Liturgusa bororum, 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 : 44-47

Liturgusa bororum sp. n.

Type.

Holotype Male, pinned. Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France.

Type locality.

Peru: Loreto, Brillo Nuevo, Reg. de l‘Ampiyacu, en av. confl. des rios Zumun et Yahuasyacu, L. Desutter Rec.; Paro.Q; Sans (5A. Apres Aband.) Chasse Jour 9-XI-1985 (Lat. -3.335174, Long. -71.816805).

Material examined.

Liturgusa bororum sp. n.

Natural history.

Only three individuals (one escaped) were observed in two locations in the Loreto Province, Peru. Two females, both were found less than one meter from the ground on small to medium diameter, smooth bark trees with patches of moss. The female that escaped ran into the herbaceous vegetation surrounding the tree at the base and disappeared. The collected female was easily corralled low on the tree. The male was found living in sympatry with Liturgusa algorei , Liturgusa krattorum , and Liturgusa maya at the Madre Selva Biological Research Station in the Loreto Province, Peru.

Diagnosis.

The second smallest species in Liturgusa , second only to Liturgusa cura , Liturgusa bororum can be distinguished from Liturgusa cura easily by the presence of dark pigmentation across the ventral surface of the prothoracic femora in males and two markings in females; males of Liturgusa cura have only two small marks and females are entirely devoid of markings. Liturgusa bororum is only known from northern Peru and just across the border in Brazil. Can be distinguished from Liturgusa manausensis by its evenly rounded posterior margins of the metazone.

Description.

Male. (Fig. 8A) N=2: Body length 19.61-20.30 (19.95); forewing length 12.68-13.63 (13.15); hindwing length 9.88; pronotum length 5.35-5.64 (5.49); prozone length 1.58-1.61 (1.59); pronotum width 2.11-2.25 (2.18); pronotum narrow width 1.46-1.61 (1.53); head width 4.51-4.55 (4.53); head vertex to clypeus 1.80; frons width 1.59-1.71 (1.65); frons height 0.53-0.67 (0.60); prothoracic femur length 5.54-5.99 (5.77); mesothoracic femur length 7.43-7.71 (7.57); mesothoracic tibia length 5.81-6.23 (6.02); mesothoracic tarsus length 5.11; metathoracic femur length 7.27-7.59 (7.43); metathoracic tibia length 7.75-8.54 (8.15); metathoracic tarsus length 8.07; pronotal elongation measure 0.29; pronotal shape measure 0.40; head shape measure 0.40; frons shape measure 0.31-0.42 (0.36); anteroventral femoral spine count 14-15 (14); anteroventral tibial spine count 10; posteroventral tibial spine count 7.

Head (Fig. 41A): Transverse, the juxta-ocular protuberances small, the apex in the lateral half; the vertex is nearly straight, but with two slight bulges just medial to each parietal suture; vertex just below the dorsal margin of the eyes. Frontal suture with a slight medial carina forming a continuous arc, the region ventral to the carina, particularly in the middle, is depressed forming a deep groove. Ocelli small and protruding slightly on small cuticular mounds; the central ocellus slightly larger than lateral; than lateral ocelli oriented outward. The carina on the frons not pronounced, but present. Clypeus transverse, the upper margin slightly convex, the lower margin straight or slightly concave; the central, transverse carina pronounced, straight. Antennae scape and pedicel pale, the flagellum light brown or black. 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. 47H): A little less than three times as long as wide with a moderately defined supra-coxal bulge; dorsal surface mostly smooth, but sometimes with rough patches or small tubercles in the posterior third. Prozone square with slightly convex margins that gradually taper to an evenly rounded anterior margin; margins smooth or with blunt tubercles. Metazone with concave lateral margins; margins smooth or with small tubercles; the dorsal surface of the posterior third of the metazone depressed. Mostly pale or brown with darker brown or black markings across the surface.

Prothoracic Legs: Femur normal with a concave dorsal margin; strongly defined pale to dark banding on posterior (external) surface; anterior (internal) surface darkly pigmented, only two pale marks along the dorsal margin; the ventral surface darkly pigmented with brown or black. 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 dark brown. Posterior prothoracic femoral genicular spine slightly smaller than posteroventral spines, originating just proximal of the beginning of the genicular lobe. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first (proximal) smallest and the third through sixth of similar length, 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 or as long as the remaining segments combined.

