Metaphotina akaraje, Ferraz & Queiroga & Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2025

Ferraz, Bernardo R., Queiroga, Drielly, Souza-Dias, Pedro G. B. & Rivera, Julio, 2025, Taxonomic revision and natural history of Metaphotina Piza, 1964 (Mantodea, Acontistidae), Zootaxa 5646 (3), pp. 351-399 : 388

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5646.3.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:820FBFE2-4867-4FFF-B1D4-AE16942C9D49
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5B308C1F-FFCC-1759-3781-AB66FA5DAAC7
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Metaphotina akaraje
status

Treatment

Keys to Metaphotina species

1. Males’s vertex convex ( Fig. 19A View FIGURE 19 ). Ventral phallomere left margin curving smoothly towards the spiniform projection of the sdp ( Fig. 20A View FIGURE 20 ). Left phallomere’s posterior bending convex ( Fig. 20A View FIGURE 20 ). Females’ CG8 proximal projections angular, with sharp edges ( Fig. 21A View FIGURE 21 ). cxdl strongly sclerotized ( Figs. 21A, D View FIGURE 21 ). Distributed mainly in the Brazilian Cerrado biome and neighboring semiarid habitats within N. Argentina, S. Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay ( Figs. 24 View FIGURE 24 , 26 View FIGURE 26 )................................................................................................ Metaphotina bimaculata ( Saussure, 1870)

- Male vertex flattened ( Figs. 20B, C View FIGURE 20 ). Ventral phallomere left margin curving sharply towards the spiniform projection of the sdp ( Figs. 21B, C View FIGURE 21 ). Females’ CG8 proximal projections rounded ( Figs. 21B, 21C View FIGURE 21 ). cxdl membranous ( Figs. 21E, F View FIGURE 21 ). Distributed only in the Caatinga biome and adjacent areas ( Figs. 25 View FIGURE 25 , 26 View FIGURE 26 )................................................... 2

2. Male vertex with a narrow, longitudinal depression bisecting its top. ( Fig. 19B View FIGURE 19 ). Mesothoracic wings with a brown spot of variable size on the central portion of the discoidal field, metathoracic wings hyaline ( Fig. 22C View FIGURE 22 ). Females’ vertex with strong bump medially and with deep excavated ps ( Fig. 19E View FIGURE 19 ). Metathoracic wings with longitudinal veins of anal area alternating black and white ( Fig. 22D View FIGURE 22 ). CG8 hexagonal, proximal projections as small spines, sbu acute ( Fig. 21E View FIGURE 21 ). Distributed in the northernmost regions of the Caatinga of northeastern Brazil ( Figs. 25 View FIGURE 25 , 26 View FIGURE 26 ).................................................................................................. Metaphotina austri Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023

- Males’ vertex flattened, without longitudinal depression ( Fig. 19C View FIGURE 19 ). Mesothoracic wings hyaline, metathoracic wings with dark spot of variable size at the anal field ( Fig. 22E View FIGURE 22 ). Females’ vertex with moderate bump medially and shallowlly excavated ps ( Fig. 19F View FIGURE 19 ). Metathoracic wings with longitudinal veins of anal area black ( Fig. 22F View FIGURE 22 ). CG8 lozenge, proximal projections as tubercules, sbu rounded ( Fig. 21F View FIGURE 21 ). Distributed in the southernmost region of the Caatinga ( Figs. 25 View FIGURE 25 , 26 View FIGURE 26 )............................................................................................. Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov.