Redescription of females of four species of the Neotropical dwarf mantis genus Acontista Saussure and Zehntner, 1894 (Mantodea: Acontistidae) and enhancement of diagnostic characters based in female genitalia

Le résumé fourni par la source

The family Acontistidae comprises a collection of diminutive praying mantises within the order Mantodea. Owing to a convoluted taxonomic history, the recognition of species and matching of sexes has been obscured by taxonomic amendments, synonyms and the limited characterisation of species. Our objective is to delineate the female genitalia of four species – A. amoenula Gerstaecker, 1889; A. aurantiaca Burmeister, 1838; A. cayennensis Saussure and Zehntner, 1894; and A. concinna Perty, 1832 – and provide a thorough redescriptive analysis, capitalising on diagnostic features found in the overlooked source that is the female genitalia. Comprehensive redescriptions of the four species and meticulous delineations of their genitalia, a novel approach to female genitalia characters, and two new structures are added. We have successfully differentiated all four species based on characteristics of the female genitalia, underscoring it as an invaluable source of taxonomic indicators. Redescriptions of species with inadequate descriptions can aid in identifying and rectifying misclassifications of praying mantis species. Additionally, we present the first documentation of A. cayennensis in the states of Amazonas and Pará, representing a novel addition to the Brazilian mantid fauna. Furthermore, this study marks the geographical expansion of A. amoenula into Roraima. The acontistid lineage has long been understudied within the mantid taxonomy. Through our work, we aim to pave the way for comparative analyses across the lineage and seek to address gaps in knowledge within one of the least explored Neotropical mantid families.

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