Acromantis lobofemorata Kamila & Sureshan, 2024

Kamila, Ambayathingal P. & Sureshan, Pavittu Meethal, 2024, Description of a new species of Acromantis Saussure, 1870 (Mantodea: Hymenopodidae) from India, Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics 10 (2), pp. 273-284 : 274-276

Acromantis lobofemorata Kamila & Sureshan sp. nov. ( Figs 1–19, Table 1)

https://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3A41F820-6BAA-4523-B07F-BA5728E4CEA3

Materials examined. Holotype. ♂, INDIA, Kerala, Palakkad, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Sungam Range , Civet Valley Road (10°26'13.2"N, 76°46'48"E, 548 m), 30.x.2022, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 22443, pinned . Paratypes. 1 ♂, Kerala, Kasaragod, Ranipuram (12°25'37.2"N, 75°21'39.6"E, 588 m), 05.i.2013, K. Rajmohana, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 23460, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Kozhikode, Jaffer Khan Colony, ZSI Campus (11°15'46.8"N, 75°47'9.6"E, 27 m), 29.x.2014, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 23469, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Kozhikode, Jaffer Khan Colony, ZSI Campus (11°15'46.8"N, 75°47'9.6"E, 27 m), 20.xi.2019, A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 16830, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Kozhikode, Jaffer Khan Colony, ZSI Campus (11°15'46.8"N, 75°47'9.6"E, 27 m), 9.xii.2019, A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25741, pinned . 1 ♀, Kerala, Malappuram, Thenhipalam, Calicut University Campus (11°07'58.8"N, 75°53'27.6"E, 99 m), 20.xii.2019, A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25742, pinned . 1 ♀, Karnataka, Shimoga, Agumbe, Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology (13°16'30"N, 75°06'25.2"E, 700m), 27.xii.2019, P. Girish Kumar & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 13649, pinned . 1 ♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Hosagadde, Near Kudajadri (13°30'39.6"N, 75°09'36"E, 660 m), 28.xii.2019, P. Girish Kumar & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25743, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Malappuram, Nilambur, KFRI Subcentre (11°18'10.8"N, 76°15'3.6"E, 63 m), 28.ii.2020. A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 14960, pinned . 1 ♀, Kerala, Malappuram, Nilambur, KFRI Subcentre (11°18'10.8"N, 76°15'3.6"E, 63 m), 29.ii.2020. A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25744, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Wayanad, Tholpetty (11°57'10.8"N, 76°3'36"E, 929 m), 08.x.2021, A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25745, pinned . 1 ♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Hulikkal FRH (13°43'30"N, 75°00'36"E, 571 m), 06.ix.2021, V.D. Hegde & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 19495, pinned . 1 ♀, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Forest IB (08°32'2.4"N, 77°08'56.4"E, 109 m), 02.xii.2021, P. Girish Kumar & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25746, pinned . 1 ♀, Kerala, Malappuram, Nilambur, MES Mampad (11°14'16.8"N, 76°11'42"E, 48 m), 09.iii.2022. A.P. Kamila, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25747, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Malappuram, Nilambur, KFRI Subcentre (11°18'10.8"N, 76°15'3.6"E, 63 m), 22.iv.2022. Jafer Palot & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25748, pinned . 1 ♂, Kerala, Palakkad, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Sungam Range , Civet Valley Road (10°26'13.2"N, 76°46'48"E, 548 m), 28.x.2022, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 22445, pinned . 1 ♀, Kerala, Palakkad, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Sungam Range , Civet Valley Road (10°26'13.2"N, 76°46'48"E, 548 m), 30.x.2022, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 22444, pinned . 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Hulikkal FRH (13°43'30"N, 75°00'36"E, 571 m), 15.vi.2023, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 24087-90, in ethanol . 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Hulikkal FRH (13°43'30"N, 75°0'36"E, 571 m), 16.vi.2023, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25749, pinned . 1 ♀, 4 ♂♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Hulikkal FRH (13°43'30"N, 75°00'36"E, 571 m), 16.vi.2023, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25750, in ethanol . 1 ♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Hulikkal FRH (13°43'30"N, 75°00'36"E, 571 m), 19.vi.2023, Bindu L. & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25020, in ethanol . 1 ♂, Karnataka, Uttara Kannada, Kali Tiger Reserve, Castle Rock (15°24'00"N, 74°19'22.8"E, 572 m), 03.viii.2023, Jafer Palot & Party, in ethanol . 1 ♂, Karnataka, Uttara Kannada, Kali Tiger Reserve, Kumbharwada (15°07'40.8"N, 74°24'14.4"E, 600 m), 09.viii.2023, Jafer Palot & Party, in ethanol . 1 ♂, Kerala, Palakkad, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Civet Valley (10°26'13.2"N, 76°46'48"E, 548 m), 16.viii.2023, V.D. Hegde & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25021, in ethanol . 1 ♀, Kerala, Palakkad, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Bison Valley Guest House (10°23'45.6"N, 76°46'30"E, 606 m), 21.viii.2023, V.D. Hegde & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25220, in ethanol . 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Kerala, Palakkad, Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Bison Valley Guest House (10°23'45.6"N, 76°46'30"E, 606 m), 22.viii.2023, V.D. Hegde & Party, Reg. No. ZSI/WGRC/I.R- INV. 25029-30, in ethanol .

