Metaphotina austri Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023

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 : 378-381

Metaphotina austri Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023

( Figs. 13–15 ; 19B, E, H ; 20B ; 21B, E ; 22C, D ; 23C, D )

Acontiothespis brevipennis Rehn, 1916: 258 [partim] (misidentified [= M. austri ], distribution).

Metaphotina austri Ferraz et al., 2023: 34 (original description [male/female]; type locality: Aiuaba , Ceará, Brazil).

Diagnosis. Male vertex flat with a narrow, longitudinal depression bisecting its top ( Fig. 13C ); mesothoracic wings with a variable-sized spot medially; metathoracic wings are hyaline and unpigmented ( Fig. 13A ). L4A with sharp curvature towards the sdp ’s spiniform projection ( Fig. 14B ); posterior bending of the left phallomere moderately convex ( Fig. 14A ).

Female vertex conspicuously elevated and prominent ( Figs. 13D, E ); mesothoracic wings with the costal field and wing apex tapering distally; metathoracic wings displaying alternating black and white longitudinal veins. Proximal region of CG8 with two short projections, distal region towards the sbu presenting a short, rounded projection ( Fig. 14D, 14E ).

Oothecae ( Fig. 15 ). Guttiform, with the proximal end serving as the attachment point to the substrate, bulging and tapering towards the anterior region but seemingly rounder than the egg case of M. bimaculata , terminating in a filiform residual process that may split at its tip. Females attach their egg cases to smooth surfaces such as leaves, but also to stems or twigs, with the emergence area leaning towards the substrate. The external coating is yellowish-white, while the outer wall of the egg case is reddish-brown. No egg cases could be dissected to study their internal structure; this description is based on records from the iNaturalist platform.

Measurements and ratios. Supplementary material 2.

Distribution. BRAZIL (AL*, BA, CE, MA, PB, PE, PI*, RN).

Type locality: Aiuaba , Ceará, Brazil .

Remarks. Ferraz et al. (2023) presented a detailed description of this distinct species. The smallest member of Metaphotina , it is distributed in northeastern Brazil, in association with the Caatinga biome and ecotones in drier Atlantic Rainforest and Amazonian areas. We herein describe the oothecae of this species and record it in two new states in northeastern Brazil, Alagoas and Piauí, and in new localities Rio Grande do Norte, through iNaturalist records with pictures that allowed for the identification of the species. Although its presence in both states was expected, these records help fill some gaps in the known distribution of this species.

Additionally, in its description the authors treated the male sdp of this species as the pda ( Ferraz et al. 2023: Fig. 6E )¸ here we correct this statement as those structures are not homologous (see Schwarz & Roy 2019). In the same picture, the authors treated the female cxvl as cxdl and the cxal as cxvl. Due to this we correct the female structures names ( Fig. 14D ).

