Rhombodera latipronotum Zhang, 1990

Rhombodera latipronotum Zhang, 1990 View in CoL View at ENA

Material examined. —

CHINA • 1 ♀; Guanxi autonomous region, Fangchenggang, Fangcheng district; Banba town ; 21°39'48.2"N, 107°43'37.7"E; 69 m. a. s. l.; 16 Nov. 2023; Liangle leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/191669488 GoogleMaps ; • 2 ♀; Guanxi autonomous region, Fangchenggang, Fangcheng district; Nadong town ; 21°40'07.0"N, 107°43'49.0"E; 9 May 2023; Liangle leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/164873604 GoogleMaps ; • 1 nymph ♀; Guanxi autonomous region, Fangchenggang, Fangcheng district; Nadong town ; 21°46'01.0"N, 107°45'48.0"E; 31 Jul. 2023; Manassas leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/178201482 GoogleMaps ; • 1 ootheca; Guanxi autonomous region, Fangchenggang, Fangcheng district; Dongxing ; 21°42'05.0"N, 107°58'20.7"E; 12 m. a. s. l.; 15 May 2021; Manassas leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/79911245 GoogleMaps ; • 1 nymph ♂; Guanxi autonomous region, Fangchenggang, Fangcheng district; Donxing ; 21°41'04.0"N, 107°59'26.0"E; 12 m. a. s. l.; 14 Aug. 2023; Manassas leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/178570482 GoogleMaps ; LAOS • 1 nymph ♀; Louangphrabang province, Louangphrabang district, Ban Long village ; 19°44'59.5"N, 101°59'34.9"E; 305 m. a. s. l.; 12 Nov. 2023; Rudolf Wiborny leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/206965468 GoogleMaps ; • 1 ♂; Huaphanne province, Phu Phane Mt. , 20°12'N, 103°59'E; 1200–1900 m. a. s. l.; 20 May 2014; St. Jackl & Lao collector leg.; A. Fasano personal collection GoogleMaps • 1 ♂; Oudomxay province, Xay district , 20°42'41.2"N, 102°06'27.7"E; 4 May 2024; Sun Wen Hao leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/214106349 GoogleMaps ; VIETNAM • 1 ♂; Đ ồng B ằng Sông H ồng region, Hà N ội municipality , 21°00'57.1"N, 105°48'15.3"E; 15 m. a. s. l.; 28 Mar. 2021; Will Dinneen leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/72334078 GoogleMaps ; • 1 ♂; Đông B ắc region, Cao Bang province, Nguyên Bình district , 22°37'41.4"N, 105°54'41.7"E; 14 Apr. 2021; Eugene Popov leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/74029097 GoogleMaps ; VIETNAM • 1 ♀; Đông B ắc region, Cao Bang province, Trùng Khánh District, Đàm Thu ỷ , Đàm Thu ỷ; 22°51'13.9"N, 106°43'25.4"E; 03 Jan. 2024; Joshua P. leg. https://www.iNaturalist.org/observations/199881298 GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. —

Large mantids, characterized by a marked dilatation of the pronotum, which is 16 to over 20 millimeters wide. The hind wings are hyaline and lack the reddish tinge typical of many other species of the genus Rhombodera .

Male. (Fig. 1 View Fig. 1 ) Large with uniform green coloring. Head triangular with a vertex almost without relief, only slightly protruding, with an ocellar tubercle housing three large, well-developed, triangularly arranged ocelli. Postclypeus trapezoidal with well-defined raised contours, superior margin forming an obtuse angle, and two central ribbon-like protuberances of light color crossing it longitudinally. Compound eyes well developed, globular, and slightly protruding laterally. Postclypeus broader than high, separated from the clypeus by a well-defined epistomal groove with a small central protuberance, upper margin slightly arched. Labrum trapezoidal, slightly higher than clypeus and slightly darker in color. Palpi conspicuous and only slightly pubescent. Antennae filiform with coloration similar to that of the body from the base to the first antennomeres, gradually darkening distally. Pronotum robust, with a marked supracoxal dilatation, semicircular in shape, well-shaped and with a smooth margin without denticles, the metazone two and a half times as long as the prozone; the superior margin has an expansion that dorsally hides part of the head; the inferior margin has a narrow and truncate extremity, longitudinal median carina well evident. Prothoracic legs with evenly green coxae and some yellowish shades on the inner side with 7–9 whitish marginal spines, moderately long and thin. Slightly protruding trochanter of dark coloration. Femora with slightly curved green upper margin, yellowish inner side with several brown areas at the discoidal spines and the row of anteroventral inner spines. Discoidal spines long and black except at the base, 13–15 anteroventral spines unequal in length and coloration, arranged as follows: IiiIiIiIiIi. Longer spines completely black with brown blotch at base; smaller spines same color as inner side of femur except for the tip, which is black. Claw groove very evident, forming a depression on the femur of a light color. Tibiae yellowish, with 14–15 internal spines and 11 external spines, all black only at the tip. Tarsi well-developed, with basitarsus as long as all tarsomeres put together; well-developed euplantulae with adherent ends useful for clinging to plants. Meso- and metathoracic legs uniformly green, simple, and lobeless, with no evident genicular spurs and two tibial spurs. Abdomen narrow, tapering, uniformly green on tergites and sternites, with reddish hues on pleura. Dark spots between the third and fifth sternites, used by the insect in deimatic displays. The subgenital plate is trapezoidal in shape, with relatively long styli. Cerci well developed, whitish proximally and darker distally, and covered with fine hair. Wings well developed and functional, exceeding the length of the abdomen. Forewings with green costal area, stigma whitish with milky appearance and partly surrounded by dark brown halo, veins jagged and irregular. Hind wings with slight green coloration only on superior margin, rest of wing surface colorless, with no reddish tinge or wing spots. Genital with apical process of left phallomere (paa) long, with hook-like apex. Anterior lobe of phalloid apophysis (aafa) contorted, posterior lobe of phalloid apophysis (pafa) short, not beyond the posteromesal of left phallomere (loa). Both aafa and pafa quite sharp apically. Lateral secondary distal process (sdpl) of ventral phallomere uniformly bending, rod-like and gradually narrowing, and apically sharp. Right phallomere with posterior main lobe (fda) nearly triangular, pva and pia claw-like.

