Rhodomantis rentzi, Milledge, Graham A., 2014

Milledge, Graham A., 2014, A revision of Rhodomantis Giglio-Tos, 1917 (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 39-64 : 49-50

Rhodomantis rentzi sp. nov.

( Figs. 18–20 , 37–38 , 54 )

Material examined. Holotype ♂, Queensland, 33 km SE of Cunnamulla , 28°22’S 145°44’E, 6 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al, 11-000013 . Paratype 1♂, same data as holotype , 11-00014. Paratype 1♀, 13 km SSW of Augathella, 28 Apr 1976, Key , Balderson et al, 11-000015 (all ANIC) .

Other specimens examined. Queensland. 3♂, 1♀ Alice River , 8.3 km S of Barcaldine , 28 Dec 1961, M.J.D. White. 1♂, 13.3 km NNE of Alpha , 15 Jan 1969, M.J.D. White et al. 1♂, 1♀, Annan River , 3 km SW of Black Mt. , near Cooktown, 15°41’S 145°12’E, 26–27 Apr 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, stop 26. 1♂, 3.5 km SSW of Mt. Baird , near Cooktown, 15°10’S 145°07’E, 3–5 May 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, stop 31. 1♀, 6 km S of Barcaldine , 23°37’S 145°17’E, 28 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♂, 2♀ 15 km S of Barcaldine , 1 May 1957, Key & Chinnick. 1♂, 21.6 km ESE of Bauhinia Downs H.S., 24 Mar 1962, Chinnick & Corby. 2♂, Blackall , 10 Apr 1972, C.F.Russell. 1♀, 5 km W of Blackbull , 9 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♀, 3 km W of Blackwater , 25 Mar 1962, Chinnick & Corby. 1♂, 14 km SW of Charleville , 26°31’E 146°12’E, 6 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 2♂, 2♀ 5 km W of Cloncurry , 20°43’S 140°27’E, 4 Oct 1977, Rentz & White, stop 29. 1♀, 20 km W of Cloncurry , 16 Oct 1965, A. Mesa & R.Sandulski. 2♂, 5♀, 33 km SE of Cunnamulla , 28°22’S 145°44’E, 6 Apr 1976, Key. Balderson et al. 1♂, 8.3 km E of Dunbar H.S., 10 Oct 1975, A. Mesa & R. Sandulski. 1♀, 6.7 km NW of Forsayth , 7 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♀, 12 km E of Forsayth , 7 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♀, 33 km W of Georgetown , 8 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 2♂, 10 km WSW of Gilbert River crossing, E of Croydon , 8 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♀, 26.6 km ESE of Gilbert River crossing, E of Croydon , 8 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♂, Gilruth Plains Sta., E of Cunnamulla , 9 Jan 1964, W. Vestjens. 1♂, 4♀, 14 km NW of Hope Vale Mission, near Cooktown, 15°16’S 144°59’E , 7–10 May 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, stop 34. 3♀, 22 km NNW of Leichhardt Park H.S., 24 Apr 1981, D.C.F. Rentz, stop 19. 1♂, 15 km NNE of Lorraine H.S., 17 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 2♀, 6.7 km W of Maggieville H.S., N of Normanton , 10 Apr 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♀, 8 km WSW of Milgarra H.S., S of Normanton , 12 May 1962, K.H.L. Key & E.L. Corby. 1♂, 8.3 km E of Mitchell , 19 Jan 1969, M.J.D. White et al. 1♂, Mount Windsor Tableland , NNW of Mt. Carbine , 16°18’S 145°05’E, 25 Jan 1988, D.C.F. Rentz, stop A–6. 1♂, 0.5 km SE of Stockport H.S., near Boulia, 22°45’S 139°46E’, 8 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. 1♀, 20 km ESE of Yelvertoft H.S., near Camooweal, 20°18’S 139°03’E, 9 Apr 1976, Key, Balderson et al. (all ANIC). 1♂, 1♀, Charleville , 15 Mar 1921, Mr. Caldwell. 2♂, Dajarra Rd. , 19 km SW of Cloncurry , 20°50’S 140°23’E, 2 Jan 1993, G. Milledge. 1♂, 3♀, Eleven Mile Creek , 16 km NNE of Normanton , 17°33’S 141°09’E, 5 Jan 1993, G. Milledge. 1♀, same data except 10 Jan 1993. 1♂, 2♀, Georgetown , 11 Apr 1991, G. Milledge. 1♂, 1♀, 12 km E of Georgetown , 11 Apr 1991, G. Milledge. 1♀, Norman River , 20 km SSE of Normanton , 17°51’S 141°08’E, 8 Jan 1993, G. Milledge. 1♀, 6 km S of Normanton , 17°44’S 141°05’E, 10 Jan 1993, G. Milledge. 1♂, 11 km NE of Normanton , 17°36’S 141°09’E, 6 Jan 1993, G. Milledge (all NMV). 1♂, near Jayah Creek, 10 mi, N of Ardmore Stn. , 63 mi. SW of Mt Isa , 23 Sep 1977, J.A. Forrest. 2♀, Mornington Island Mission , 15 May 1963. 1♀, Mornington Island Mission , 30 Apr 1960, P. Aitken & N.B.Tindale. 1♀, same data except 4 may 1960 (all SAM) .