Material examined. HOLOTYPE, BRAZIL, CEARÁ: 1♂ BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológicade Aiuaba, sede do/ ICMBIO, Sítio Volta de Cima, antes do lago, Terra 1/ 06°36ꞌ07.4ꞌꞌS, 40°07ꞌ28.4ꞌꞌW 02.vi.2021 425m / Pano branco/ C.C. Gonçalves col. | Holótipo | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-229; MNRJ. ALLOTYPE, BRAZIL, CEARÁ: 1♀ BR[asil], PE[rnambuco], Vitória de Santo Antão, Engenho Queimados/ 08°05ꞌ55.8ꞌꞌS, 35°13ꞌ10.3ꞌꞌW 18.ii.2017 181m / Coleta ativa/ A.A. Alves col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | Alótipo | DZRJ/ Mantodea / 0015 | Acontista / brevipennis/ det. A.A. Alves 2017 | MNRJ-ENT14-230; MNRJ. PARATYPES, BRAZIL, PERNAMBUCO: 2♂ BR[asil], PE[rnambuco], Vitória de Santo Antão, Engenho Queimados/ 08°05ꞌ50”S, 36°12ꞌ56.4ꞌꞌW 26.i.2018 158m / Luz de casa/A.A.Alves col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-231, MNRJ-ENT14-234; MNRJ.. 1♂ BR[asil], PE[rnambuco], Buíque, Parque Nacional do Catimbau, trilha/ para Sítio Arqueológico Aicobaça, próximo às pinturas/ rupestres, Terra 4 15.iii.2019 721m / 08°32ꞌ24.4ꞌꞌS, 37°11ꞌ39.5ꞌꞌW Rede de Varredura/ D.M. Takiya col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-235; MNRJ. 1♀ BR[asil], PE[rnambuco], Vitória de Santo Antão, Engenho Queimados,/ rio sem nome/ 08°05ꞌ54.5ꞌꞌS, 35°17ꞌ54.2ꞌꞌW 26.i.2018 109m / Coleta ativa/ A.A. Alves col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-236 CEARÁ: 1♂ BR[asil], CE[ará], BR, CE, Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, sede do/ ICMBio, Sítio Volta de Cima, antes do lago, Terra 1/ 06°36ꞌ07.4ꞌꞌS, 40°07ꞌ38.4ꞌꞌW 02.vi.2021 425m / Pano branco/ C.C. Gonçalves col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-232; MNRJ. 1♂ BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba,/ Estrada, próximo ao Riacho da Gameleira, Terra 16/ 06°41ꞌ13.4ꞌꞌS, 40°16ꞌ05.7ꞌꞌW 06.vi.2021 493m / Pano branco/ A.S. Freitas & C.C. Gonçalves cols. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-233. UFRJ; UFRJ. 1♂ BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, próximo/ ao sítio minador/ 06°39ꞌ47.5ꞌꞌS, 40°09ꞌ05ꞌꞌW 11.iv.2019 154m / C.C. Gonçalves col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-237; MNRJ. 3♂ BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, Estrada,/ próximo ao Riacho da Gameleira, Terra 16/ 06°41ꞌ13.4ꞌꞌS, 40°16ꞌ05.7ꞌꞌW 06.vi.2021 493m / Pano branco/ A.S. Freitas & C.C. Gonçalves cols. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-238, MNRJ-ENT14-240, MNRJ-ENT14-241; MNRJ. 1♂ BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, estrada,/ Terra 19/ 06°43ꞌ33.1ꞌꞌS, 40°18ꞌ23.4ꞌꞌW 07.vi.2021 634m / Pano branco/ A.S. Freitas col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-239; MNRJ. 1♀ BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, próximo/ ao sítio volta de baixo, Terra 12/ 06°37ꞌ31.4ꞌꞌS, 40°08ꞌ01ꞌꞌW 14.iv.2019 441m / V. Quintas col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-242; MNRJ. PARAÍBA: 5♂ P[ar]q[ue]. Est[adual]. Pedra/ da Boca/Araru-/ na/ Paraíba Pt1 | 28-29/V/2003 | Rothéa, Creão/ Evangelista col. | UFPB | INPA-MAN/ 000899, INPA- MAN/ 000900, INPA-MAN/ 000901, INPA-MAN/ 000902, INPA-MAN/ 000903; INPA. MARANHÃO: 2♂ Brasil (MA[ranhão]), Caxias | Pov[oado]. Malhada da Areia, | Armadilha luminosa, | - 7.viii.2005, V. M. Kós &/ J. T. Câmara, cols. | INPA-MAN/ 000904, INPA-MAN/ 000905; INPA. 1♂ Brasil, Rio Grande do Norte,/ Ceará-Mirim, Fazenda/ Diamante/ 29 / IV / 2014 / Sobral, R. col./ Pensylvania (Luz Negra) | Det. Agudelo, A. (in 2015)/ Acontista sp. | INPA-MAN/000928; INPA.