Female. Very large and robust-looking, body coloration uniformly green with aquamarine highlights, reddish spots on the lower part of abdomen, mesothorax, and metathorax. Robust, triangular head, the top of which is smooth, lacking protuberances or depressions. Compound eyes large, globular, and slightly protruding. Ocelli small and less prominent than in males. Postclypeus pentagonal, taller than wide, separated from the clypeus by an evident epistomal groove, with two fairings running its entire length. Postclypeus trapezoidal, uniformly colored. Labrum trapezoidal, with the inferior margin rounded and yellowish. Mandibles highly developed, with the tip colored dark. Palpi elongated with low pubescence. Antennae filiform, with pedicel and scape the same color as the head, and dark antennomeres. Pronotum very robust, with large, almost semicircular lateral expansions that entirely occlude dorsal view of forelegs. Edges of expansions are rounded and free of irregularities; metazona approximately two and a half times longer than prozone, the supracoxal groove very evident. On the ventral side, coloration of pronotum less uniform and tends to have irregularities, with several jagged areas of yellow or whitish. Prothoracic legs with green coxae, some yellowish shades on inner side, with 8–10 whitish marginal spines quite long and wide. Slightly protruding trochanter of dark coloration. Femora with slightly curved green upper margin, yellowish inner side with several brown areas at the discoidal spines and row of anteroventral inner spines. Discoidal spines long and black except at base, 13–15 anteroventral spines unequal in length and coloration, arranged as follows: IiiIiIiIiIiI. Longer spines completely black with brown blotch at base, smaller spines same color as inner side of femur except for tip, which is black. Claw groove very evident, forming a depression on femur in light color. Tibiae yellowish, with 14–15 internal spines and 11 external spines, all black only at tip. Tarsi well-developed, with basitarsus as long as rest of tarsomeres put together; well-developed euplantulae with adherent ends useful for clinging to plants. Meso- and metathoracic legs uniformly green, simple, and lobe-less, with no evident genicular spurs and two tibial spurs. Abdomen narrow, tapering, uniformly green on tergites and sternites, with reddish hues on pleura and stigmas. Dark spots between third and fifth sternites, used by the insect in deimatic displays. Well-developed, yellowish cerci covered with fine hairs. Wings fully developed, reaching end of abdomen. Forewings uniformly green with bright white stigma with dark brown outlines. Hind wings with uniform coloration except for the upper margin of costal area edged with green.

Measurements. —

(In mm.) ♂ (n = 2), ♀ (n = 1). Total length ♂ 72.5–82.3, ♀ 89.3. Pronotum length ♂ 20.5–21.0, ♀ 23.1. Pronotum width ♂ 17.5–17.7, ♀ 22.2. Forewing length ♂ 60.6–61.2, ♀ 54.6.

Distributional and ethological remarks. —

The range of the species expands southeast from the type locality where it was originally described (Fig. 2 View Fig. 2 ). Its presence is now confirmed in the Chinese autonomous region of Guanxi, Laos, and Vietnam (Fig. 3 View Fig. 3 ). All new territories where R. latipronotum has been reported also belong to the Indo-Malay ecozone, characterized by recurrent tropical biomes such as rainforests, seasonal forests, and grasslands. The climate is largely influenced by alternations between trade winds and monsoon seasons ( Goodall 1977). From the observations collected, it was established that this mantis can be found in both lowland areas and on elevations, in both cases in areas with a high density of tree, shrub, and grass vegetation. Females remain flattened on leaves, waiting for prey and laying oothecae on branches even several meters above the ground, while males are easily attracted to artificial lights and, because of their greater flying skills, able to move long distances. As is the case in the type locality (southern Yunnan), this species is not abundant in the areas where it is encountered, remaining fairly confined and thus common only locally ( Wu 2021).

Morphological remarks. —

The original description of this species by Zhang in 1990 is based on the unspecified primary type, whose sex is unknown. The description of the type specimen is sketchy, lacking specifics on certain body parts such as the head, abdomen, wings (except the stigma), and middle and hind legs.