Sagittalata Handschin

Snyman, Louwtjie P., Ohl, Michael, Mansell, Mervyn W. & Scholtz, Clarke H., 2012, A revision and key to the genera of Afrotropical Mantispidae (Neuropterida, Neuroptera), with the description of a new genus, ZooKeys 184, pp. 67-93 : 75-77

Genus Sagittalata Handschin

Sagittalata Handschin, 1959: 215. Type species: Mantispilla hilaris Navás, 1925: 573 (as " Sagittalata hilaris ( Navás 1924) [sic]"), by original designation

Perlamantispa Handschin, 1960a: 191. Type species: Mantis perla Pallas, 1772: 14 (as " Mantispa perla "), by original designation. syn. n.

New combinations

austroafrica (Poivre)

Perlamantispa austroafrica Poivre, 1984b: 642. syn. n.

bequaerti ( Navás)

Mantispilla bequaerti Navás, 1932: 279. Synonymized with Perlamantispa bequaerti ( Navás) by Handschin, 1960a: 197.

Mantispilla bequaerti var. decolor Navás, 1932: 280. Synonymized with Perlamantispa bequaerti ( Navás) by Handschin, 1960a: 197.

Mantispilla kibumbana Navás, 1936c: 355.. Synonymized with Perlamantispa bequaerti ( Navás) by Handschin, 1960a: 197.

Perlamantispa bequaerti ( Navás). As a new combination by Handschin 1960a: 197.syn. n.

dorsalis (Erichson)

Mantispa dorsalis Erichson, 1839: 168.

Mantispilla hemichroa Navás, 1931: 129.

Mantispilla hypophoea Navás, 1932: 279.

Perlamantispa dorsalis (Erichson). As a new combination by Handschin 1960a: 196.syn. n.

girardi Poivre

Perlamantispa girardi Poivre, 1982a: 194.syn. n.

nubila (Stitz)

Mantispilla nubila Stitz, 1913: 15.

Mantispa nubila (Stitz, 1913) syn. n.

perla (Pallas)

Mantis perla Pallas, 1772: 14.

Mantispa christiana Charpentier, 1825: 93. Synonymized with Mantispa perla by Erichson 1839: 167.

Mantispa flaveola Erichson, 1839: 168.

Mantispa victorii Guérin-Méneville, 1844: 391. Synonymized with Mantispa perla by Hagen 1858: 128.

Mantispa perla var. brunnea Navás, 1906: 102.

Perlamantispa perla (Pallas, 1772). As a new combination by Handschin 1960a: 191.syn. n.

pusilla (Pallas)

Mantis pusilla Pallas, 1772: 15

Mantis brevicornis De Geer, 1778: 620, pl. 46, fig. 9-10. Synonymized with Mantispa pusilla by Burmeister 1839: 967.

Perlamantispa pusilla (Pallas, 1772) As a new combination by Handschin 1960a: 191.syn. n.

similata ( Navás)

Mantispilla similata Navás, 1922: 396.

Perlamantispa similata ( Navás, 1922). Listed as valid combination in Ohl (2004) and LDL. syn. n.

royi Poivre

Perlamantispa royi Poivre, 1982a: 191. syn. n.

tincta ( Navás)

Mantispilla tincta Navás, 1929: 107

Perlamantispa tincta ( Navás, 1929). As a new combination by Handschin 1960a: 200.syn. n.

vassei ( Navás)

Mantispa vassei Navás, 1909: 474.

Mantispa (Mantispilla) lineatifrons Enderlein, 1910: 346. Synonymized with Perlamantispa vassei by Handschin, 1960a: 193.

Mantispilla sankitana Navás, 1922: 395. Synonymized with Perlamantispa vassei by Handschin, 1960a: 193.

Mantispilla burgeoni Navás, 1923: 77., Probable synonym of Perlamantispa vassei according to Handschin, 1960a: 193.

Perlamantispa vassei ( Navás, 1909) As a new combination by Handschin, 1960a: 193. syn. n.

Remarks.

Handschin seemed to confuse the female Cercomantispa specimens and the genus he described as Sagittalata . In his revision (1960a) he mentioned that types of Sagittalata tristis and Sagittalata tristella are both female and that he is certain they are Sagittalata sp ecies. He mentions that the wing venation and prothorax corresponds with Sagittalata . However, the complete fusion between the Cua and Cup+Aa veins in the hind wing to form a rectangle (Fig. 2d) occurs in Sagittalata tristis (= Cercomantispa tristis ) and Sagittalata tristella (= Cercomantispa tristella ) corresponds with Cercomantispa and not with the type species Sagittalata hilaris or any of the other species ( Sagittalata lugubris Poivre 1981a, Sagittalata jucunda Poivre 1981a) that do conform to the genus Sagittalata . The pronotum them also differs between the genera: Sagittalata tristis and Sagittalata tristella have a smooth elongated pronotum with a thin metazona, again corresponding with Cercomantispa and not Sagittalata hilaris . In addition, the colour patterns of the prozona as well as the antennae also suggest these two species should be placed with Cercomantispa and not Sagittalata . Furthermore, the wing venation and genitalia suggest that Perlamantispa species conform to all the characteristics of Sagittalata hilaris . The only morphological difference is a subtle robustness of the pronotum. Some species of Perlamantispa seem to have a slightly more robust pronotum. Perlamantispa is consequently relegated as a synonym of Sagittalata . The difference between Mantispa and Sagittalata is weak as well, as explained in the systematic account above. Finding an autapomorphy proved to be difficult. The only consistent character was a continuous median longitudinal line on the anterior surface of the coxae of Sagittalata species. In addition to the coxal line, the presence of setae on the pronotum of Mantispa are lacking in the Afrotropical Sagittalata . However, two species did not conform to this character. The raptorial legs of Perlamantispa (= Sagittalata ) dorsalis is completely black and therefore lacks the line. The second species, Mantispa (= Sagittalata ) nubila lacks the line. Both species, however, lack setae on their pronotum. The rest of the Sagittalata species studied conforms to the characteristics. Distribution therefore plays an extremely important role in the delimitation of the genera. The type species of Perlamantispa , Perlamantispa perla however, is well known in Europe and Mantispa styriaca occurs in Morocco. C.-k. Yang ( Yang and Peng 1998; Yang 1999) described three Sagittalata species from China. The descriptions are unfortunately in Chinese that could not be translated and the specimens were not studied. These species probably belong to Mantispa instead of Sagittalata . Except for these species the distribution patterns of the genera are quite clear with Sagittalata an Afrotropical genus and Mantispa a Palaearctic genus. Unfortunately it might be a genus that one will identify by eliminating other genera. Ongoing studies are in progress to find the relationship between Sagittalata and Mantispa .

Distribution.

Widespread in the Afrotropical Region. Also occur in the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions

Diagnosis.

An Afrotropical genus with four species currently known from the Palaearctic Region. Ectoprocts of males sligtly swollen (Fig. 4g), pseudopenis visible in dorsal view. Pterostigma elongated and dark red or black. Prothorax transversly rugulose; lacks setae (Fig. 3b). Fore coxae with continuous median line on anterior surface (Fig. 4b).

Description.

Head: Antennae moniliform. Flagellum dark, may end in two or three yellow flagellomeres. Anterior scape and pedicel either yellow or black; vertex flat, not visible in lateral view; frons and mouthparts vary in colour; eye margin yellow in dark species and black/dark brown in light species.

Thorax: Maculae inconspicuous, never pigmented in a different colour from the surrounding pronotum; pronotum lacks setae, transversely rugulose; prothorax longer than pterothorax.

Wings (Fig. 2c): Wings usually hyaline, may be partly or completely pigmented, pterostigma elongated and robust, always reddish or black; crossvein between radial cells 1 and 2 perpendicular to R; a single crossvein from third radial cell to anterior margin (C); Hind wings: Crossvein between Cua and Cup+Aa attenuated, rarely absent; Cua with sharp angle to and from attenuated crossvein to form inverted triangle shape.

Legs: Raptorial legs differ in colour, coxal sulcus conspicuous, surrounding patterns never visible on sulcus; continuous line on anterior surface of fore coxae; fore tarsal claw reduced to a single claw lacking an arolium. Mid- and hind pretarsal claws pectinate (5-6 teeth); median tooth longer than surrounding teeth; pointed appearance; arolium present on mid and hind tarsi.

Abdomen/Genitalia: EEG present. Ectoprocts of male slightly swollen; slightly smaller than ectoprocts of members of Afromantispa and Mantispa ; pseudopenis visible in dorsal view.

Discussion.

Afromantispa , Mantispa and Sagittalata seem to form a group with several similar aspects regarding their morphology. All three genera seem to have similar genitalic structures. In addition to the genitalia, the general wing venation is extremely similar with only the pterostigma of Afromantispa slightly different with a reddish, roundish and truncate appearance. In the hind wing, the inverted “V” shape made by the Cua when descending towards the attenuated or absent crossvein extending to Cup+Aa and again ascending after the crossvein is prominent and easily identified in this group (Figs 2b, c). The median coxal line is not a strong autapomorphy since some of the Mantispa specimens studied had a discontinuous line on the anterior coxa, but the geographic distribution of the genera does support separate genera. A decision to keep the genera separate has consequently been made, thereby ensuring that relevant morphological information is not lost before a conclusive result is achieved. Of significant importance is the presence of the EEG that manifests in this group only.