Mantispilla Enderlein, 1910

Yamamoto, Hiroshi Nakamine and Shûhei, 2024, Taxonomic Notes on the Mantispidae (Insecta: Neuroptera) from Japan, Species Diversity 29 (2), pp. 209-234 : 230-232

Genus Mantispilla Enderlein, 1910

Mantispilla Enderlein, 1910: 346 (as subgenus of Mantispa Illiger, 1798 ).

Sagittalata Handschin, 1959: 215 (type species: Mantispilla hilaris Navás, 1925 , by original designation).

Perlamantispa Handschin, 1960: 191 (type species: Mantis perla Pallas, 1772 , by original designation).

Type species. Mantispa indica Westwood, 1852 , by original designation.

Diagnosis [modified from Snyman et al. (2018)]. Mantispilla can be distinguished from all other Oriental and Palaearctic mantispid genera by the following character: procoxae with longitudinal pigmented stripe on the anterolateral sides.

Mantispilla japonica ( McLachlan, 1875) [Japanese name: Hime-kamakirimodoki] ( Figs 1E , 14–16 )

Mantispa japonica McLachlan, 1875: 178 [type locality: Yokohama ( Japan)].

Mantispa diminuta Matsumura, 1907: 169 [type locality: Nakano, Tokyo ( Japan)]. syn. rev. [N.B.: Previously synonymised once by Nakahara (1912, 1913).]

Material examined. Honshu: 1 male, 1 female, 12 August 2015, Mitakeko, Yokote-shi, Akita, S. Fujie leg . ( OMNH); 1 male, 17 July 2017, Minamiakagiyama, Shibukawa-shi , Gunma, R . Matsumoto leg . ( OMNH); 1 male, 21 August 1993, Kawamata, Chichibu-shi, Saitama, M . Uchida leg . ( OMNH); 3 females, 17 July 1993, Kinshozan, Ogawamachi, Saitama, M . Uchida leg . ( OMNH); 1 female, 15 July 1995, same locality and collector ( OMNH); 1 male, 1 female, 10 September 2020, Magi, Otsuki-cho, Otuki-shi, Yamanashi, Y . Sakamoto leg . (MPIM-HN-006–9); 1 male, 10 September 1914, Gifu, Nawa leg . (SEHU-RH-3); 1 male, 23 September 2005, Okuizumi, Honkawane-cho, Shizuoka, O . Tominaga leg . ( OMNH); 1 male, 20 July 1969, Odaigahara, Odai-cho, Mie, M . Takahama leg . (MPIM-4161); 1 male, 1 female, 22 July 1999, Aogaiyama, Toyono-cho, Osaka, M . Takahama leg . (MPIM-4154, 4155); 2 females, 12 August 1999, same locality and collector (MPIM-4156, 4157); 1 female, 2 October 1978, Minoh-koen, Minoh-shi , Osaka, T . Saito leg . ( MPIM); 1 male, 30 June 1995, same locality and collector ( MPIM); 1 female, 15 July 1999, same locality, M . Takahama leg . (MPIM-4153); 1 female, 25 July 1996, Shimotodoromi, Minoh-shi , Osaka, T . Saito leg . (MPIM- N008); 1 female, 29 August 1995, Kamiakotani, Inagawa-cho , Hyogo, T . Saito leg . ( MPIM-N009 ); 3 males, 16 July 1996, Kamiakotani, Inagawa-cho, Hyogo, M . Takahama leg . ( MPIM); 1 female, 28 August 1997, same locality and collector ( MPIM); 1 male, 22 August 1995, Hyonosen, Yabu-shi , Hyogo, T . Saito leg . ( MPIM); 1 female, 12 July 2023, Sugitani, Higashiyoshino-mura, Nara, K . Kagawa leg. (MPIM- HN-010); 1 male, 4 females, 14 September 1969, Oshikakei, Misasa-cho, Tottori, M . Takahama leg . (MPIM-4168–72); 1 male, 1 female, 9 August 1969, Dogoyama, Shobara-shi, Hiroshima, M . Takahama leg . (MPIM-4159, 4163). Shikoku: 2 males, 2 females, 30–31 July 1970, Yunoki, Otoyo-cho, Kochi, M . Takahama leg . (MPIM-4158, 4162, 4164, 4165). Kyushu: 1 male, 5–7 August 1975, Tsushima-shi, Tsushima Is., Nagasaki, Y . Miyatake leg . ( OMNH); 1 female, 17 September 1977, Sasuna, Kamiagata-machi, Tsushima-shi, Tsushima Is ., Nagasaki, O . Tominaga leg . ( OMNH); 1 female, 4 June 1983, Mokkokuyama, Izuhara-machi, Tsushima-shi, Tsushima Is ., Nagasaki, T. Saito leg . (MPIM-4152); 1 female, 27 May 2003, Inokodani, Kobayashi-shi , Miyazaki, R . Matsumoto leg. ( OMNH). Nansei Islands : 1 male, 2 females, 7 July 2019, Nanatsuyama, Nakanoshima Is ., Tokara Isls., Kagoshima, H . Ono leg . ( MPIM); 1 male, 10 September 2023, Nazeuragami-cho, Amami-shi, Amamioshima Is ., Kagoshima, K . Matsuhira leg . ( KGPM); 1 male, 18 September 2023, same locality and collector ( KGPM); 1 female, 21 September 2023, same locality and collector ( KGPM); 1 male, 23 September 2023, same locality and collector ( KGPM), see Matsuhira (2023) .

