Majangella carli Giglio-Tos 1915
Creators: name: Svenson, Gavin J.
name: Vollmer, William
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Mantodea
Hymenopodidae
Majangella
Majangella carli

description: Majangella carli Giglio-Tos, 1915
(FIGURES 1C–E; 2C; 3C–D; 4B; 5J–M; 6)
Majangella carli: GIGLIO- TOS, 1915: 95; GIGLIO- TOS, 1927: 310; BEIER, 1935: 14; BEIER, 1942: 141; EHRMANN, 2002: 213; OTTE & SPEARMAN, 2005: 134; BRAGG, 2010: 24–25, Figs. 7, 19.
Holotype: Male listed as deposited in “Mus. Ginevra”, but this specimen cannot be located in the MNHG. We are certain of this repository since the patronym is derived from Dott. Carl, a former assistant at the “ Museo di Ginevra ”. Therefore, we are afraid the specimen is lost or has been borrowed and not returned to the MNHG; Type Locality: “ Sumatra ”.
Material Examined. 1 ♂ — Borneo, Sarawak, Lambir Hills National Park, 4.198279°N, 114.041914°E, 15 October 2006, Coll: G.J. Svenson, MN330 Primary Voucher, genitalia prep. MAJ03 (Locality M. c.1) (GSMC); 1 ♂ — Borneo, Sabah, Tawau district, Brumas camp, 500–700 ft., 17–31.x.1973, C.J.M. Pruett, B.M. 1974–277, clay, shale and limestone hills, primary rainforest, genitalia prep. MAJ05 (Locality M. c.2) (BMNH); 1 ♂ — Borneo, Sabah, Sandakan district, Rumidi estate, River Labuk. 50–150 ft, 14–31.ix.1973, C.J.M. Pruett., B.M. 1974–277, heavy forest near plantations, genitalia prep. MAJ06 (Locality M. c.3) (BMNH); 1 ♂ — Borneo, Sabah, Tenom, 18.I.2006, S. Chew leg., Stiewe genitalia prep. No. Ma.Bo. (Locality M. c.4) (BMNH); 1 ♂ — West Malaysia, Cameron Highlands, XII.2000, genitalia prep. MAJ10 (Locality M. c.5) (MNHN); 1 ♂ — Burma, Dawna, H. Lehmann jr. Leg., 28. V.1996, Stiewe genitalia prep. No. Ma.Bu. 01 (Locality M. c.6) (Stiewe Coll.). Localities presented in Bragg (2010): 1 ♂ —East Java. Native collector. ii. 2008 (Locality M.c.7) (PEB-M359).
Although females are not known for the other two species, it was brought to our attention late in this study that a female specimen is housed in the ZSMC (Zoologische Staatssammlung, München, Germany) and identified as such by Max Beier. We have neither examined this specimen nor verified its identification, but Martin Stiewe has photographed and briefly examined this specimen (Fig. 1E). Unfortunately, it is the only known representative for the genus and will not be included here in the description of M. carli. Perhaps in the future, females for all three species will be discovered and described. Based on the image taken by M. Stiewe, the female is strikingly similar in overall habitus to the male, which does not explain why females have remained unknown for so long as we have previously guessed them to be sexually dimorphic to males.
Diagnosis. The smallest of the three species, colored brown with dark mottling that is similar to M. ophirensis, though the external surface of the forefemora has darker brown mottling. The process of the vertex forming a single projection that narrows distally to a dull, rounded point.
This species can also be distinguished based on the uninterrupted black marking on the inner surface of the forefemora with two small pale markings along the dorsal edge flanking the widest part of the foliaceous expansion.
