Intersexuality in the holotype of Photina gracilis (Mantodea: Mantidae: Photininae) and its taxonomic implications

Antonio A. Agudelo R.

doi:10.1590/s1984-46702014000400014

Abstract

Parasitism by horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) in Mantodea is well known, but only a few cases of intersexuality were reported in the literature. In the present study, intersexuality of the holotype of Photina gracilis Giglio-Tos, 1915 is documented as a possible consequence of nematomorph parasitism. Photina gracilis and Photina laevis Giglio-Tos, 1915 are established as new subjective junior synonyms of Photina vitrea (Burmeister, 1838). The female holotype of Mantis (Cardioptera) gymnopyga Burmeister, 1838, which was associated and synonymized with P. vitrea, is recognized as a member of the genus Coptopteryx and the combination Coptopteryx gymnopyga (Burmeister, 1838) is revalidated. The substitute name Photina gymnopyga (Burmeister, 1838), instead of Mantis (Photina) vitrea Burmeister, 1838 (nec Mantis vitrea Stoll, 1813), is discarded and established as a new synonym of Coptopteryx gymnopyga. The name vitrea Burmeister, 1838 must be maintained until ruling by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

Highlights

In nature, individuals do not always show a clearly defined sexual dimorphism
As it might be expected, the most studied organisms when sexual development is concerned are in Drosophila (Diptera) (SCHUTT & NÖTHIGER 2000), which have served as a paradigm for understanding the mechanisms of sexual differentiation, at least in Hexapoda
The first had been previously reported by LOMBARDO & UMBRIACO (2011) in the holotype of P. abnormis, which is deposited in the Biozentrum Grindel und Zoologisches Museum (ZMH, Hamburg, Germany)

Summary

Introduction

Individuals do not always show a clearly defined sexual dimorphism. When there is no morphological differentiation between male and female the organisms are usually called gynandromorphs or intersexes and, in many cases, the choice is arbitrary (NARITA et al 2010). There are few reported cases of sexual phenotypic combinations in Mantodea individuals: ROY (2003) reported intersexuality in individuals of Prohierodula Bolívar, 1908 (Mantidae), and LOMBARDO & UMBRIACO (2011) in the holotype of Parastagmatoptera abnormis Beier, 1963 (Mantidae). The second case pertains the holotype of Mantis longicornis Charpentier, 1841 (Mantidae) (Fig. 1), which was synonymized by SAUSSURE (1871) with Photina vitrea (Burmeister, 1838); the specimen is deposited in the Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt Universität, Berlin (MNHB), and is labeled as a female, but it is likely a feminized male with some female characteristics, for instance short wings; the abdomen of this specimen is lost, which does not allow associating intersexuality with parasitic induction.

Results

Conclusion