Euclimacia radioquaesentis Ehlers, Li, Kirschey & Ohl, 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Ehlers, Sarah
name: Li, Hongyu
name: Kirschey, Lukas
name: Ohl, Michael
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Neuroptera
Mantispidae
Euclimacia
Euclimacia radioquaesentis

description: Euclimacia radioquaesentis sp. nov.
Etymology.
The species epithet is made up of two words ‘ radio’ and ‘ quaesentis’. The latter derives from Latin and means ‘ searched for’. The name was chosen as part of a radio show. Citizens were invited to submit name suggestions. The most suitable was radioquaesentis – searched for on the radio.
Material examined.
Holotype. Vietnam • ♂; Quang Tri, Huong Hoa Nature Reserve; 16°56'15''N, 106°34'52''E; 400 m; 7–10 Nov. 2007; G. Csorba leg., T. S. Nguyen leg., D. T. Pham leg., T. T. Nguyen leg., X. N. Nguyen leg.; light trap; CSOVI–Vietnam No. 92; coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_8bfa03; ISNB.
Paratypes. Vietnam • 4 ♂; Quang Tri, Huong Hoa Nature Reserve; 16°56'15''N, 106°34'52''E; 400 m; 7–10 Nov. 2007; G. Csorba leg., T. S. Nguyen leg., D. T. Pham leg., T. T. Nguyen leg., X. N. Nguyen leg.; light trap; CSOVI–Vietnam No. 92; coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_7e303d, coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_29a944, coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_199711, coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_93bd60; ISNB • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_5ea2b5; ZBM • 1 ♂; Gia Lai, Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve; 14°28'28"N, 108°32'27''E; 1200 m; 13–20 Jul. 2018; J. Constant leg., J. Bresseel leg., X. Vermeersch leg.; GTI Project, I. G.: 33.769; coll.mfn-berlin.de_u_6c2cbd; ISNB • 1 ♀; Ninh Bình, Cuc Phuong National Park; 11–18 Jul. 2010; J. Constant leg., P. Limbourg leg.; ISNB.
Diagnosis.
The combination of colour characters in the new species is unique within Euclimacia. The contrast between the head and prothorax and the rest of the thorax and abdomen is striking. The prothorax and head have a distinct yellow colour, the remaining thorax is almost uniformly black. The abdomen of the male is also almost completely black with only a few brown markings. The female has a brownish abdomen with a black base. The wing colour is also unique in combination with the body colouration. The wings of E radioquaesentis have the prominent feature of differently-coloured pterostigmata in fore and hind wing. Whereas the fore-wing pterostigma is yellow, the hind-wing pterostigma is brown. There are currently six species in Euclimacia with this diagnostic character, but these species differ distinctly in body colouration. Whereas in E. radioquaesentis sp. nov., the head and the prothorax are markedly yellow, in the other six species both parts are either ferruginous (E. rhombica Navás, 1914), reddish-brown (E. morosa (Gerstäcker, 1893); E. zonalis Navás, 1914; E. regina Esben-Petersen, 1917; E. rufocincta Handschin, 1961) or completely black (E. gerstaeckeri Banks, 1920).
Description.
Measurements and ratios [in mm]. The given size range of each defined measurement area comprises minimum and maximum measured values of all seven specimens: Minimum frontal eye distance [WBE]: male 1.32–1.56; female 1.05. Maximum frontal head width including eyes [WAE]: male 3.96–4.44; female 3.25. Pronatal length, measured lateral from the anterior margin of the prozona to the dorsal basis of the prothorax [PL]: male 3.6–4.53; female 3.6. Pronatal width at maculae [WAM]: male 1.92–2.41; female 1.5. Pronatal ratio (length: width) [PL: WAM]: male 1.81–2.03; female 2.4. Maximum fore femoral length [LFF]: male 6.42–7.39; female 5.44. Maximum fore femoral width [WFF]: male 21–2.52; female 1.6. Fore femoral ratio (length: width) [LFF: WFF]: male 2.55–3.52; female 3.4. Maximum hind femoral length [LHF]: male 4.61–5.46; female 3.85. Hind femoral ratio (Hind femoral length: head width including eyes) [LHF: WAE]: male 1.08–1.38; female 1.18. Fore-wing length (measured at the middle of the humeral plate to the outer apex of the wing) [LFW]: male 22.21–25.1; female 17. Fore-wing width (measured down from the base of the pterostigma at a right angle) [WFW]: male 4.8–5.1; female 4.08. Fore-wing ratio (length: width) [LFW: WFW]: male 4.48–4.95; female 4.15. Maximum length of fore-wing anterior radial cell II [Lrarp 2]: male 4.19–5.2; female 3.02. Maximum width of fore-wing anterior radial cell II [Wrarp 2]: male 0.46–0.57; female 0.45. Fore-wing 2 R 1 ratio (length: width) [L 2 R 1: W 2 R 1]: male 8.6–10.57; female 6.71. Maximum hind-wing length (measured at the middle of the humeral plate to the outer apex of the wing): male 19.57–21.9; female 15.55. Maximum hind-wing width (measured down from the base of the pterostigma at a right angle): male 4.26–5.1; female 3.62. Hind-wing ratio (length: width): male 4.29–4.69; female 4.3.
