Platycalymma befasica Paulian 1957
Creators: name: Roy, Roger
name: Svenson, Gavin J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2011
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Mantodea
Iridopterygidae
Platycalymma
Platycalymma befasica

description: Platycalymma befasica (Paulian, 1957)
Ichromantis befasica PAULIAN, 1957: 43, fig. 23; ROY, 1987: 121; EHRMANN, 2002: 191; OTTE & SPEARMAN, 2005: 122.
Examined specimens. Madagascar. Holotype 3—Ouest, Morondava, forêt au sud de Befasy, I.56, R. Paulian (Locality P.b.1), genitalia prep. 3697 Roy (MNHN); 3 3—Kirindi, 60 km N Morondava, 100 m, 5–7.I.2004, S. Murzin & A. Shamaev leg. (Locality P.b.2), genitalia prep. 4052 Roy (MNHN); 2 3—Kirindi, 60 km N Morondava, 100 m, 13–17.I.2004, S. Murzin & A. Shamaev leg. (Locality P.b.3), genitalia prep. 4054 Roy (MNHN); 1 Ƥ—Nord Ouest, Amborovy, 15.I.1967, D. Wintrebert rec. (Locality P.b.4) (MNHN).
Diagnosis. A relatively small and entirely pale species, with a comparatively narrow costal region of the forewings
that are densely reticulate, particularly at the margins. The male head is markedly more transverse than all species
except for P. mahafalica. In fact, the species is most similar to P. mahafalica, but can be distinguished based on its
slightly larger size, its western distribution, the male genitalia, and the presence of a medial bulge on the vertex of the
male head. Antennae of both sexes is pale, but darker in the distal half. Both sexes have 11–13 external and 10–12
internal foretibial spines.
Redescription. Male. (Fig. 2 A) Length measurement from head to tip of abdomen 23–25 mm, of forewings 20–21
mm, of pronotum 4.7–5.3 mm; width of pronotum 2.3–2.7 mm, of head 3.8–4.0 mm, of costal region of forewing
1.8–2.0 mm.
Head (Fig. 4 C): Overall shape of head squat (markedly transverse) as seen in P. mahafalica. Vertex slightly concave with a medial bulge; area between parietal sutures and eyes strongly convex, forming pronounced juxtaocular bulges that form slight peaks; upper margin of eyes adjoining juxtaocular bulge with a smooth transition. Eyes bulging well outside the profile of the head. The lower margin of the frontal sclerite is concave. The clypeus has a concave lower margin with a large medial lip. Sculpting is present across clypeus and labrum. Antennae are uniformly pale.
Pronotum (Fig. 6 C): The length/width ratio is 1.96–2.04 with a narrowing metazone in the posterior third. Prozone constricted in the middle. Metazone is about 1.50 times longer than the prozone. Entirely pale coloration.
Legs: Length measurement of forecoxae 6 mm, of forefemora 6.5 mm, of foretibiae 4.5 mm, of mesofemora 6.5 mm, of mesotibiae 5 mm, of metafemora 7.5 mm, and of metatibiae 8 mm. The forelegs are entirely pale; the meso- and metathoracic legs are pale.
Wings: Forewings almost completely hyaline with a moderately broadened and reticulate costal region; veins are moderately pigmented light brown basally and greenish distally. Hindwings are hyaline with veins pigmented as in forewings.
Abdomen (Fig. 7 B): Thin abdomen with moderately elongated cerci, last segment rather short. Subgenital plate long and narrowly indented; styli large.
Genitalia (Figs. 9 A–C): Right epiphallus with apophysis hardened and smooth forming a slightly acute angle. Left epiphallus with slight sclerotization on the smooth terminus of the titillator; pseudophallus with slight granulation and multiple sclerotized digitations emerging from the terminus, each digitation having the terminus with granulation. Hypophallus with pronounced granulation and a number of small tubercles on the distal margin, forming a discrete region appearing as a convex bulb; the medial region of the left margin smooth and unsclerotized.
Redescription. Female. (Fig. 2 B) Length measurement from head to tip of abdomen 24 mm, of forewings 19 mm, of pronotum 6.0 mm; width of pronotum 3.1 mm, of head 4.3 mm, of costal region of forewing 2.2 mm. Head (Fig. 4 D): Overall shape of head only slightly transverse. Vertex slightly concave with a flat medial region, appearing to be more squared than other species; area between parietal sutures and eyes strongly convex, forming pronounced juxtaocular bulges that form slight peaks; upper margin of eyes adjoining juxtaocular bulge with an obtuse angle. Eyes bulging well outside the profile of the head. The lower margin of the frontal sclerite is slightly concave, but nearly flat medially. The clypeus has a straight lower margin with a medial lip. Slight sculpting is present across clypeus and labrum. Antennae are uniformly pale.
Pronotum (Fig. 6 D): As elongate as males with a length/width ratio of a little less than 2 and a metazone 1.58 times longer than prozone. Colored as in males with a somewhat constricted prozone and a narrowing metazone in the posterior half.
Legs: Length measurement of forecoxae 6.5 mm, of forefemora 7.5 mm, of foretibiae 5 mm, of mesofemora 7 mm, of mesotibiae 5 mm, of metafemora 7.5 mm, and of metatibiae 8 mm. The forelegs are pale except the terminus of the tarsi; the meso- and metathoracic legs colored the same as forelegs.
Wings: Forewings uniformly opaque; costal region very broad and highly reticulate. Forewing veins pigmented white-green across the costal and discoidal regions. Hindwings are hyaline with green pigmented veins.
Abdomen (Fig. 7 H): Broad with reduced lateral lobes. External genital structures typical for the genus.
description: Published as part of Roy, Roger & Svenson, Gavin J., 2011, Revision of Platycalymma Westwood, 1889, and the synonymy of Ichromantis Paulian, 1957 (Mantodea, Iridopterygidae, Tropidomantinae), pp. 1-25 in Zootaxa 3014 on pages 8-10, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.204672