Rhodomantis helenae, Milledge, Graham A., 2014

Milledge, Graham A., 2014, A revision of Rhodomantis Giglio-Tos, 1917 (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), Zootaxa 3797 (1), pp. 39-64 : 45-46

Rhodomantis helenae sp. nov.

( Figs. 7–8 , 27–28 , 53 )

Material examined. Holotype. ♂, Queensland, 7 km SSW of Clermont , 2 Apr 1977, R.C. Lewis, 11-000001 . Paratypes. 1♂, same data as holotype, 11-000002 . 1♂, Queensland, 9 miles W of Paluma 16 Apr 1969, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton, 11-000003 . 1♀, same data except 15 Apr 1969, 11-000004 (all ANIC) .

Other material. Queensland. 1♂, Armstrong Ck. Crossing, 13 km NNW of Guthalungra , 26 Jan 1982, M.S. & B.J. Moulds . 1♂, 7 km W of Beta , 29 Dec 1961, M.J.D. White . 1♂, 20 km SE of Bowen , 6 May 1955, Norris & Common . 1♂, Burra , 20°44’S 145°11’E, 2 Oct 1977, Rentz & White . 1♂, 12 km SE of Daintree , 16°19’S 145°24’E, 22 Nov 1981, J. Balderson . 1♂, Emu Ck. , 27 km SW of Dimbulah, 17°20’S 144°57’E, 25–26 Nov 1981, J.Balderson . 1♂, 18 km E of Dingo , 25 Mar 1962, Chinnick & Corby . 1♂, Granite Gorge , 6 km SW of Mareeba, 17°01’S 145°22’E, 3 Mar 1988, D.C.F. Rentz . 1♂, same data except 19 Mar 1988 . 1♂, 5 km ESE of Hidden Valley, W of Paluma , 19°00’S 146°04’E, 26 Oct 1973, K.H.L. Key . 1♂, 5 km NNE of Injune , 27 Apr 1957, Key & Chinnick . 2♂, 15 km W of Irvinebank , 17°25’S 145°04’E, 27–28 Nov 1981, J. Balderson . 1♂, 48 km SSW of Nebo , 27 Mar 1962, Chinnick & Corby . 1♀, 17 km W of Paluma 26 Apr 1969, I.F.B. Common & M.S. Upton . 1♂, 17 km SW of Pentland , 25 Sep 1956, M.J.D. White . 1♂, 28 km NW of Townsville , 1 Apr 1962, Chinnick & Corby . 1♀, 47 km SSE of Townsville , 30 Mar 1962, Chinnick & Corby (all ANIC) . 1♂, 3 km S of Moranbah , 22°02’S 148°03’E, 24–26 Mar 2000, G.B. & S.R. Monteith . 3♂, 4 km S of Moranbah , 22°00’S 148°03’E, Feb–Mar 2000, F. Kruck . 1♂, 5 km SW of Mt Robert , 21°24’S 148°27’E, 22 Oct–18 Dec 2000, Cook & Monteith . 1♂, Split Rock , 14 km S of Laura, 23–26 Jun 1975, G. B. Monteith . 1♂, Undara NP, Wind Tunnel , 18°14’S 144°38’E, 8 Dec 2002 – 8 Feb 2003, G. Monteith (all QM) . 1♀, 99 km S of Charters Towers , 19 Feb 1989, G. Milledge . 1♀, 140 km S of Charters Towers , 21°13’S 146°29’E, 19 Feb 1989, G. Milledge . 1♂, 1♀, 1 km NNE of Collins Weir, W of Atherton , 17°15’S 145°17’E, 10 Feb 1989, G. Milledge . 1♂, 1♀, Davies Creek Rd. , 2 km E of Kennedy Hwy., 16°59’S 145°33E, 8 Feb 1989, G. Milledge . 1♂, 1♀, 12 km E of Georgetown , 12 Apr 1991, G. Milledge . 1♀, same data except 11 Apr 1991 . 1♀, Peninsula Development Rd. , 68.5 km NW of Mt. Carbine, 10 Apr 1991, G. Milledge . 1♀, 5 km NE of Petford , 17°19’S 144°58’E, 12 Feb 1989, G. Milledge (all NMV) . 1♂, Cairns dist. , F.P. Dodd ( SAM) .