Head. Holotype: Left antenna with 47 flagellomeres, right with 46 flagellomeres. Antennae of male paratypes ranging from 42 to 47 flagellomeres, left and right antennae with different number of flagellomeres in all specimens. Female: 41 flagellomeres right, left antennae missing.
Frons approximately square-shaped basically with outwardly curved lateral subantennal sutures (Fig. 2 A). Frons glabrous, pilosity indistinct, frontal surface wrinkled (Fig. 2 A). Clypeus trapezoidal, with long parallel side adjacent to frons and short parallel side adjacent to labrum, smoother surface than frons. Labrum ovoid, surface smooth with sparse pilosity. Frontal sutures form a curved line (Fig. 2 B). Coronal suture runs straight from junction of frontal sutures to occiput.
Prothorax. Pronatal humps distinctly protruding (Fig. 3 A). Female pronatal humps flat, weakly developed (Fig. 3 B).
Wings. Number of subcostal veinlets and their bifurcations are asymmetric. Holotype: Left fore-wing costal space proximal to pterostigma with 17 subcostal veinlets, first (most proximal) subcostal veinlet counted as one, but with bifurcation in anterior direction (Fig. 1 A). Right fore-wing with same number of subcostal veinlets, but without any bifurcation. Costal space of left hind-wing with 15 subcostal veinlets, right one with 14. Paratypes: Costal space with 11 to 16 subcostal veinlets, different in each wing of each specimen. Five of seven specimens with at least one bifurcated subcostal veinlet within costal space of fore-wing. Bifurcations never on both costal spaces in fore-wings, absent in costal spaces of hind-wings and subcostal spaces. One specimen with three bifurcations in one fore-wing. Female: Left fore-wing costal space with 12 subcostal veinlets, right fore-wing with 13 subcostal veinlets. Costal space of left hind-wing with 12 subcostal veinlets, right one with 16. Anterior radial cell II (rarp 2) of the left hind-wing with cross-vein approximately centrally.
Abdomen. Abdominal segments with indistinct pilosity, dull appearance, without enlarged membranes or pores (Fig. 4 E). Antecostal sutures (attachment for the longitudinal muscles) clearly visible in tergite III – VI in holotype and two further specimens (Fig. 1 A). One transverse suture on each side of anterior margin of tergite, 1.5–1.8 mm long, smooth and without setae. Sutures not merging dorsally. Additional small (0.15 mm – 0.35 mm) circular and glabrous areas on tergum III – VIII, two on each side in the posterior third, below each other, one more dorsally and one at lower part of tergum, similar to surface of tergal sutures (Fig. 1 A). Similar arrangement of those marks visible on sternum III – VII.
Male genitalia.
Tergite IX laterally about three times as wide as dorsally (Fig. 4 A, C). Sternite IX sternite posterior with apex pointing downwards (Fig. 4 C). Ectoprocts with median lobes with short thick black setae (Fig. 4 A). Mediuncus (gonocoxites X) elongated and arched from ventral to dorsal, approximately 1.1 mm long, anterior two-thirds slender, posterior part broadened with two flanks, apex bifid (Fig. 4 B, D). Pseudopenis (gonostyli X) originates posterior to apex of mediuncus, with broadened sclerotised trapezoidal lower region, short and acute process, strongly curved backwards (cranial direction). Two globular protrusions (hypomeres) lateral at base of pseudopenis. Parameres (gonocoxites IX) slightly s-shaped in lateral plane, one part strongly sclerotised, pigmented, narrow in lower half and widens threefold in upper half, lobe-like shape. Inwardly projecting and less pigmented area that surrounds sclerotised part, merges into the connecting membrane. Membranous areas and most parts of pseudopenis covered with microspinulae. Gonarcus (gonocoxites XI) arch-shaped from dorsal view, with medial and slightly upwards pointing lobe, located on top of mediuncus-paramere-complex (Fig. 4 B), connected to mediuncus and parameres via connecting membrane, remaining part freely movable. Connecting membrane barely sclerotised and flexible, but with definite shape (Fig. 4 B, D). Anterior margin between mediuncus / pseudopenis and parameres from dorsal view shoulder-shaped, with strongly convex (cv) area in distal 2 / 3.
