New genus and species of flower mantids (Insecta: Mantodea: Hymenopodidae) from Vietnam

Abstract

A peculiar new genus and species of the flower mantids (Mantodea, Hymenopodidae) from South-Eastern Vietnam, Parapsychomantis vietnamensis gen. et sp. nov., is described. The new genus belongs to Acromantinae, Acromantini, as indicated by the diagnostic characters of the tribe and its similarity to Rhomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915, Psychomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915 and Oligomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915. It differs from all of the abovementioned genera by the combination of small vertex process, small medial lobes on mesofemora and by dense, irregular cross-veins network on the forewings. The distribution of the morphological characters directly related to crypsis (leg lobes) among members of the tribe is reviewed and illustrated. The genitalia of the new genus are illustrated and described. Comparison with other species of Acromantini with known genitalia shows noticeable differences in shape of structures and level of sclerotization indicating an understudied diversity of this complex in the tribe. The finding presents an interesting biogeographical problem because all morphologically similar genera are restricted to the south of Sundaland area. Possible explanations include insufficiently dense sampling of the adjacent areas, misleading morphology and past biogeographical factors related to the distribution of Sundaland plant communities. A comprehensive revision of the subfamily is necessary to explain the evolution of crypsis characters and biogeographic distribution. We also present a modified key to the genera and species of Acromantini.