Species Of Praying Mantis Research Articles

Mandible composition and properties in two selected praying mantises (Insecta, Mantodea).

Insects process their food with their cuticle-based mouthparts. These feeding structures reflect their diversity and can, in some cases, showcase adaptations in material composition, mechanical properties, and shape to suit their specific dietary preferences. To pave the way to deeply understand the interaction between mouthparts and food and to determine potential adaptations of the structures to the food, this study focuses on the mandibles of two praying mantis species. Gongylus gongylodes feeds mainly on Diptera, and Sphodromantis lineola forages on larger prey. Employing scanning electron microscopy, the mandibular morphologies were analyzed. The degree of the cuticle tanning was tested using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Furthermore, the contents of transition and alkaline earth metals in the mandible cuticle were studied using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and the mechanical properties tested by nanoindentation. We found that S. lineola mandibles show pronounced gradients of Young's modulus and hardness from the basis to the tip, which might be an adaptation against high stresses during biting and chewing. G. gongylodes, in contrast, did not show pronounced gradients, which may indicate that there is less stress involved in feeding-necessary to test in future studies. The mechanical properties of manidibles in both species are related to the degree of cuticle tanning but also positively correlate with the content of magnesium. These findings enrich our understanding of insect cuticle biology but also present new sets of data on praying mantis structures.

Amazons Are Back: Absence of Males in a Praying Mantis from Uruguayan Savannas.

With a broad distribution throughout South America, Brunneria subaptera (Saussure)(Coptopterygidae) is the most abundant praying mantis species in Uruguay, mostly associated with grassland vegetation. Their body coloration can vary between green or brown sepia. The recent catalog of Uruguayan mantids showed that all specimens of B. subaptera from the collections in Uruguay were females, suggesting an absence of males in natural populations. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of female-only populations of B. subaptera in Uruguay. Moreover, we analyzed the genetic variation and estimated the time of the most recent common ancestor of the species. We performed bimonthly samplings in two localities in Uruguay for 1year and we sexed the individuals. We extracted DNA from the abdominal tissue of adult females and sequenced a fragment of the mitochondrial cox1 gene to assess the genetic diversity and to estimate diversification times. We did not find any males in either of the studied localities. The age estimates revealed a recent origin of the species (2.33Ma), and there was no genetic differentiation between the individuals from Uruguayan localities. This absence of males of B. subaptera documented in the sampled locations suggests that the species reproduces by thelytokous parthenogenesis. This study opens promising venues for future research into reproductive strategies and polymorphism in South-American praying mantises that inhabit one of the largest areas of grasslands in the world, currently under dramatic deterioration and reduction.

Scydmaenus Latreille of Australia: Revision of species in subgenera Choleropsis Franz, Kingius Franz, Mascarensia Franz, Parallomicrus Franz, Scottiscydmaenus Franz, and description of Ascydmaenus subgen. n. (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae).

The Como National Park (CNP), located in the north-eastern part of the Ivory Coast, is strongly influenced by the river Como, which is eponymous for the park. Gallery forests along the river, forest islands, open grasslands, bush and tree savannas of various densities offer diverse habitats that harbor both forest and savannah praying mantis species. We present a preliminary checklist of praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) of the CNP. Specimens were collected in 2000 and 20172019, resulting in 35 species in 13 families. Two species, Ischnomantis werneri (Giglio-Tos 1916) and Solygia sulcatifrons (Audinet-Serville 1838), were recorded for the first time in Ivory Coast. Additional 47 species, which are expected to occur in the CNP, are listed here.

A preliminary checklist of the praying mantids of Como National Park, Ivory Coast (Insecta: Mantodea).

The Como National Park (CNP), located in the north-eastern part of the Ivory Coast, is strongly influenced by the river Como, which is eponymous for the park. Gallery forests along the river, forest islands, open grasslands, bush and tree savannas of various densities offer diverse habitats that harbor both forest and savannah praying mantis species. We present a preliminary checklist of praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) of the CNP. Specimens were collected in 2000 and 20172019, resulting in 35 species in 13 families. Two species, Ischnomantis werneri (Giglio-Tos 1916) and Solygia sulcatifrons (Audinet-Serville 1838), were recorded for the first time in Ivory Coast. Additional 47 species, which are expected to occur in the CNP, are listed here.

A hidden gem from Northeastern Brazil: A new species of Metaphotina Piza, 1964 (Mantodea, Acontistidae) ecologically linked to the Caatinga.

