Microphotina, Beier, 1935

Rivera, Julio, Hausherr, Nicolas & Lanna, Leonardo Moutinho, 2025, Discovery and formal description of the female of Microphotina Beier, 1935 (Mantodea: Photinaidae), with an updated key to species and remarks on the role of Citizen Science in advancing Mantodea biodiversity studies, Zootaxa 5621 (2), pp. 231-248 : 239-241

Key to males of Microphotina (sensu lato)

1. Ventral phallomere bearing elongated lateral patch of setae ventrally ( Fig 4A ); On left phallomere, afa large, strongly hook-like ( Fig 4B .). Distributed in French Guiana and Northeastern Amazonia ( Brazil: Amazonas, Pará)..... Microphotina vitripennis

- Ventral phallomere lacking elongated patch of setae ventrally; left phallomere with afa reduced, shaped differently from above.............................................................................................. 2

2. Left phallomere with afa distinctly unguiform ( Fig. 4C ). Distributed in Western Amazonia ( Peru)................................................................................................... Microphotina panguanensis

- Left phallomere with afa not unguiform................................................................... 3

3. Subgenital plate between the styli even ( Fig. 4D ). Distributed in French Guiana............... Microphotina viridescens

- Subgenital plate between styli notched ( Fig. 4E–F ).......................................................... 4

4. Distal notch of subgenital plate narrow, styli insertions outside of the notch ( Fig. 4E ). Distributed in French Guiana.......................................................................................... Microphotina viridula

- Distal notch of subgenital plate broad, styli insertions within the notch ( Fig. 4F ). Distributed in southern Amazonia ( Brazil: Mato Grosso)...................................................................... Microphotina cristalino

Comparative taxonomy and systematics. The female of Microphotina superficially resembles that of Chromatophotina , but there are some evident differences between them. Relative to Chromatophotina , Microphotina has a more compact build, resulting in a relatively shorter and stouter body ( Figs. 5B–E ). This is exemplified by pronotal proportions: the ratio metazona/prozona is ≤ 2.6 in Microphotina , while in Chromatophotina it is ≥ 3. As in Chromatophotina , Microphotina also exhibits a whitish pigmentation along the sides of the pronotum, which stems from the whitish costal area of the mesothoracic wings, altogether forming a continuous stripe. However, in Microphotina , this stripe is only subtly visible near the base of the pronotum, whereas in Chromatophotina the same reaches as far as the supracoxal dilatation. Moreover, the costal area of the forewings is only partially whitish in Microphotina , whereas in Chromatophotina it is strikingly white throughout its entire extent.Another distinguishing feature is the strongly contrasting crossveins of the forewings of Microphotina , which stand out against the membrane. In contrast, Chromatophotina has the forewing membrane and crossveins concolorous.Additionally, the longitudinal veins of the forewings are more tightly arranged in Microphotina and subtend less complex reticulation, compared to Chromatophotina . Differences observed in the abdomen include the abdominal pleural membrane, which is pale pink in Microphotina but strikingly white in Chromatophotina . Lastly, Microphotina has shorter and conical monochromatic cerci, while in Chromatophotina the same are noticeably elongated, flattened, and in great part pigmented in a dark purplish color. Overall, Microphotina has a more compact body form compared to the more elongated Chromatophotina , akin to the difference between the sister genera Photina Burmeister, 1838 and Hicetia Saussure & Zehntner, 1894 ( Photinaini ), where Photina is the robust form and Hicetia the slender one. The ootheca of Microphotina closely resembles that of Chromatophotina , as well as Orthoderella Giglio-Tos, 1897 , and Paraphotina Giglio-Tos, 1915 , in the Orthoderellini ( Fig. 2E ). They all share a similar overall shape and structure, outer wall characteristics (coloration, smooth texture), and a curved, ridged emergence area ending in a short, blunt residual process.

In light of the new information, we present a key to distinguish between Microphotina and Chromatophotina :

Figures

FIGURE 2. Oothecae of M. viridescens and relatives (Cardiopterinae + Photinainae). A) Right lateral view (specimen 1). B) Left lateral view (specimen 2) showing the mode of attachment to the substrate. C) Dorsal view. D) Frontal view (notice ridged emergence area). E) Ootheca diversity in Photinainae and its sister group, Cardiopterinae (evolutionary affinities sensu Rivera & Svenson, 2016). Overall, the oothecae of Photinainae can be distinguished from those of Cardiopterinae by their caramel brown coloration, compact and globular shape, thick and hard outer wall, and raised emergence area (except in Hicetia). Not to scale.

FIGURE 4. Microphotina spp. A) Microphotina vitripennis, detail of the elongated ventral patch of setae (ventral view). B) Microphotina vitripennis, detail of apophysi phalloid (afa). C) Microphotina panguanensis, detail of apophysi phalloid (afa). D) Microphotina viridescens, subgenital plate (dorsal view), slightly asymmetrical styli can be observed in some specimens. E) Microphotina viridula, subgenital plate (dorsal view). F) Microphotina cristalino, subgenital plate (dorsal view). Abbreviations: VP (ventral phallomere). Not to scale.

FIGURE 5. A) Female of Microphotina viridescens under a leaf, adopting the typical cryptic posture of the Photinaidae (photo by N. Hausherr). B) A different female specimen, showing the extent of the whitish strip between the proximal section of the costal area and the base of the metazona (photo by N. Hausherr). C) Chromatophotina awajun Rivera, 2010 (from Tarapoto, Peru), showing a more extensive and intensely expressed white stripe on the pronotum and mesothoracic wing (iNatObs: 187846650, photo by Diego Deza, license CC-BY-NC). D) Female of M. viridescens guarding her ootheca (photo by N. Hausherr). E) Chromatophotina cofan Rivera, 2010 (from Pastaza, Ecuador) guarding her ootheca (iNatObs: 53791526, photo by Ferhat Gundogdu, license CC0).