Parasphendale arabukosokokei, Borer & Ehrmann, 2022

Parasphendale arabukosokokei View in CoL sp. nov.

( Fig. 1-21 View Fig View Fig View Fig View Fig 18 -21 )

ZooBank:http://zoobank.org/ 9CD6D318-B1F3-40A0-93A3-D100313D1346

Holotype, ♂, Kenya-SE: Arabuko-Sokoke-Forest, N Kilifi Creek, Jilore (3.18°S - 39.90°E), leg. R. Ehrmann & H. Karbaum, 13.VI.-04. VII.1987. (Gen. Prep. Schwarz, # 443), QR NMB-MANTO0001219 ( NMB). GoogleMaps

Allotype, ♀, Kenya-SE: part of Arabuko Sokoke Forest , vic. Malindi, (03.42125°S - 039.89815°E), (site 06), leg. S. Materna & T. Schulze, 05.-17. VIII. 2012 (captive bread) // NMB-MANTO0001221 ( NMB). GoogleMaps

Paratypes (33 ex.)

– 1 ♂, Kenya-SE: Arabuko-Sokoke-Forest, 3.18°S / 39.90°E, N Kilifi Creek , Jilore, leg. R GoogleMaps . Ehrmann & H. Karbaum, 13. VI .-04. VII.1987. (Gen.-Prep.Schwarz, # 445), SMNK-Mant-Cat.-Nr. 06830 ( SMNK).

– 1 ♂, Kenya-SE: Arabuko-Sokoke-Forest, 3.18°S / 39.90°E, N Kilifi Creek, Jilore, leg. H. Probst, 05. V GoogleMaps .1992, SMNK-Mant-Cat.-Nr. 06831 ( SMNK).

– 1 ♀, Kenya-SE: part of Arabuko Sokoke Forest , vic. Malindi, (03.42125°S - 039.89815°E), (site 06), leg. S. Materna & T GoogleMaps . Schulze , 05.-17. VIII. 2012 (captive bred, ex coll. Schulze ( TSC)). SMNK- Mant-Cat. - Nr. 06832 ( SMNK) .

– 33 ex. with identical locality information:

Kenya-SE: part of Arabuko Sokoke Forest , vic. Malindi, (03.42125°S - 039.89815°E), (site 06), leg. S. Materna & T. Schulze, 05.-17. VIII. 2012 (captive bred) GoogleMaps .

1 ♂ NMB-MANTO0001220 , 2 ♀ NMB-MANTO0001222 , NMB-

MANTO0001223, (NMB);

1 ♂ #-44, 1 ♀ #-45, ( MFNB) ;

1 ♀ #-11, ( ZFMK) ;

1 ♂ #-17, 1 ♀ #-18, ( MSNG) ;

1 ♀ #-05, ( ZIMG) ;

1 ♂ #-16, 1 ♀ #-17, ( ZMH-LIB) ;

1 ♂ #-18a, 1 ♀ #-19a, ( RMNH) ;

1 ♂ #-05 ex coll. MBDS , 1 ♀ #-03 ex coll. MBDS , ( NHMUK) ;

1 ♀ MNCN Cat. Nr. -268517, #-05, ( MNCN) ;

1 ♂ #-04a, 1 ♀ #-04 ex coll. MBDS ( ZSM) .

1 ♂ #-16 (bred in captivity by T. Schulze) , 1 ♀ #-17 (bred in captivity

by R. Ehrmann), (MNHN);

1 ♂ #-01, 1 ♀ #-02, ( MWNH) ;

1 ♂ #-01, 1 ♀ #-02, (cBOM);

1 ♂ #-40, 1 ♀ #-36, ( TSC) ;

1 ♂ #-34, 1 ♀ #-41, ( SCHK) ;

1 ♂ #-06, 1 ♀ #-01; ( MBDS) .

Description of the male ( Fig. 1 -7 View Fig , 15 & 17 View Fig )

General aspects. – Large size and slender habitus.

Head. – Antennae filiform andlong,atleasthalf of bodylength( Fig.1& 2 View Fig ).– Eyes slightly reverse drop-shaped in lateral view, in frontal view approximately globularandexophthalmic.– Vertex slightlyconvex. –Ocellartubercles and ocelli welldeveloped; betweeninsertionof antenna andcompoundeyea small tubercle with rounded tip, which is provided with 3- 5 setae. – Lower frons transverse, aboutthree timeswiderthan highwithitsuppersulcusslightlyvaulted. –Ventral part of clypeus and dorsal part of labrum keeled ( Fig.7 View Fig ).