Wings: Forewings mottled with pale, green, and brown coloration; the costal region mostly pale with a few dark marks, no regular banding; vein coloration is pale, but sections match darker surroundings; discoidal region darker proximally, the distal half more pale in overall color dominance. Forewings not asymmetrically colored; extending just beyond the terminus of the abdomen. Hindwings with opaque brown or black discoidal region, darker proximally; 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 or sixth 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 transverse, evenly tapered terminus. Subgenital plate irregularly rounded and without styli.

Genital Complex (Fig. 51D.1): The main body of ventral left sclerite (L4A) asymmetrical, the left margin rounded, leading to a short, blunt nub projecting laterally; the right margin of L4A straight; lacking a distal process (pda). The apofisis falloid (afa) of the main body of dorsal left sclerite (L4B) elongate and robust, one margin being concave and connecting to a prominent subprocess of the L4B, the entire structure c-shaped; the apical process (paa) elongate and thick, the terminus evenly rounded. The right dorsal phallomere (fda) of the first sclerite of right phallomere (R1) tapers to a broadly rounded, membranous terminus; the ventral plate (pia) short and broad with a rough surface and poorly defined grooves; the ventral process (pva) small and c-shaped, the distal terminus tapered to a point.

Female. (Fig. 8B) N=2: Body length 24.01-24.69 (24.35); forewing length 14.54-15.55 (15.04); hindwing length 11.29-11.83 (11.56); pronotum length 6.26-6.43 (6.34); prozone length 1.90-1.96 (1.93); pronotum width 2.47-2.66 (2.56); pronotum narrow width 1.72-1.82 (1.77); head width 5.18-5.58 (5.38); head vertex to clypeus 2.19-2.43 (2.31); frons width 2.01-2.25 (2.13); frons height 0.82-0.90 (0.86); prothoracic femur length 6.33-6.58 (6.46); mesothoracic femur length 8.20-8.21 (8.20); mesothoracic tibia length 6.49-6.53 (6.51); mesothoracic tarsus length 6.01-6.24 (6.13); metathoracic femur length 8.26-8.54 (8.40); metathoracic tibia length 8.69-8.81 (8.75); metathoracic tarsus length 8.81-9.16 (8.98); pronotal elongation measure 0.30; pronotal shape measure 0.40-0.41 (0.40); head shape measure 0.42-0.44 (0.43); frons shape measure 0.40-0.41 (0.40); anteroventral femoral spine count 14-15 (14); anteroventral tibial spine count 10; posteroventral tibial spine count 7.

Head (Fig. 41B): Transverse, the juxta-ocular protuberances large, the apex in the lateral half; the vertex is concave; vertex just above the dorsal margin of the eyes. The central ocellus the same size as the lateral ocelli. The carina on the frons pronounced.

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

Prothoracic Legs: Anterior (internal) surface of femur darkly pigmented, pale regions along the ventral and dorsal margins; the ventral surface pale, but with two darkly pigmented medial spots, one in line with the second most proximal posteroventral spine and the other just proximal to the most distal posteroventral spine. Posterior prothoracic femoral genicular spine slightly smaller than posteroventral spines, originating well proximal to the beginning of the genicular lobe. Prothoracic tibial posteroventral spines with the first (proximal) and third the same size, the second significantly longer, the fourth through sixth the shortest and of similar length to each other.

Meso- and Metathoracic Legs: As described for males.

Wings: The costal region of forewing mottled with pale and dark colors, irregular banding present; mostly pale with a few dark marks, no regular banding; vein coloration matching surroundings; discoidal region darker proximally, a central pale mark, then dark, turning pale in the distal quarter. Forewings not asymmetrically colored; extending to around the terminus of the abdomen.

Abdomen: Widened, the fourth tergite the widest region before a gradual posterior narrowing. Seventh tergites with small posterolateral tergal projections. Supra-anal plate slightly transverse, a broadly rounded terminus.

Etymology.

A noun in the genitive case, Liturgusa bororum is named for the Bora people, a marginalized tribe of people native to parts of the Amazon basin in northern Peru, Colombia and Brazil. Their current population is estimated at 2,000 and after a devastating period during the rubber boom, they remain with no indigenous reserves.