Titanodula fruhstorferi (Werner, 1916) Vermeersch, 2001

Vermeersch, Xavier H. C., 2020, Titanodula gen. nov., a new genus of giant Oriental praying mantises (Mantodea: Mantidae: Hierodulinae), Belgian Journal of Entomology 100, pp. 1-18 : 1-18

Titanodula fruhstorferi (Werner, 1916) comb. nov.

( Figs 4−6 )

DIAGNOSIS. Titanodula fruhstorferi comb. nov. is very similar to T. attenboroughi sp. nov. in external appearance although profemoral AvS 1, 2, 10 and 15 and the basal spots of AvS 2, 10 and 15 are noticeably less dark or pronounced compared to T. attenboroughi sp. nov. However, both species can be readily differentiated by the unique morphology of male genitalia.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. TYPE MATERIAL (examined from detailed photographs): Holotype ♀ ( Fig. 4 E−F): Vietnam, Tonkin, Than Moi, VI−VII, leg. H. Fruhstorfer ( NHMW).

NOTE: Holotype damaged, abdomen and metathoracic legs are missing.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL (14♂♂, 1 ♀): (1♂): Vietnam, Cham Chu N. R., 22°12’N; 105°06’E, 8−12.VII.2015, Night Collecting, leg. J. Constant, J. Bresseel, Genitalia prep. Vermeersch Nr. GEN1833, GTI project, I.G.: 33.092 ( RBINS). (3♂♂): Vietnam, Tam Dao N.P., 21°31’N; 105°33’E, 25−30.VII.2011, leg. J. Constant, J. Bresseel, Genitalia prep. Vermeersch Nr. GEN1909, GTI project, I.G.: 31.933 ( RBINS). (10♂♂): Vietnam, Cuc Phuong N.P., 20°19’00”N; 105°36’30”E, 19−23.VII.2011, Light Trap, leg. J. Constant, J. Bresseel, Genitalia prep. Vermeersch Nr. GEN1839, GTI project, I.G.: 31.933 ( RBINS). (1 ♀): Vietnam, Tay Yen Tu N. R., 21°11’10”N; 106°43’26”E, 7−11.VII.2013, Day Collecting, leg. J. Constant, J. Bresseel, I.G.: 32.454 ( RBINS) .

REDESCRIPTION. Measurements (see Tables 1−2 ). Very large and robust praying mantis. Head triangular, antennae filiform. Long but robust pronotum, with smooth dorsal surface. Pronotum very finely denticulate along the margins of the prozone in female, without denticulations in the metazone, entirely smooth edges in males. Spinal formula: F = 4DS/15AvS/4PvS; T = 14AvS/10PvS. Ratios ♂: MzL/PzL: 3.1; ♀: MzL/PzL: 3. With black spots on the anterior side of the profemora located at the base of the 2 nd, 10 th and 15 th anteroventral spine. Protarsus (all segments) entirely black on the anterior side. Both sexes macropterous.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 5 A ): Ventral phallomere of left phallic complex elongated, much longer than broad, with two short and strongly sclerotised distal processes (sdp) of about the same length with acute apex. Median process (sdpm) bend at the middle and pointing sideways, lateral process (sdpl) much more strongly bend and pointing upwards, with much broader base than sdpm. Apical process of left phallomere (paa) complex in shape, with sclerotised apex and sclerotizations near the base, but membranous in the middle. Apex abruptly projecting dorsally and to the left, the apex sharply curved in a 90° hook with narrower but rounded tip. Phalloid apophysis (afa) with two sclerotised processes, anterior process (aafa) small and flat, tubercle-shaped, without additional projections or extensions. Posterior process (pafa) spear-shaped, with very strongly developed base, bulging anteriorly, strongly curving towards an almost straight, very long and heavily sclerotised structure, projecting straight posteriad. Membranous lobe loa rounded and small. Genital lobe goa membranous, sometimes well-developed anteriorly but in some specimens also completely collapsed, and much weaker and wrinkled in appearance posteriorly, running almost parallel to pafa posteriad. Right phallomere with sclerite R1A more or less triangular. Sclerite R3 shovel-shaped, very wide at its anterior end. Ventral process (pia) triangular with many longitudinal grooves on its surface, sclerified ventral process (pva) strongly sclerotized, finger-shaped, ending in a blunt hook. Coxosternite IX (subgenital plate) with small black spikes on the right lateral edge, sometimes also in the middle of the distal edge.

ETYMOLOGY. This species was described in 1916 by the Austrian taxonomist Franz Werner (1867–1939) in honour of Hans Fruhstorfer (1866−1922), a German explorer, insect trader and Lepidoptera specialist.

DISTRIBUTION. T. fruhstorferi comb. nov. inhabits the closed canopy forests of the North Vietnamese lowlands ( Fig. 6 ). Forests in this area are highly threatened due to a high rate of deforestation and suitable habitats are strongly fragmented with large gaps between them. More distribution data is needed to assess its conservation status.

Figures

Fig. 4. Titanodula fruhstorferi comb. nov., additional specimen ♂ [AS1 – Tam Dao N.P.] (RBINS). A, habitus, dorsal view. B, habitus, ventral view. C, head, frontal view. D, left prothoracic leg, anterior view. Titanodula fruhstorferi comb. nov., holotype ♀ (NHMW). E, habitus, dorsal view. F, habitus, ventral view. G, detail of head and prothoracic legs. H, labels. © A−D, Xavier Vermeersch and E−H, Harald Bruckner)

Fig. 5. Titanodula fruhstorferi comb. nov., additional specimen ♂ from Cuc Phuong N.P. (RBINS). A, Genitalia prep. Vermeersch Nr. GEN1839, left phallic complex, dorsal view. Titanodula attenboroughi sp. nov., holotype ♂ (RBINS). B, genitalia prep. Vermeersch Nr. GEN1840, left phallic complex, dorsal view. C, right phallic complex, ventral view. D, coxosternite IX (subgenital plate), dorsal view. Drawings © Mado Berthet.

Fig. 6. Distribution map of Titanodula fruhstorferi comb. nov. (▲) and Titanodula attenboroughi sp. nov. (●) in Vietnam. From top to bottom: T. fruhstorferi; Cham Chu N.R., Tam Dao N.P., Tay Yen Tu N.R., Cuc Phuong N.P. T. attenboroughi; Da Krong N.R., Kon Chu Rang N.R.