Thorax. – Pronotum elongated; metazone about 2.8 times as long as prozone; with distinct supracoxal extension; supracoxal extension and prozone slightly denticulate onlateral margin ( Fig.1 & 2 View Fig ). – Metathorax with ear of DK type (see Yager & Svenson 2008).

Wings. –Exceeding the apex of abdomen. – Forewings withcostal fieldand the tip of the wing opaque, remaining parts hyalin. – Apex rounded. – Sigma narrow and ovoid.– Hindwings subhyaline; costal field opaque ( Fig.1 & 2 View Fig ).

Legs. – Foreleg rather solid. – Forecoxa slightly shorter than metazone. – Anteriorapical lobes divergent.Itsdorsal edgeiscoveredby numerousspines with following pattern. One to three small spines before, in-between, and after the four well-developed spines. Its ventral edge covered with small, saw-like spines that are inclined towards the apices ( Fig. 5 View Fig ). – Forefemur with 4 posteroventral femoral spines(pvfs) and 13 anteroventral femoral spines (avfs); the avfsare arrangedinfollowing formationiIiIiIiIiIiiI. –Four discoidal spines; the second 1.5 times longer than the first, the third twice as long as the second and the fourth slightly shorter than the second;proximal on the same ridge as discoidal spines, 4 - 7 small pines with rounded apices. – Genicular lobe with small genicular spur ( Fig. 3& 6 View Fig ). – Foretibia with 7posteroventral tibial spines (pvts) and 14 anteroventral tibial spines (avts) ( Fig. 4 View Fig ). – The armament of the foreleg in male may vary as follows: anteroventral femoral spines (avfs) 12-13, posteroventral tibial spines (pvts) 6-7, anteroventral tibial spines (avts) 14-15. – Meso - and metathoracic legs rather short and simply structured, with small genicular lobe and genicular spur.

Abdomen. – Slender, dorso-ventrally depressed, with eight visible coxosternites (II-IX) and ten tergites. – Coxosternite IX (subgenital plate) slightly lance-shaped with blunt end and styli ( Fig. 15b View Fig ). – Tergite X (supra-anal plate) lance-shaped ( Fig. 15a View Fig ). – Cerci rather long with 15- 17 cylinder-shaped cercomeres; the most basal cercomere might be interpreted as several partially fused cercomeres; the seven most distal cercomeres are longer than wide and the last one is flattened.

Coloration. – Generally brown colored. Lower frons with a dark transverse stripe. Anterior part of prosternum black, followed by an ivory

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colored, narrow transverse stripe. Black, narrow stripe between forecoxae. Posterior part of prosternum light gray-blue. Small spines on dorsal surface of forecoxa colored in pale brown and the four well developed spines are black with white tips on the anterior side and pale brown colored on the posterior side. Posterior surface of forecoxa brown with two pale colored wave-like transverse stripes. First third of anterior surface proximal black colored, followed by a pale band, and distal half of forecoxa gray-blue colored (in dead specimens, gray-blue turns into pale gray or brown, depending on the conservation procedure). Forefemur, first three discoidal spines black on the anterior side and pale brown with black apices on the posterior side, the fourth discoidal spine pale brown with black apex.All posteroventral femoral spines (pvfs) pale brown with darkened apices. First small and large anteroventral femoral spines completely black, towards the distal end steadily lighter colored. All tibial spines and tibial spur pale brown with darkened apices. Costal area of forewings ivory colored, followed by a narrow transverse redbrown colored part of the discoidal area. Hindwings subhyaline with smoky coloration, transverse veins ivory colored; costal field and adjacent part of discoidal area opaque brown with red tones.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 17 View Fig ). – The ventral lobe of the ventral phallomere has weakly developed, somewhat elongated pda. Sdpl rounded, serrate, and only minimally prominent; bl only weakly differentiated. The main posterior lobe of the right phallomere elongate with a broadly rounded and protruding hairy apex. The dextral extension (bm) is well developed and sclerotized. Pia triangular with rounded, strongly sclerotized apex; surface wrinkled. Pva c-shaped with roundedapex.Theanterior processof left phallomere(afa) serrate,apex rounded orsomewhatbroadened androunded;loa membranousandalmostsemicircular; paa blunt and slightly bicuspid.

Description of the female ( Fig. 8 -14 View Fig , 16 View Fig & 18-20 View Fig 18 -21 )

General aspects. – Large size and robust habitus.

