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NOTES ON THE MANTISPIDAE (MANTIDFLIES) OF MADAGASCAR AND ADJACENT ISLANDS
The references mentioned in this annotated list are fully cited on the NeuroWeb (http://entowww.tamu.edu/research/neuropterida/neuroweb.html)
MANTISPIDAE
Mantispinae
Unlike other groups of Neuroptera, which appear to be quite vagile, no species of Mantispidae have yet been found on the island groups surrounding Madagascar. Ohm & Hölzel (1997) list no mantispids from the Mascarene Islands, nor do they (Ohm & Hölzel, 1998) mention any mantispids for the Comoro Islands. There are several possible explanations for this finding: a) collecting has not yet revealed their presence on these islands; b) some behavioral pattern amongst adult mantispids keeps them from straying too far from known host areas; or c) colonizing individuals have difficulties finding suitable spider hosts for their larvae. The third explanation would seem to be refuted by the arguments that many mantispid larvae are known to feed on a wide variety of spider hosts, and a couple of Madagascar species are widespread in continental Africa. Thus, at this time the lack of data on mantispids from the smaller adjacent islands remains a mystery.
Eumantispa mariae (Navás, 1909)
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution:
Notes: The CAS collection has two specimens identified by Poivre from Madagascar.
* Fraser (1952) describing Madantispa "closely related to Mantispilla and differing as follows. Costal space obliterated proximal to middle of forewing and very near base in hindwing: pterostigma of forewing short, spade-like, truncate, but slightly oblique distally: that of hindwing double the length, convex anteriorly so as to form a prounounced hump on the costal margin near apex of wing. Middle radial cell with 3 branches in forewing, proximal cell with only 1 as in Mantispilla; branches of Rs, especially in hindwings, scarcely sinuous. Genotype Madantispa seyrigi, n.sp. Distribution, Madagascar.
Madantispa minuta Handschin, 1963
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar, Bekora, 1 male.
Geographical Distribution: Madagascar only.
Notes: So far known only from the type. In addition to the holotype, the type series includes two females with the same data.
Madantispa pauliani Handschin, 1963
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar, Behara (Tul.), A. Seyrig, 1 male.
Geographical Distribution: Madagascar only.
Notes: So far known only from the type. There are no illustrations of the species.
Madantispa seyrigi Fraser, 1952
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar: A. Seyrig, 1 female.
Geographical Distribution: This species is known only from Madagascar. Handschin (1963) records this species from: Ambohitantely (Tan.), 10 June 1958, F. Keiser, 1 specimen (Basel Museum); Fort Dauphin (Tul.), 17 February 1958, F. Keiser, 1 specimen; Ivondro (Tam.), December 1940, A. Seyrig, 1 specimen (MNHN).
Notes: Fraser (1952) provides an illustration of the wings. The wings appear to have a rather thickened pterostigmal area. The second radial cell of the forewing has three veins originating from it.
Mantispa finoti Navás, 1909
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution:
Notes:
Mantispa flavinota Handschin, 1963
Type Depository: Basel Museum, Switzerland
Type Locality: Madagascar: Manompana (Tam.), 13 September 1957, F. Keiser, 1 specimen.
Geographical Distribution: This species is still known only from the type.
Notes: There appear to be no illustrations of this species.
Mantispa phaeonota Navás, 1933
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar, Roger, 3 February 1931, A. Seyrig.
Geographical Distribution: Handschin (1963) indicates that this species is known from KENYA and MADAGASCAR. He records this species from Madagascar, Mtge. de’Ambre (D.-S.), 24 May 1958, F. Keiser, 1 male.
Notes: Although Navás (1933) originally indicated that this species was from Kenya, he corrected that statement (Navás, 1935:66) to indicate Madagascar instead. Handschin (1963) then listed Kenya again along with Madagascar. I do not know if Handschin had seen further material or had reiterated Navás’ original statement. This species has not been recorded from outside of Madagascar.