Observations in iNaturalist. 1 ♀, Karnataka, Madugundi (13°07'58.8"N, 75°26'49.2"E), Tejas Mehendale (iNaturalist: 192166382) . 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Kerala, Idukki, Udumbanchola (09°38'45.6"N, 77°10'33.6"E), Seema Merchant (iNaturalist: 163776409; 140745454; 120470150) . 1 ♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary (13°33'57.6"N, 75°08'2.4"E), Swarochi Tathagath (iNaturalist: 162273772) , 1 ♂, Karnataka, Shimoga, Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary (13°33'57.6"N, 75°8'2.4"E), Samrudh Nandagopal (iNaturalist: 162030195). 1 Nymph, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram , Thambanoor (08°40'55.2"N, 77°08'13.2"E), Balachandran V (iNaturalist: 144407676) . 1 ♀, Karnataka, Golagande (12°58'22.8"N, 75°52'12.0"E), Deekshith P. (iNaturalist: 131570324) . 1 ♀, Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary (08°40'55.2"N, 77°08'13.2"E), Tarunkishwor Yumnam (iNaturalist: 129379152) . 1 ♂, Kerala, Thrissur, KFRI Campus (10°31'48"N, 76°20'49.2"E), Sarath Muthery (iNaturalist: 108647245) . 1 ♀, Karnataka, Kodagu (12°31'30"N, 75°37'33.6"E), Hopeland, P. (iNaturalist: 102291935) .

Etymology. The species name ‘ lobofemorata’ is formed by the juxtapositioning of the two Latin words ‘ lobus ’ (meaning lobe) and ‘ femora ’ due to the presence of a median lobe on the upper edge of the fore femora.

Differential diagnosis. The new species can be distinguished from all other species of the genus by the following characteristics: 1) presence of a hump-like lobe on the upper margin of the fore femora a little proximal to the middle, 2) presence of a small medial mesofemoral lobe, 3) well-developed basal lobe on meso- and metafemora, 4) well-developed lateral pronotal denticles, 5) abdominal sternites 5 th and 6 th with a triangular median lobe on the lower edge. Spination formula of fore leg: F= 4DS/13AvS/4PvS; T= 13AvS/12PvS.

Description. Holotype ♂. Body medium-sized, greenish brown coloured ( Figs 2, 5).