A new species of praying mantis, Metaphotina austri sp. n., is described from the Caatinga biome in Brazil. The species can be easily distinguished from its congeners by its small body size and diagnostic characters found on the head, wings, and male genitalia. Distributional data compiled from specimen labels, historical literature, and the citizen science platform iNaturalist showed that M. austri sp. n. is mainly associated with the northernmost and driest region of the Caatinga, known as the Depresso Sertaneja Setentrional. Ecological and geographical data about the new species, as well as comments on the diversity of Mantodea in the Caatinga, are provided, highlighting the importance of crowdsourced data for a more comprehensive understanding of praying mantis species distribution and their natural history.

Phylogenetic relationships and divergence dating of Mantodea using mitochondrial phylogenomics

AbstractMantodea is a predatory insect group, its members occupying a diverse array of widely distributed habitats. Praying mantis species utilize hunting strategies including remarkable mimicry and unique camouflage for hiding from natural enemies while catching their prey. The emergence of a “cyclopean ear” in mantises is thought to be a morphological innovation of the group, and an “arms race” with echolocating bats is one of the hypotheses put forward to account for the emergence of the mantis ear from a coevolutionary perspective. However, this hypothesis has not been rigorously tested because of a lack of robust higher‐level phylogeny and a detailed chronogram of Mantodea. Previous phylogenetic studies found an incongruence between traditional classification and molecular phylogenetics due to the convergent evolution of various ecomorphic strategies of the lineage. Here, we performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Mantodea based on data from 61 mitogenomes. Our analyses showed that the monophyly of Acanthopidae, Haaniidae, Nanomantidae, Miomantidae and Mantidea was supported. The newly updated Gonypetidae were paraphyletic, whereas Eremiaphilidae, Deroplatyidae and Toxoderidae were polyphyletic. Our molecular dating analyses inferred that Spinomantodea originated at ca. 149 Ma (Late Jurassic), whereas the origin of hearing mantises (Cernomantodea) was inferred as Early Cretaceous (119 Ma, 95% CI: 110–129 Ma). The molecular dating results indicated that the hearing organ in mantises did not arise in response to bat predation. Our study provides a robust framework for further evolutionary comparative studies of mantises.

Behavioral Comparison in Males of Two Praying Mantis Species of the Same Genus, Hierodula patellifera and H. chinensis (Mantodea: Mantidae: Hierodulinae) in Japan, in Response to the Conspecific or Allospecific Species of Calling Females and Females' Headspace Crude Extract.

For many years, only one species of praying mantis in the genus Hierodula, Hierodula patellifera Serville, had been recorded in Japan. In recent years, however, Hierodula chinensis Werner, a larger species than H. patellifera Serville, has been discovered in Japan, and observations and collections in Japan have increased rapidly. There are reports that in some areas, H. patellifera became locally extinct due to the invasion of H. chinensis. Since females of H. patellifera attract conspecific males by volatile with characteristic calling behavior, a sex pheromone-mediated reproductive interference may exist between the two species. Both males of H. patellifera and males of H. chinensis were strongly attracted to conspecific females and crude headspace extract from conspecific females, while they were not attracted to females of allospecific species or crude headspace extract from allospecific females. These results indicate that sex pheromone-mediated reproductive interference may not exist between H. patellifera and H. chinensis.

Morphological characteristics of the nymphal stages of the giant Asian mantis, Hierodula chinensis Werner (Mantodea: Mantidae), an alien species in Japan, with remarks on its identification

AbstractWe identified an alien praying mantis found in Japan as the giant Asian mantis Hierodula chinensis by observing the characteristics of male genitalia. Nymphs hatched from oothecae collected in Nara Prefecture, Japan, were reared in a breeding room and compared with nymphs of the native Japanese species H. patellifera. Different from H. patellifera, the H. chinensis individuals passed through 5–7 nymphal instars before emerging as adults. The body color of the H. chinensis nymphs was brownish gray in the first instar, whereas the second and later instars were green. Unlike H. chinensis, H. patellifera had mottled patterns all over its body during the first to third instar. The first to third instar nymphs of H. chinensis had mottled patterns on the femurs of their forelegs, which is a diagnostic characteristic that no native praying mantis species has. From the fourth instar, 7–10 dorsal spines were observed on the foreleg coxa of H. chinensis, whereas only 3 or 4 spines were observed in H. patellifera. These findings show that H. chinensis and H. patellifera can be distinguished in all nymphal instars.

Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784) – the first invasive praying mantis (Mantodea, Mantidae) in the fauna of Russia

Summary Recent years have seen an increasing number of alien praying mantis species being introduced and establishing populations across Europe. Here we add to this count, reporting a stable and spreading population of an Asian species, Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784), in Krasnodar Krai of Southern Russia. This is the first introduced praying mantis species in the Russian fauna and the first representative of the genus Statilia Stål, 1877 in Europe. We review what is known about biology of this species and provide diagnostic characters to distinguish nymphs, adults and oothecae from native and introduced European species of praying mantis. Our attempts at captive breeding identify humidity as one of the most important factors limiting possible spread of S. maculata. Invasion to neighbouring territories and other countries with a humid subtropical climate remains a very real possibility with an unknown outcome for local ecosystems.

