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Issue: Vol. 5621 No. 2: 15 Apr. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-04-15
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5621.2.4
Page range: 231-248
Abstract views: 100
PDF downloaded: 9

Discovery and formal description of the female of Microphotina Beier, 1935 (Mantodea: Photinaidae), with an updated key to species and remarks on the role of Citizen Science in advancing Mantodea biodiversity studies

Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke East, Montreal, QC, Canada H1X2B2; Montreal Insectarium, 4101 Sherbrooke St E, Montreal, Quebec, H1X2B2, Canada
Association d’Etude des Mantes de Guyane (AEMG), PK 19,5 Route du Dégrad Saramaca, 97310 Kourou, French Guiana
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará / Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, R. Augusto Corrêa, 1, Guamá, Belém, 66075-110, Pará, Brazil; Projeto Mantis, independent organization, itinerant laboratory, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mantodea Taxonomy Parental Care Praying mantis iNaturalist Citizen Science

Abstract

French Guiana (FG) is renowned as one of the most extensively studied and recognized Neotropical regions for Mantodea. Despite comprehensive historical and contemporary collections, several taxa remain known from only one sex. This is the case for the females of Microphotina Beier, 1935 (Photinaidae, Microphotinini), whose elusiveness has prevented full characterization of this little-known lineage of foliage-dwelling praying mantises. In this study, we report and describe the female of Microphotina viridescens (Chopard, 1912), discovered in FG through citizen science efforts. We detail critical diagnostic features to recognize the female of M. viridescens and distinguish it from those of Chromatophotina Rivera, 2010, while reinterpreting wing and genital traits of males to enhance its recognition. The egg case is also described for the first time and compared with those of Chromatophotina awajun Rivera, 2010 and other closely related taxa. We complement taxonomy with general observations on the life history of M. viridescens, reporting habitat preferences, cryptic strategy, parental care, and aspects of its postembryonic development. Taxonomic and systematic considerations are provided along with an updated identification key to Microphotina spp. based on males. Finally, we briefly discuss the pivotal role that citizen science can play in advancing praying mantis biodiversity research.

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How to Cite

Rivera, J., Hausherr, N. & Lanna, L.M. (2025) Discovery and formal description of the female of Microphotina Beier, 1935 (Mantodea: Photinaidae), with an updated key to species and remarks on the role of Citizen Science in advancing Mantodea biodiversity studies. Zootaxa, 5621 (2), 231–248. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5621.2.4