Head ( Figs 7, 9). Triangular. Compound eyes oval, bulging. Lower frons pentagonal, wider than long, upper margin angular with a tubercle, lower margin a little arched with round corners. Ocelli distinct, well-developed, situated close to each other, mid ocellus round, lateral ones oval. Antennae filiform, scapus barrel shaped, pedicellus apically lobous, flagellomeres proximally pale brown in colour gradually darkening towards apex; completely wrapped in minute ciliae except on the gap between two segments. Vertex with a triangular, well-raised tubercle just behind the ocelli, with a ventral deep notch and rounded apex. Vertex slightly elevated behind the tubercle. Juxta-ocular bulges indistinct.

Pronotum ( Fig. 11). Elongated, laterally compressed, with a mid-groove starting from just above the dilation to the end. Prozone anteriorly round, laterally with 5-6 black denticles. Supra-coxal dilation well-developed with a small lateral dorsal expansion. Metazone about 2.3 times as long as prozone, laterally with 7-8 large and small black, alternately positioned denticles of different sizes. Prosternum completely blackish ending with a half bone shape.

Fore legs ( Figs 13, 15). Coxae a little shorter than metazone; dorsal edge with seven yellowish spines; lateral borders with small, black spinules. Femora with four posteroventral spines; four discoidal spines, fourth very small and completely blackish, third one longest, about two times longer than the second one (4<1<2<3); thirteen anteroventral spines (iIiIiIiIiIiI I), all large ones brownish, dark at bases and apices. All other femoral spines dark at apices only. Genicular spines small. Tibial spur groove situated at basal third. Upper edge of femora with a small lobe almost at middle; margin bordered with small tubercles. Femora ventrally with a ridge just above midline. Tibiae with almost straight upper edge; twelve closely placed, decumbent posteroventral spines, distal spine about 2.5 times longer than the previous one; thirteen anteroventral spines. Both rows of tibial spines gradually increase in length towards apex. Basitarsus longer than other segments together.

Mid and hind legs ( Fig. 17). Coxae with strong carinae. Mesofemora with three ventral lobes; proximal lobe triangular, elongated; mid one small; distal one large, semi-circular. Metafemora with three ventral lobes; proximal narrow, elongated; mid one indistinct, narrow; distal one semi-circular, larger than posteroventral mesofemoral lobe. Femora and tibia with three blackish bands; bands around lobes in femur; a little sinuate just after second band on femur and tibia. Tibia apically with two spines and a triangular process. Basitarsus in mid and hind legs shorter and almost equal in length than other segments together, respectively. All tarsomeres apically with two spines and a triangular lobe as in tibia.

Wings ( Fig. 5) and abdomen. Costal area of fore wings green, sub-opaque, with wide apex. Apex of hind wings truncated with brownish patch, densely reticulated. Lower edge of abdominal sternites 5 th and 6 th with a triangular median lobe, a longitudinal mid-carina on it.

Male genitalia ( Fig. 19). Apical process of left phallomere (paa) and loa short and rounded; afa highly sclerotized, cone-shaped with round apex, completely covered with small spines. Ventral phallomere broad, without any distal processes. Right phallomere with horseshoe-shaped, strongly sclerotized pva; oval shaped pia and triangular, sparsely ciliate fda.

Female (Paratype Reg. No. 22444). Very similar to male. Body larger and darker than in male ( Figs 1, 6). Lower frons with two small paramedian tubercles; upper edge tubercle placed straight to upward ( Fig. 10). Vertical process pyramidal without any notches on it ( Fig. 8). Lateral pronotal denticles more developed than that of male ( Fig. 12). Lobe on upper edge of fore femora ( Figs 14, 16) and mesofemoral midial lobe ( Fig. 18) more developed than in males. Costal area of fore wings yellowish green, opaque. Costal area of hind wings sub-hyaline, discoidal area opaque with a semi-circular lobe at upper tip, more reticulated than in males ( Fig. 6).

Distribution. India – Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu ( Fig. 20).