Redescription. Body colour varies from pale brown to brown ( Fig. 14A, B ).

Head. Generally yellow with one longitudinal dark brown stripe on labrum to vertex ( Fig. 14D, E ) and brown spot at posterior margin of vertex ( Fig. 14F, G ). Antennae: scape and pedicel yellow. Flagellum dark brown with 22–26 articles covered with short setae.

Thorax. Prothorax 2.3–4.0 mm long in males, 2.9–4.5 mm long in females, elongate, entirely pale brown to brown with one or two yellow spot(s) at anterior broad section. Meso- and metanotum generally brown except yellow region at anterior region of sctum and yellow scutellum.

Legs. Foreleg: coxa in posterior surface generally yellow with longitudinal brown stripe from distal half to one-third, anterior surface generally yellow with longitudinal brown stripe ( Fig. 14C ). Femur in posterior surface generally yellow with few brown spots, anterior surface entirely dark brown except pale spot at ventromedial region. Dark yellow femoral major process at proximal two-fifths of femur length, dark yellow posteroventral row of processes present on distal three-fifths of femur length ( Fig. 14A–C ). Tibia generally yellow, gradually brown towards apex. Tarsus dark yellow to brown. Mid- and hindlegs: coxa generally dark yellow except brown spots at proximal region ( Fig. 14H ). Trochanter brown. Femur generally dark yellow with longitudinal brown stripe on ventral side ( Fig. 14I ). Tibia and their tarsi dark yellow, pretarsal claws with four or five apical teeth, arolium present.

Wings. Forewing 7.8–14.5 mm long in males, 8.9– 17.2 mm long in females, elongate, membrane hyaline, venation generally brown except pale yellow on wing base. Pterostigma brown to dark brown. Radius Anterior (RA) and Radius Posterior (RP) veins partly fused at wing apex ( Fig. 14J ). Media (M) and Radius (R) veins fused along approximately basal one-quarter of wing length and M vein posteriorly retracted to Cubitus (Cu), forming small radial triangle (rt) ( Fig. 14J ). Hind wing 6.9–12.3 mm long in males, 7.9–15.0 mm long in females, elongate, membrane hyaline, venation generally brown to dark brown except pale yellow on wing base region. Pterostigma brown to dark brown. RA and RP veins partly fused at wing apex ( Fig. 14K ). Cubitus Posterior (CuP) entirely fused with First anal vein (A1) at distal portion ( Fig. 14K ).

Abdomen. Tergite I generally brown to blackish brown. Anterotergite of tergite II generally brown to blackish brown, posterotergite generally yellow with brown to black longitudinal stripes on medial and lateral margins. Tergites III to VIII generally yellow except brown to black stripes on midline and posterior margin ( Fig. 14L ). All sternites entirely brown to black or with yellow spot on middle region of sternites I to V.

Male terminalia ( Fig. 15A–F ). Ectoproct slightly protruding, ellipsoid, covered with fine setae. Ventromedial lobe with short and thick setae. Sternite IX subpentagonal, apex broadly rounded in ventral view, covered with fine setae. Gonostyli X sclerotised, long and thin, with spine-like apex. Gonocoxites X relatively narrow and slightly broad with small notch at apex in ventral view. Median lobe of gonocoxites XI slightly acuminate. Hypandrium internum triangular with two slightly concave sides in dorsal view.

Female terminalia ( Fig. 15G–I ). Gonocoxites VIII narrow, elongate, setose. Gonapophyses VIII slightly protruding, setose. Ectoproct ellipsoid, covered with thin setae. Gonocoxites IX ellipsoid, covered with thin setae. Spermatheca strongly coiled, base of fertilisation canal duct narrow and curved.

Distribution. JAPAN: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Nansei Islands (Nakanoshima Is., Amamioshima Is.); FAR EAST RUSSIA; SOUTH KOREA; P. R. CHINA.

Comments. Matsumura (1907) briefly described M. diminuta based on body colouration and length. Miyake (1910) translated this Japanese description into English as follows: “Allied to Mantispa japonica , but smaller, antennae blackish fuscous, the basal part yellow; T-shaped blackish fuscous mark on the vertex, occiput dark fuscous; legs yellowish white; body length 8 mm; expanse 22 mm.” However, Miyake (1910) raised concerns regarding the validity of this species based on a brief description without detailed morphological information, whereas Okamoto (1910, 1911) suggested that M. diminuta is a different species from M. japonica . In contrast, Nakahara (1912, 1913) disagreed and stated that there were no discernible morphological differences between M. diminuta and M. japonica , concluding that M. diminuta is synonymous with M. japonica . Finally, Kuwayama (1925a) identified M. diminuta as a subspecies of M. japonica , distinguishing it from M. japonica based on the following morphological features: “In diminuta , the dilated anterior portion is mostly brownish and not clearly margined with a dark brownish band, but only with the ground colour, and also licking or slightly showing the yellowish band, the size is smaller than that of the latter species [quot- ed from the original text of Kuwayama (1925a)].”