Head. –Antennae filiform andshorterthanmetazoneof pronotum ( Fig.9 View Fig ). – Eyes slightly reversedrop-shaped. – Vertex distinctlyconvex. –Ocellartubercle and ocelli poorlydeveloped;betweeninsertionof antenna andcompoundeye a small tubercle with rounded tip, which is provided with 3- 5 setae. – Lower frons transverse, aboutthree times wider than highwith its upper sulcus slightly vaulted ( Fig.14 View Fig ). – Ventral part of clypeus and dorsal part of labrum keeled.

Thorax. – Pronotum elongated. – Metazone about 2.8 times as long as prozone; with distinct supracoxal extension. – Pronotum distinctly denticulate on lateral margin with increasing size of denticules towards supracoxal extension and prozone. – Distal part of metazone and prozone with numerous tubercles ( Fig. 8 & 9 View Fig ). – Metathorax with ear of DNK type (see Yager & Svenson 2008).

Wings. – Coveringabout2/3 of abdomen. –Forewings opaquewithrounded apex. – Stigma narrow and ovoid. – Costal- and discoidal area of hindwings opaque. –Anal area subhyaline. – Apex rounded ( Fig.8& 9 View Fig ).

Legs. –Forelegs solid. –Forecoxa slightlyshorterthanmetazone. –Anterior apical lobe s divergent. Its dorsal surface is covered by numerous spines with following pattern.Twoto five small spines before, in-between, and after the four well developed spines. Its ventral surface covered with small, saw-like spines that are inclinedtowards theapex and gettingbigger towardsthe apex ( Fig. 12 View Fig ). – Forefemur with 4 posteroventral femoral spines (pvfs) and 13 anteroventral femoralspines (avfs); the avfs are arranged in following formation iIiIiIiIiIiiI. – Four discoidal spines; the second 1.5 timeslonger than the first, the thirdtwice as long asthe secondandthe fourthslightlyshorterthan thesecond. – Genicular lobe with small genicular spur( Fig.10 & 13 View Fig ). – Foretibia with7posteroventral tibial spines (pvts) and 14 anteroventral tibial spines (avts) ( Fig. 11 View Fig ). – The armament of the foreleg in female may vary as follows:anteroventral femoral spines (avfs) 12-15, posteroventral tibial spines (pvts) 6- 7, anteroventral tibial spines (avts) 13- 16. – Meso- and metathoracic legs rather short and simply structured, with small genicular lobe and genicular spur.

Abdomen. – Pearshaped/fusiform, dorso-ventrally depressed, with six visible coxosternites (II-VII) and ten tergites. – Coxosternite VII (subgenital plate) with group typical shape. – TergitX (supra-anal plate) broder than long andlance-shaped ( Fig. 8& 9 View Fig ). – Cerci rather longwith17 -19 cylinder-shaped cercomeres; the most basal cercomere might be interpreted as several partially fused cercomeres; the eight most distal cercomeres are longer than wide and the last one is slightly flattened.

Coloration. – The coloration of body parts mentioned here, differ from those described in males. All others are identical in males and females. Costal area of forewings ivory colored; discoidal area dark brown, towards the apex lightened; anal area pale brown. Costal- and discoidal area of hindwings opaque dark brown with a pale brown margin at the apex; anal area of hindwings subhyaline with smoky coloration, transverse veins ivory colored ( Fig. 8, 9 View Fig & 18-20 View Fig 18 -21 ).

Measurement (mm).

– Body length, ♂: 55.0 - 62.8

– Body length, ♀: 70.0 - 81.3

Details showed in Table 1-4

Life aspect and others. – The picture of live aspects are studio shots and illustrate an adult female and freshly hatched larvae ( Fig. 18- 21 View Fig 18 -21 ). The larvae of the first larval stage have a black body, dark compound eyes, and a bright red head ( Fig. 21 View Fig 18 -21 ). It seems to be another example of myrmecomorphism or even ant mimicry in early nymphs, as already known for several other African Mantodea species ( Kumar, 1973; Gillon & Roy, 1968; Hevers & Liske, 1991; Wieland, 2013). Oothecae are cylindrical with a rounded apical end, up to slightly ovoid ( Fig. 16 View Fig ). Dorsal habitus pictures of thirty-three paratype specimens are illustrated in Appendix 1 - 9, as well as the distribution map of P. arabukosokokei sp. nov. and P. stali (Appendix 9).

Etymology. – The specific epithet refers to the locus typicus, the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, which is the largest fragment of East African Coastal Forests left.