Mantispa sp. #1
Geographical Distribution: Madagascar: Toliara Prov., 12 km SE Toliara (23, 25’S, 43, 45’E), 26-28 March 1994, W.J. Pulawski, 1 female (CAS); Isalo National Park (22,36’S, 45, 10’E), 18-19 March 1994, W.J. Pulawski, 1 male (CAS); 22 km N Toliara (23, 11’S, 43, 37’E), 30 m, 18 April 1998, M. E. Irwin & E.I. Schlinger, 1 female, hand netted in spiny forest (CAS); Toliara Prov., Ifaty, 18 km N of Tulear, 14 December 1999, 20 m elev., M.E. Irwin & E.I. Schlinger, in spiny forest, 2 males (CAS) .
Notes: This species has dark antennae, a dark quadrangle on the vertex behind the antennae, completely yellow fore femur, and a yellow R vein on otherwise dark venation of the forewing. There is usually a yellow stripe laterally on either side of the pronotum.
Necyla finoti Navás, 1915
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution: Navás (1935) lists this species from Tananarive [Antananarivo] in January 1933 (MNHN). Handschin (1963) lists specimens from Madagascar: Tananarive [Antananarivo]- Tsimbazaza (Tan.), February 1962, R. Benoist (Tervuren Museum); Antanambe (Tam.), 15 November 1957, F. Keiser, 1 specimen (Basel Museum).
Notes:
Necyla keiseri Handschin, 1963
Type Depository: Naturhistorische Museum Basel, Switzerland
Type Locality: Madagascar: Antanambe (Tam.), 15 November 1957, F. Keiser, 1 sex unknown.
Geographical Distribution: Known only from the type.
Notes:
Necyla mozambica (Westwood, 1852)
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution:
Notes:
Necyla perparva (Esben-Petersen, 1917)
= Mantispilla striatella Navás, 1933
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution: Handschin (1963) reports this species from ZAIRE, SOUTH AFRICA, and MADAGASCAR. Within Madagascar he has records for: Tananarive [Antananarivo]-Tsimbazaza (Tan.), R. Benoist, 1 male (Tervuren Museum); 8 January 1948, F. Keiser, 1 male (Basel Museum); Ranohira (Fia.), 7 and 14 March 1958, F. Keiser, 2 females (Basel Museum); Bekily (Tul.), A. Seyrig, 7 males, 2 females (MNHN); Antanambe (Tam.), 15 September 1957, F. Keiser, 1 male (Basel Museum). Navás (1933) lists the type of M. striatella from Bekily, December 1933, A. Seyrig, 1 male (MNHN). He lists two additional specimens under that name: Bekily, January 1934, A. Seyrig, 1 male (MNHN); and Betroka, February 1933, A. Seyrig, 1 specimen (MNHN). Navás (1935) under the name M. striatella lists this species from Tananarive [Antananarivo], Tsimbasasa Botanical Garden, May 1933, Olsoufieff (MNHN); Ambodirefia, February 1934 (MNHN); and Bekily, July 1933, A. Seyrig (MNHN).
Notes: Navás (1933) illustrates the forewing and a crude rendition of the male external genitalia. From the drawing it can be noted that the ectoprocts are about twice as long as the ninth sternite and apically slightly swollen. Handschin (19??) gives illustrations of the head, thorax and forelegs of this species.
Necyla pulla (Navás, 1935)
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution: Navás (1935) lists this species from Madagascar: Tamatave, January 1933, Olsoufieff, several specimens (MNHN). Toliara Prov., 16 km E Sukaraha, Zombitse Nature Reserve (22, 53’S, 44, 42’E), 825 m, 16-20 April 1998, M.E. Irwin and E.I. Schlinger, 2 females, Malaise trap in tropical forest.
Notes: Navás (1935) provides a crude illustration of the pronotum, which is uniformly dark, except for two elliptical pale spots in the prozona. Handschin (1960) redescribes this species and provides a key for those species he placed in Cercomantispa. Handschin (1963:213) again redescribes this species.
Necyla simplicia (Fraser, 1952)
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar: Bekily, A. Seyrig, holotype & allotype female.
Geographical Distribution: Known only from the type series.
Notes: From Fraser (1952) "This species is even smaller than M. minuta Fbr, which was thought to have come from South America: it is most closely related to M. delicata Navás from South Africa.