Female genetalia. Gonocoxite VIII located between enlarged sternite VII and tergite VIII (Fig. 5 A, C). Gonapophysis located as small lobe ventrally between gonocoxites IX. Spermatheca approximate of equal thickness (Fig. 5 B, D), spirally coiled, with two inner coils of medial area and two coils of distal area. Short fertilisation duct and fertilisation channel.
Colour.
Head. Yellowish with a slightly reddish tinge that contrasts with yellow colour of prozona (Figs 1 A, C, 2 B). Vertex with dark brown uneven transversal band on posterior margin, band spreads from crest of vertex symmetrically to both sides without reaching eyes. Mouthparts same colour as head, except of black tips of mandibles (Fig. 2 A, C). Antennae yellowish with a slightly reddish tinge. Prothorax. Basic colour yellow. Prozona lighter than metazona (Fig. 1 A, C). Dorsolateral, a black transversal band appears over maculae, pronatal groove and pronatal humps. Band comprised by laterally connected black spots over maculae and pronatal humps (Figs 1 A, 2 B, 3 A). Spots on pronatal humps do not converge centrally (Fig. 2 B). Female: Only hinted black marks on pronatal humps. Black spot over maculae as in male (Fig. 3 B). Black spots over maculae and pronatal humps not connected laterally (Fig. 3 B). Meso- and metathorax. Uniformly black. Foreleg. Coxa and separation ring black with small yellow area distally (Fig. 2 C). Trochanter yellowish-brown with a red tinge. Ventral lower margin of femur light brown to yellowish. Tibia and tarsus light brown to yellowish. Mid- and hind-leg. Coxae and trochanters black. Femora black, very distal part brownish. Tibiae and tarsi reddish-brown with a small black spot dorsally in the proximal third. Abdomen. Basic colour black. Anterior area of second pleurite yellowish, tergites with pale marking medially on posterior margin (Fig. 1 A), sternite VIII with orange-brown longitudinal stripe medially. Tergite X (ectroproct) reddish-brown. Female abdomen orange-brown (Fig. 1 C). Tergite I black, tergite II black with posterior margin orange-brown, tergite III orange-brown with anterior margin black (Fig. 1 C). Sternite I – III black, sternite IV – VI black with posterior margin orange-brown. Fore-wing. Brown anterior wing band, oblique brown band runs over 3 M, not reaching posterior margin of wing (Fig. 1 A). Oblique apical dark band at posterior wing margin, comprises branches from first and second proximal radial veins originating from rarp 3 (Fig. 1 A). Central area of wing and 1 CuA hyaline. Posterior margin of wing pale light brown. Pterostigma light yellow. Wing veining predominantly brown, veins of pterostigma and anterior radial cell II (rarp 2), veins adjacent of rarp 2 and distal part of veins of rarp 1 yellow (Fig. 1 A). Female with 3 M reaching posterior wing margin (Fig. 1 C). Oblique apical dark band at posterior wing margin, comprises branches from last three distal radial veins originating from rarp 2 and first and second proximal radial veins originating from rarp 3 (Fig. 1 C). Posterior wing margin distinctly darker pigmented than in male. Hind-wing. Brown anterior wing band, hyaline median stripe and lower pale brownish margin. Pterostigma brown with proximal part of underlying subcosta yellow. Veins of rarp 2 slightly yellowish, remaining veins brown (Fig. 1 A). Female with posterior wing margin distinctly darker pigmented than in male (Fig. 1 C).
description: Published as part of Ehlers, Sarah, Li, Hongyu, Kirschey, Lukas & Ohl, Michael, 2024, A new species of the mantidfly genus Euclimacia from Vietnam (Neuroptera, Mantispidae), pp. 255-264 in Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 71 (2) on pages 255-264, DOI: 10.3897/dez.71.123553