Original Description Majangella carli by Giglio-Tos (1915: 95):
“ ♂. M. Moultoni similis sed distincta: statura minore, colore testaceo, processus verticis apice integro, gibba antica prozonae pronoti humiliore, angulis ampliationis nonnihil rotundatis, maculis nigris inter sulcum pronoti et gibbas metazonae nullis, costa alarum basi virescente, apice infuscato maculato, femoribus anticis intus a sulco unguiculari ad apicem nigro-nitidis, maculis tribus flavis ad marginem superum. Long. corp. mm. 28; ling. pron. 10; long. metaz. 7; lat. pron. 4; long. elytr. 26.”
Translation:
“ ♂. M. Moultoni similar but distinct: small stature, colored a dull red, the single process of vertex at the apex, process on the prozone of the pronotum lower, the corners of the process somewhat rounded, with black markings between the pronotal sulcus and the processes of the metazone, costal region becoming green at the base of the wings, mottled a dusky color at the apex, inside of the forefemora black-shiny from tibial groove to the apex, three yellow spots on the outer margin distally. Body length 28 mm; length of pronotum 10 mm; length of metazone 7 mm; width of pronotum 4 mm; length of elytra 26 mm.”
Redescription. Male (Figs. 1C & 1D). Length measurement from head to tip of abdomen 29–30 mm, of forewings 22–26 mm, of pronotum 8.5–9.5 mm, of metazone 5.5–6.5 mm, of forecoxa 7–8 mm, of forefemora
9–9.5 mm, of metathoracic femora 8–8.5 mm, of metathoracic tibiae 7–8 mm, of metathoracic tarsi 5–6 mm, and width of head 5–5.5 mm.
Head (Fig. 2C): Process of the vertex forming a single projection that narrows distally to a dull, rounded point. The two small, symmetrical, conical protuberances located between the parietal sutures and the lateral depressions of the central bulge are strongly present and terminate with a distinct protuberance. Clypeus with the medial process projecting towards the lower margin, which creates a strong fold or ledge at the lower margin of the process that extends laterally; the transverse carina present, but smaller and not creating a strong edge to the lower margin above the lower lip, but only a small ridge extending from lateral margin to abut the medial carina medially; medial carina narrow, but distinct; lower lip emarginated medially.
Pronotum (Figs. 3C & 3D): The two posterior prozonal processes with moderately sized tubercles running up the posterior ridge, which slowly ascends to a dull rounded terminus. Two symmetrically placed conical processes in the anterior portion of the metazone are mostly smooth with very few tubercles.
Forelegs (Fig. 4B): Uninterrupted black marking on the inner surface of the forefemora with two small pale markings along the dorsal edge flanking the widest part of the foliaceous expansion. Femora with 15 internal spines. Tibiae with 11–12 external spines and 12 internal spines.
Legs: Preapical lobes on femoral carina projecting distally and resembling a small, narrowing process. Carina of metathoracic femora may or may not include a small lobe at the base, which is very small and resembles only slight bulging; does not include any additional small lobes medially.
Wings: Forewings mostly hyaline with brown and some black pigmentation on veins and in limited cells; costal region opaque brown or dark brown; distinct brown mottling in costal and discoidal regions covering multiple cells in broad splotches. Hindwings hyaline, but has strongly distinct brown markings in the costal region of the hindwing about two-thirds the distance from the base to the distal tip with the remainder of the wing hyaline, particularly from the dark marking to the tip of the wing.
Abdomen: The posterior margin of sternites with a medial lip that is slightly emarginated, forming two symmetrical, broadly rounded lobes; the carina running along the midline is barely elevated and extending anteriorly just beyond the posterior margin and dissipating quickly.
Male Genitalia (Figs. 5J–M): The tip of the pseudophallus sclerotized and terminating with a narrowing tip that is slightly curved.
description: Published as part of Svenson, Gavin J. & Vollmer, William, 2014, A case of the higher-level classification of praying mantises (Mantodea) obscuring the synonymy of Majangella Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Liturgusidae, Liturgusinae) and Ephippiomantis Werner, 1922 (Hymenopodidae, Acromantinae), pp. 103-119 in Zootaxa 3797 (1) on pages 113-114, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3797.1.10, http://zenodo.org/record/4915399