Necyla vulpes (Stitz, 1913)
Type Depository:
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution: Handschin (1963) lists the distribution of this species as ZAIRE, CAMEROON, TANZANIA, and MADAGASCAR. Within Madagascar the localities are: Ivondro (Tam.), A. Seyrig, 1 specimen (MNHN); Bekily (Tul.), A. Seyrig, 3 specimens (MNHN).
Notes: Handschin (1960) provides a redescription and key to those species that he placed in Cercomantispa.
Necyla sp. #1
Geographical Distribution: Madagascar: Toliara, 16 km E Sakaraha, Zombitse Nature Reserve (22 53’S, 44 , 42’E), 825 m, 16-20 April 1998, M.E. Irwin & E.I. Schlinger, 1 male (CAS).
Notes: This species has completely black antennae, a forewing R vein that is pale only beyond the first r-m crossvein, and apical half of fore femur dark.
Necyla sp. #2
Geographical Distribution: Madagascar: Fianarantsoa, Ranomafana National Park, Talatakely (21 15’S, 47, 27’E), 900 m, 13-22 April 1998, M.E. Irwin & E.I. Schlinger, 1 female (CAS).
Notes: This species has dark antennae with the last apical segments yellow, completely dark wing venation and completely dark fore femur. This species may be Necyla simplicia.
Paulianella necopina (Navás, 1936)
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar: Fito, May 1932, A. Seyrig,
Geographical Distribution: Handschin (1963) records this species from Madagascar: Rogez (Tam.), A. Seyrig (MNHN).
Notes: Navás (1936) provides a rather crude drawing of the head and thorax of this species. Handschin (19??) has a photo of the wings. This is the only species of the genus. The distinguishing characteristics of the genus [and, by extension, the species] given by Handschin (1960) are "forewing, pterostigma only attaining the first quarter of third radial cell. Four crossveins from free part of third radial cell to costal margin. Hindwing: anal area short with small, narrow anal forks. Cu progressing parallel to M; cu-a twice as long as anal branch. Cu very long with three branches to the anal margin. Antennae short, thick. Length to width = 1:3. Prothorax as long as in Pseudoclimaciella, but with peg-like prothoracic spines and two nodes on the pronotal base in the middle part."
Perlamantispa vassei (Navás, 1909)
= Mantispilla lineatifrons Enderlein, 1910
= Mantispilla sankitana Navás, 1922
= Mantispilla burgeoni Navás, 1925
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Mozambique, 1907, Vasse, 1 specimen.
Geographical Distribution: Handschin (1960) records this species from MOZAMBIQUE, ZAIRE, ZIMBABWE, and SOUTH AFRICA.
Notes: The listed synonymies are those of Handschin (1960). He has also provided illustrations of the thorax and forelegs. The thorax markings resemble those of Neotropical Entanoneura. CAS has a male specimen from South Africa.
Pseudoclimaciella olsufievi Navás, 1936
Type Depository: MNHN, Paris
Type Locality: Madagascar, Perinet, February 1935, Olsoufieff, 1 female.
Geographical Distribution: Known only from the type specimen.
Notes: Navás (1936) provides a rather crude illustration of part of the forewing. There is a dark apical band which originates at about the tip of the second radial cell. In his revision and key to species of Pseudoclimaciella Handschin (1960) appears to have left this species out. The wings appear to be very similar to those of P. sarta.
Pseudoclimaciella sarta (Stitz, 1913)
Type Depository: HMB, Berlin
Type Locality: Cameroon, Victoria, Preuss, 1 specimen.
Geographical Distribution: Handshin (1960) has identified material from CAMEROON, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, NIGERIA, GUINEA, and MADAGASCAR.
Notes: Handschin (1960) provides a redescription of this species, key to species, and photo of the wings.
Pseudoclimaciella tropica (Westwood, 1852)
Type Depository: Oxford University, Oxford, England
Type Locality:
Geographical Distribution: Handschin (1960) indicates that this species is known from GAMBIA, SENEGAL, CAMEROON, ZIMBABWE, ZAIRE, SOUTH AFRICA, NIGERIA, GHANA, and MADAGASCAR.
Notes: Handschin (1960) provides a redescription of this species, key to species, and photo of the wings.
CAS has a male and three female specimens from West Africa.
Last Update 8 April 2000