Campion latifrons (Enderlein)

Pires Machado, Renato Jose, Li, Hongyu & Ohl, Michael, 2025, Solving taxonomic and nomenclatural problems among the Neotropical species of the family Mantispidae (Insecta, Neuroptera), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 72 (1), pp. 57-83 : 57-83

Campion latifrons (Enderlein)

Fig. 11

Mantispa latifrons Enderlein, 1910: 355. Holotype: male ( MZPW). Type locality: Brazil: Pará: Faro.

Notes.

In the original description, Enderlein (1910) explicitly mentioned a single male holotype from Faro, today a municipality in the state of Pará in the middle of the Amazon rainforest (Fig. 11 B ). Penny (1977) listed this species, but he erroneously mentioned Mexico as its geographic origin instead of Brazil. Subsequently, the species was again mentioned by Ohl (2004) and Snyman et al. (2018). This species is one of the dubious names from the Neotropical region, which are still valid and until now placed in Mantispa . However, after the examination of the male holotype, it is clear to us that the type locality of the species is the result of mislabeling. The specimen has all the diagnostic characters of the Australian genus Campion Navás , including the simple claws on the mid and hind legs (Fig. 11 K ). Dissection of the male genitalia also confirms that the species belongs to Campion , including the presence of scattered small thick spines distally on the medial margin of the ectoproct, instead of a distinct ventromedial lobe, dorsal membranous region between gonocoxites 9 with a pair of oblique strip-like sclerites, hypomeres absent but membrane lateral to apex of gonocoxites 10 (mediuncus) with a patch of setal bases (Fig. 11 N – Q ). Furthermore, the species is probably a synonym of C. tenuistriga (Gerstaecker, 1885) , a widespread species in Australia ( Lambkin 1986; Ohl 2004). No other species with these characters has been reported outside of Australia. It is highly likely that the type specimen of Mantispa latifrons was mislabeled and actually does not occur in the New World. Herein, the combination, Campion latifrons ( Enderlein, 1910) (new combination) is tentatively proposed. The taxonomic status of this species requires further study.

Figures

Figure 11. Mantispa latifrons Enderlein 1910, holotype, male. A. Habitus photo, dorsal view; B. Labels; C. Right fore and hind wings; D, E. Head, frontal and dorsal views; F, G. Prothorax, dorsal and lateral views; H. Forelegs; I, J. Pterothorax, dorsal and lateral views. K. Claw of mid leg; L, M. Abdomen, dorsal and ventral views; N – Q. Genitalia, dorsal, ventral, lateral and caudal views. Scale bars: 5.0 mm (A, C); 2.0 mm (D, E, H); 1.0 mm (F, G, I, J, L, M); 0.5 mm (K, N – P); 0.25 mm (Q).