Unfortunately, we could not locate a type specimen for M. diminuta . However, we found another specimen in the collection of the Systematic Entomology, Hokkaido University, which Dr. Satoru Kuwayama identified as M. japonica diminuta from Gifu Prefecture, central Honshu ( Fig. 16 ). Notably, this specimen is characterised by a small body size and pale colour of the head and prothorax ( Fig. 16A–E ), similar to M. diminuta . Nevertheless, these minor differences are not enough to differentiate it from the type specimen as a distinct subspecies. Therefore, we propose that M. j. diminuta is a junior synonym of M. japonica .

(insertion of Figs 17 , 18 )

Figures

Fig. 1. Photographs of living mantispids from Japan. A, Austroclimaciella quadrituberculata (Westwood, 1852) (MPIM-HN-001, photograph © Hiroshi Nakamine); B, Euclimacia badia Okamoto, 1910 (HH-20210603, photograph © Hibiki Hoshito); C, Eumantispa harmandi (Navás, 1909) (SK-20210914, photograph © Seiya Kudo); D, Tuberonotha strenua (Gerstaecker, 1894) (KC-20190923, photograph © Kazuma Chiyoda); E, Mantispilla japonica (McLachlan, 1875) (MPIM-HN-010, photograph © Hiroshi Nakamine); F, Mantispilla transversa Stitz, 1913 (OMNH-N000009473, photograph © Rikio Matsumoto). Scale bars:5.0mm.

Fig. 14. Mantispilla japonica (McLachlan, 1875), MPIM-N008 (A, F), MPIM-4155 (B, G), MPIM-HN-006 (C), MPIM-4153 (D), MPIM- 4154 (E), MPIM-HN-010 (H, I), MPIM-HN-007 (J, K), MPIM-N009 (L). A, Habitus of the pale brown female specimen, dorsal view; B, habitus of the brown female specimen, dorsal view; C, head, prothorax and forelegs, lateral view; D, head of the pale brown specimen, frontal view; E, head of the brown specimen, frontal view; F, head and pronotum of the pale brown specimen, dorsal view; G, head and pronotum of the brown specimen, dorsal view; H, coxa of mid and hind legs, left lateral view; I, mid and hind legs, ventral view; J, forewing venation; K, hind wing venation; L, tergites, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, B, 5.0mm; C, I–K, 2.0mm; D–H, L, 1.0mm.

Fig. 15. Male and female terminalia of Mantispilla japonica (McLachlan, 1875), MPIM-HN-006 (A–C), MPIM-HN-007 (D–F), MPIM- HN-008 (G, H), MPIM-HN-009 (I). A, Male terminalia, lateral view; B, ditto, dorsal view; C, ditto, ventral view; D, male genitalia, ventral view; E, ditto, left lateral view; F, hypandrium, dorsal view; G, female terminalia, lateral view; H, ditto, ventral view; I, spermatheca. Scale bars: A–C, G, H, 0.5mm; D–F, I, 0.2mm.

Fig. 16. Identified specimen as Mantispa japonica diminuta Matsumura, 1907, SEHU-RH-3. A, Habitus, lateral view; B, head, prothorax and forelegs, lateral view; C, habitus, dorsal view; D, head, frontal view; E, head and pronotum, dorsal view; F, labels. Scale bars: A, C, 2.0mm; B, 1.0mm; D, E, 0.5mm.

Fig. 17. Mantispilla transversa Stitz, 1913, MPIM-N010 (A, E, H), MPIM-4194 (B), MPIM-4205 (C), MPIM-4207 (D), MPIM-4209 (F, G). A, Female habitus, dorsal view; B, head, prothorax and forelegs, lateral view; C, head, frontal view; D, head and pronotum, dorsal view; E, coxa of mid and hind legs, left lateral view; F forewing venation; G, hind wing venation; H, tergites, dorsal view. Scale bars: A, 5.0mm; B, F, G, 2.0mm; C–E, H, 1.0mm.

Fig. 18. Male and female terminalia of Mantispilla transversa Stitz, 1913, MPIM-4196 (A–C), MPIM-4200 (D–F), MPIM-4209 (G, H), MPIM-4208 (I). A, Male terminalia, lateral view; B, ditto, dorsal view; C, ditto, ventral view; D, male genitalia, ventral view; E, ditto, left lateral view; F, hypandrium, dorsal view; G, female terminalia, lateral view; H, ditto, ventral view; I, spermatheca. Scale bars: A–C, G, H, 0.5mm; D–F, I, 0.2mm.