Diagnosis. Males of this species can be distinguished from others in the genus by being only slightly brachypterous, by the hindwing lacking an apical spot and by the genitalia having the combination of compact pa and short blunt dpr with serrate zone on anterior-lateral margin ( Figs. 27–28 ). Females can be separated from those of R. macula and R. microptera by having terminal hooks on the ventral ovipositor lobes and from R. rentzi by having the tegmina reaching well beyond the caudal margin of the first abdominal tergite.

Description. Body ( Figs. 7–8 ) elongate and slender. Colour brown, yellow brown or grey brown—the colour of dry grass. Frontal shield with strong subanntenal ridge. Ocelli of male well developed, of female poorly developed. Antennae of male slightly shorter than prothorax, of female about one half to two thirds the length of prothorax. Prothorax moderately elongate, metazone of pronotum with distinct dorsolateral carinae which become indistinct anteriorly and posteriorly. Foreleg with coxa slightly shorter than metazone, femur with claw groove situated at about mid point. Male volant but slightly brachypterous, wings reaching to caudal margin of fifth abdominal tergite; tegmen with costal area opaque cream coloured with thin blackish line on posterior margin; discoidal area semi opaque, sometimes flecked with darker spots; anal lobe transparent to slightly infumate; hindwing with costal and discoidal areas semi opaque, reddish brown toward base; anal area partially to completely infumate, darker proximally, with contrasting transparent areas at cross veins creating speckled appearance. Female strongly brachypterous, wings reaching almost to caudal margin of second abdominal tergite; tegmen opaque, costal area similar in colour to male, discoidal area sometimes flecked with darker spots, anal lobe infumate; hindwing opaque, costal and discoidal areas reddish brown in proximal two thirds, anal area dark brownish black with bluish sheen, contrasting transparent areas at cross veins limited to anterior third. Abdomen elongate and slender, supra-anal plate triangular, cerci reaching beyond tip of abdomen in male, to about tip of abdomen in female.

Male genitalia ( Figs. 27–28 ) with dpr rather short, truncate and with serrate region on anterior margin near tip; pa small and produced to a blunt point; medial lobe of vph prominent and curved dorsally, anterior portion of vph narrowed; apr compact, curving dorsally, with blunt tip. Female ventral ovipositor valves with terminal with hooks.

Measurements (mm). Body length, ♂ 45.4 (40.4–50.0), ♀ 59.2 (56.8–62.3). Head width, ♂ 3.8, ♀ 5. Head depth, ♂ 2, ♀ 3.2. Pronotum length, ♂ 13.8, ♀ 19.2. Pronotum width, ♂ 1.9, ♀ 3.2. Forecoxa length, ♂ 6.9, ♀ 10. Forefemur length, ♂ 8.5, ♀ 12.6. Tegmen length, ♂ 22.7, ♀ 12.3. Abdomen length, ♂ 23.4, ♀ 28.5.

Immature stages. Unknown.

Etymology. Named in honour Dr. Helen Smith, who has assisted the author on many collecting trips.

Distribution and habits. Found in eastern Queensland ( Fig. 53 ). The author has collected specimens of this species from dry grasses in north-eastern Queensland.

Figures

FIGURE 53. Rhodomantis species distributions. R. pulchella (Tepper) (circle with cross); R. helenae n. sp. (black circle); R. queenslandica (Sjöstedt) (black triangle); R. kimberley n. sp. (black cross); R. mitchell n. sp. (circle with black centre); R. napier n. sp. (black star).

FIGURES 7–10. Rhodomantis, dorsal habitus. R. helenae n. sp.: 7, male paratype; 8, female paratype. R. mitchell n. sp.: 9, male paratype; 10, female.

FIGURES 27–30. Rhodomantis, male genitalia. R. helenae n. sp.: 27, dorsal aspect, left and ventral phallomeres; 28, ventral aspect, right and ventral phallomeres. R. mitchell n. sp.: 29, dorsal aspect, left and ventral phallomeres; 30, ventral aspect, right and ventral phallomeres. Scales = 1mm.