Additional material. BRAZIL, CEARÁ: 1 nymph BR[asil], CE[ará], Aiuaba, Estação Ecológica de Aiuaba, próximo/ ao sítio minerador,terras sweep/06°43ꞌ32.2ꞌꞌS, 40°13ꞌ21.5ꞌꞌW 11.iv.2019 584m /V.Quintas col.| Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-243; MNRJ. PERNAMBUCO: 1 nymph BR[asil], PE[rnambuco], Tupanatinga, Parque Nacional do Catimbau,/ cerca de 500m a oeste da casa dos brigadistas, Terra 1,/ sweep 14.iii.2019 772m Rede de varredura/ 08°34ꞌ17ꞌꞌS, 37°14ꞌ14.2ꞌꞌW/ C.C. Gonçalves & D.M Takiya cols. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-244; MNRJ. 2 nymph BR[asil], PE[rnambuco], Tupanatinga, Parque Nacional do Catimbau,/ terreno do ICMBIO/ 08°33ꞌ54.9ꞌꞌS, 37°14ꞌ20.2ꞌꞌW 14.iii.2019 730m / Rede de varredura/ C.C. Gonçalves col. | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera, 2023 / Det. B.R. Ferraz 2023 | MNRJ-ENT14-245. MNRJ; BAHIA: 2♂ Brasil: BA[hia], Curuçá,/ Rio Buracão/ 06.v.2011 Bandeja/ Grança leg. | Empréstimo/ Lab de Entomologia/ Aquática— UFB/ Prof. Adolfo Calor | Metaphotina austri / Ferraz, Souza-Dias & Rivera | det. B.R. Ferraz, 10.v.2023; UFBA. SEM LOCALIDADE: 1♂; INPA.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Metaphotina bimaculata, male genitalia. (A) Left phallomere, dorsal view. (B) Ventral phallomere, dorsal view. (C) Right phallomere, ventral view. (D) Dorsal view. (E) Lateral view. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURE 13. Metaphotina austri Ferraz et al. 2023. (A) Male holotype, habitus (B) Female allotype, habitus. (C) Head of male holotype, frontal view. (D) Head of female allotype, frontal view. (E) Head of female allotype, vertex and ocellar projections. (F) Pronotum of male holotype, dorsal view. (G) Pronotum of female allotype, dorsal view. Scale bars: (A–B) 10mm; (C–G) 1mm. Figure adapted from Ferraz et al. (2023).

FIGURE 14. Metaphotina austri, male holotype genitalia. (A) Left phallomere, dorsal view. (B) Ventral phallomere, dorsal view. (C) Right phallomere, ventral view. (D) Dorsal view. (E) Lateral view. Scales: 1 mm. Figure adapted from Ferraz et al. (2023).

FIGURE 15. Metaphotina austri egg cases from iNaturalist records. All licenses CC-BY-NC. Images may have been cropped and/or rotated for better observation. (A) Observation 154869944, by biologocelio, Brazil (CE) 19/Mar/2023. (B) Observation 128305433, by biologocelio, Brazil (CE), 14/Jun/2022.

FIGURE 19. Heads of Metaphotina spp. (A) M. bimaculata, male. (B) Holotype of M. austri, male. (C) Holotype of M. akaraje sp. nov., male. (D) M. bimaculata, female. (E) Allotype of M. austri, female. ((F) Allotype of M. akaraje sp. nov., female. (G) Close-up of female M. bimaculata vertex. (H) Close-up of female (allotype) M. austri vertex. (I) Close-up of female (allotype) M. akaraje sp. nov. vertex. Scale: 1 mm.

FIGURE 20. Genitalia of male Metaphotina spp. (A) M. bimaculata. (B) M. austri. (C) M. akaraje sp. nov.

FIGURE 21. Female genitalia of female Metaphotina spp. (A) Metaphotina bimaculata, ventral view (note cxdl distinguishably sclerotized). (B) Metaphotina austri, ventral view. (C) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov., ventral view. (D) Metaphotina bimaculata, lateral view. (E) Metaphotina austri, lateral view. (F) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov., lateral view. (G) Metaphotina bimaculata CG8, close-up. (H) Metaphotina austri CG8, close-up. (I) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov. CG8, close-up. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURE 22. Wings of Metaphotina spp. (A) Metaphotina bimaculata, male. (B) Metaphotina bimaculata, female. (C) Metaphotina austri, male. (D) Metaphotina austri, female. (E) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov., male. (F) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov., female.

FIGURE 23. Metaphotina spp. habitus, dorsal view. (A) Metaphotina bimaculata, male. (B) Metaphotina bimaculata, female. (C) Metaphotina austri, male holotype. (D) Metaphotina austri, female allotype. (E) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov., male holotype. (F) Metaphotina akaraje sp. nov., female allotype. Scale: 10 mm.