatation less sinuate than of B. kaltenbachi n. sp. and noticeably longer than prozone; weakly keeled. Prozone unremarkable, though not completely even. Forecoxa long, length 0.92x forefemoral length, lateral margin with some short hairs. Maximum forefemoral breadth 0.45x of forefemoral length, claw furrow towards basal part of middle of femur with four completely developed discoidal spines. The 1st discoidal spine noticeably smaller than 2nd and 3rd whereas the 4th is bigger than the 1st but smaller than 2nd and 3rd. All are blackish. Of the four external spines, the two lower ones are closer to each other than the others. Ventral external margin between these spines with small spines. Eight internal spines of different sizes. Foretibiae with 10 external and nine internal spines. Middle and hind legs delicate in appearance, with dense short hairs, hind metatarsus longer than following segments combined. Wings much longer than abdomen. Tegminae semi-hyaline and about 3.9x as long as their maximum width, narrow costal area with only some vertical veins, external margin of costal area with short hairs, radial vein distally crotched, subcostal vein clearly distant from radial vein. Hindwings completely hyaline, external margin of costal area with short hairs, longitudinal veins brownish, double-crotched anterior cubital vein.

Abdomen. Cylindrical, supra-anal plate wider than long, inconspicuous, subgenital plate with styli. Cerci short but well developed, completely rounded with some hairs.

Copulatory apparatus. Left epiphallus has a well developed phalloid apophysis with a three-pronged fork-like flagellum ( Fig. 14 ). Titillator of left epiphallus well developed, like a rounded fist ( Fig. 14 ). Hypophallus with long lateral abrasively jagged appendage, looks like a saw, field of long fine spines near the right lateral margin ( Fig. 15 ). Right epiphallus with a field of fine spines near distal margin, apophysis very well developed, right part developed to a conspicuous big medial plate with grained margin. Left movable part ending in a dominant tooth ( Fig. 16 ).

Measurements (mm). Holotype. Width head: 2.8; length prozone: 1.4; length metazone: 1.65; width supracoxal dilatation: 1.9; length forecoxae: 3.1; length forefemora: 3.35; length tegmina: 16.0.

Etymology Named after the collector Dr. Manfred Uhlig, Berlin, ZMB.

Material examined. Holotype ɗ, ZIMBABWE, Matabeleland, Lake Mutiriwi bei Masvingo, Kyle N. P. ca. 1100m, lux, 20°13´S / 31°00´E, 1.–4.XII.1992, leg. M. Uhlig, (deposited in Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin ZMB, catalogue number 7956, with genitalia preparation).

Remarks It is impossible to distinguish the species of the genus Bolbella on the basis of their geographic distribution since the habitats are very close to each other. For this reason, the possibility of habitats overlapping cannot be ignored.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Bolbella uhligi n. sp. ♂ Holotype from Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, dorsal view. Scale bar = 3.0 mm.

FIGURES 14 – 16. Bolbella uhligi n. sp. Holotype ♂ copulatory apparatus: 14, left epiphallus dorsal view; 15, hypophallus dorsal view; 16, right epiphallus ventral view. l Ep = left epiphallus, Hy = hypophallus, r Ep = right epiphallus, Ap = apophysis, Ti = titillator. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 9. Flagellum of phalloid apophysis dorsal view of: 6, Bolbella rhodesiaca Beier, 1930; 7, Bolbella brevis Beier, 1953; 8, Bolbella affinis Kaltenbach, 1996; 9, Bolbella punctigera (Stål, 1871); modified from Beier (1953) & Kaltenbach (1996). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 10 – 13. Lateral appendage of hypophallus dorsal view of: 10, Bolbella affinis Kaltenbach, 1996; 11, Bolbella brevis Beier, 1953; 12, Bolbella punctigera (Stål, 1871); 13, Bolbella rhodesiaca Beier, 1930; modified from Beier (1953) & Kaltenbach (1996). Scale bar = 0.1 mm.