Trachymantis obesa Giglio-Tos 1917
Creators: name: Milledge, G. A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2005
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Mantodea
Mantidae
Trachymantis
Trachymantis obesa

description: <i>Trachymantis obesa</i> Giglio-Tos Figs. 24–25, 28–30, 45 <i>Trachymantis obesa</i> Giglio-Tos, 1917: 47. <b>Material examined</b>. Holotype female, Hermannsburg, Central Australia, H.J.Hillier, 1911–311 (BMNH).— QUEENSLAND: 23, 3 km W of Bundeena HS, SW of Quilpie, 12 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis. 1&amp;female;, 14 km S of Quilpie, 14 Nov 1971, R.C. Lewis. 13, 5 km N of Eromanga, 3 Nov 1967, R.C. Lewis (all ANIC).— NEW SOUTH WALES: 23, 18 km WNW of Bourke, 9 Feb 1972, R.C. Lewis (ANIC).— NORTHERN TERRITORY: 13, Wigley Waterhole, 8 km N of Alice Springs, 16 Feb 1966, Britton, Upton &amp; McInnes. 1&amp;female;, 22 km NNW of Kulgera HS, 8 Oct 1955, L.J. Chinnick. 1 juv, 37 km N of Alice Springs, 17 Nov 1966, White, Blackith &amp; Blackith (all ANIC). 1&amp;female;, Kathleen Creek, Watarrka National Park, 24°20'38"S 131°40'54"E, 21 Oct 1994, G. Milledge (NMV).— WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 23, 10 km NE of Menzies, 14 Jan 1989, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds. 13, 55 km ESE of Mount Magnet, 18 Jan 1989, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds. 13, 110 km S of Mount Magnet, 19 Jan 1989, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds. 23, 25 km E of Sandstone, 17 Jan 1989, M.S. &amp; B.J. Moulds. <b>Diagnosis</b>. Can be distinguished from <i>T. dentifrons</i> by the facial shield being higher than wide. <b>Description</b>. Body (Figs. 24–25) rather large. Colour uniform green or bluish green. Head (Fig. 28) higher than wide; frontal shield distinctly higher than wide with ridge produced into prominent point at apex. Prothorax with fine scattered tubercles on dorsal surface, mostly in prozone, more so in female; lateral margin finely denticulate. Fore leg (Fig. 29) with inner face of coxa bluish, apricot on distal quarter, anterior margin with five black spots and 11–12 small denticles; inner face of fore femur apricot in lower half with large black patch proximally and three narrow black bands distally; inner face of fore tibia orange. Wings of male longer than abdomen, those of female slightly shorter than abdomen; ventral surface of costal area of tegmen dark bluish grey with narrow apricot marginal band; discoidal area completely opaque in female, only partly so in male; hind wing with costal and discoidal area yellowish green, anal area mostly hyaline. Male genitalia (Fig. 30) with very short blunt <i>apr</i>; <i>pa</i> with single, elongate hooklike projection; distal projections of <i>dpr</i> elongate, narrow and of similar length. <b>Measurements</b> (mm). Body length, 3 54–70, &amp;female; 72–75. Pronotum length, 3 17–20, &amp;female; 24–26. Pronotum width, 3 4.5–6, &amp;female; 8. Fore coxa length, 3 14–17, &amp;female; 16–18. Fore femur length, 3 12–14, &amp;female; 21–22. Hind femur length, 3 11–15, &amp;female; 18. Hind tibia length, 3 12–16, &amp;female; 20. Tegmen length, 3 34–46, &amp;female; 34–37. <b>Immature stages</b>. Later instar nymphs similar in appearance to adults, early instars and ootheca unknown. <b>Distribution and habits</b>. Recorded (Fig. 45) from the drier parts of Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australia. The single specimen I have collected was found in a large <i>Acacia</i> shrub. Whilst in captivity it did not display cryptic behaviour as found in <i>Sphodropoda</i>.
description: Published as part of <i>Milledge, G. A., 2005, Revision of the Genera Sphodropoda, Trachymantis and Zopheromantis (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae), pp. 191-210 in Records of the Australian Museum 57</i> on page 207
description: {"references": ["Giglio-Tos, E., 1917. Mantidi Esotici. Generi e specie nouve. Societa entomologica Italiana, Bollettino 48: 43 - 108."]}