New South Wales. 1♂, 46.6 km N of Bourke , 14 Mar 1959, Chinnick & Walker . 1♂, 32 km W of Wanaaring , 11 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis ( ANIC) . 1♂, 1♀, Mitchell Hwy , 65.5 km N of Bourke, 21 Feb 1981, G. Milledge ( NMV) .

Diagnosis. Males and females of this species can be distinguished from others in the genus by being strongly brachypterous, the wings barely reaching the caudal margin of the first abdominal tergite.

Description. Body ( Figs. 18–20 ) very elongate and slender. Colour brown, yellow brown or grey brown—the colour of dry grass. Frontal shield with moderate subanntenal ridge. Ocelli of both sexes poorly developed. Antennae of male about half to two thirds the length of prothorax; of female a quarter the length of prothorax. Prothorax elongate and slender, metazone of pronotum with distinct dorsolateral carinae which become indistinct anteriorly and posteriorly. Foreleg with coxa distinctly shorter than metazone, femur with claw groove situated at about mid point. Both sexes extremely brachypterous, wings reaching to or almost to caudal margin of first abdominal tergite; tegmen with costal area opaque, frequently cream coloured with thin blackish line on posterior margin; discoidal area opaque; anal lobe reduced; hindwing only about half the length of tegmen, with costal and discoidal areas opaque reddish brown; anal area dark brownish black with bluish sheen. Abdomen elongate and slender, supra-anal plate triangular, cerci reaching beyond tip of abdomen in male, slightly beyond tip of abdomen in female.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 37–38 ) with dpr short, broad and truncate, with short anterior and posterior projections; pa compact with small blunt shagreened projection posteriorly, medial lobe of vph prominent and curved dorsally, anterior portion of vph narrowed, apr of left phallomere relatively compact. Female ovipositor with hooks.

Variation: Specimens examined vary considerably in size, those from north east Queensland being largest.

Measurements (mm). Body length, ♂ 52.3 (37.7–68.6), ♀ 66.5 (51.8–81.1). Pronotum length, ♂ 17.8, ♀ 22.8. Pronotum width, ♂ 2.0, ♀ 2.8. Forecoxa length, ♂ 7.7, ♀ 10.7. Forefemur length, ♂ 9.6, ♀ 14.3. Tegmen length, ♂ 5.8, ♀ 8.5. Abdomen length, ♂ 26.2, ♀ 33.1.

Immature stages. Unknown.

Etymology. Named in honour of Dr David Rentz for his contributions to the study of the Australian orthopteroid fauna.

Distribution and habits. Found in north eastern Australia ( Fig. 54 ) in grasses.

Figures

FIGURE 54. Rhodomantis species distributions. R. rentzi n. sp. (black circle); R. macula n. sp. (black triangle); R. microptera n. sp. (square with black centre).

FIGURES 18–22. Rhodomantis, dorsal habitus. R. rentzi n. sp.: 18, male holotype; 19, female; 20, female wings. R. microptera n. sp.: 21, male holotype; 22, female paratype.

FIGURES 37–40. Rhodomantis, male genitalia. R. rentzi n. sp.: 37, dorsal aspect, left and ventral phallomeres; 38, ventral aspect, right and ventral phallomeres. R. microptera n. sp.: 39, dorsal aspect, left and ventral phallomeres; 40, ventral aspect, right and ventral phallomeres. Scales = 1mm.