A novel form of wasp mimicry in a new species of praying mantis from the Amazon rainforest, Vespamantoida wherleyi gen. nov. sp. nov. (Mantodea, Mantoididae).

A wasp mimicking praying mantis (Mantodea) of the early evolving Mantoididae family was discovered in 2013 at a research station near the Amazon River in Northern Peru. This adult specimen exhibited a striking bright red/orange and black coloration pattern that was undocumented in all known praying mantis species. We tested the status of this new specimen using external morphology, male genital dissections, and geographic distribution. Our findings demonstrate the specimen to represent a new species, Vespamantoida wherleyi gen. nov. sp. nov., that is closely allied with a recently described species, Mantoida toulgoeti Roy, 2010, both of which are included within the newly erected genus. To support our actions, we present high resolution images of museum preserved and living specimens, morphological illustrations, a generic-level distribution map, and recorded video of the behavior of the holotype taken in the field at the time of collection. The bright red/orange coloration contrasted with black markings, the general appearance of a hymenopteran that includes a narrowed wasp waist, and the locomotory patterns and antennal movements mark this newly discovered species as unique among all hymenopteran mimicking Mantoididae as well as all other praying mantises.

A new genus of praying mantis, Chlorocalis n. gen., with two new species from the Greater Mekong region (Mantodea: Mantidae)

SummaryA new genus of praying mantis is described, Chlorocalis n. gen., with two species, C. maternaschulzei n. sp. and C. prasina n. sp. from the Greater Mekong Region. Chlorocalis is placed in Mantidae and can be immediately recognized by the presence of dark brown (male) or yellow-whitish (female) oblique stripes on the forewings, a large conical bulge on the clypeus, two large conical bulges on either side of the inferior margin of the lower frons, and the male genitalia with two distal processes on the ventral phallomere. Chlorocalis maternaschulzei is a widespread lowland species with records as west as Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand, and as east as mount Núi Chúa in southern Central Vietnam. We consider this species to be of Least Concern. In contrast, C. prasina is a narrow-range mountain endemic of the Vietnamese Central Highlands in the Annamite range and is assessed by us to be Vulnerable. The new findings demonstrate the still very poor knowledge on praying mantis species diversity in South-East Asia and the urgency to resolve this taxonomic deficiency in the face of biodiversity loss.

Post-attack defensive displays in three praying mantis species

Investigating the stimuli that elicit dynamic defensive displays can indicate when throughout the predation sequence prey are likely to perform them. This is crucial to understanding whether these displays function as classic deimatic ‘startle’ displays, facultative aposematism or aid in facilitation of predator learning. We investigated the triggers of defensive display in three different praying mantis species found in eastern Australia; Archimantis latistyla, Hierodula majuscula and Pseudomantis albofimbriata. Dynamic displays in praying mantises have been described as ‘deimatic’ and given the risks inherent in sustaining an attack, especially as mantises are not chemically defended, we predicted that mantises would perform their displays to stimuli that simulate early cues of predation. In a randomised order, we exposed each mantis to five different stimuli simulating a non-specific predator, including tactile and non-tactile stimuli. All species performed their display in response to tactile stimuli however A. latistyla and H. majuscula were more likely to respond than P. albofimbriata. The smallest species, P. albofimbriata, did not readily respond to simulated attacks and was the least likely to perform a display. Our results do not meet the prediction that mantises should respond to stimuli that correspond with early stages of the predation sequence. This raises questions surrounding the utilisation of defensive displays in non-chemically defended prey and contributes to our understanding of predator-prey dynamics during the predation sequence. Startle displays, or deimatic displays, present some of the most charismatic and well-known examples of animal behaviour and colouration. Particularly in animals such as praying mantises, defensive displays are classically cited examples of anti-predator adaptations. It is generally stated that defensive displays in animals function by startling the predator before they have attacked; however, evidence is accumulating that dynamic displays may function in a number of ways including facilitating predator learning, or facultative aposematism. We found that three species of praying mantises only performed dynamic displays in response to simulated predator attacks. This contrasts with predictions that displays should happen before predator attacks, thus fundamentally challenging our understanding of why these strategies have evolved and how they are utilised in nature. This adds to growing evidence that apparent ‘deimatic displays’ may actually function in other ways such as facilitating predator learning, even in non-chemically defended animals such as praying mantises.

A new praying mantis from middle Cretaceous Burmese amber exhibits bilateral asymmetry of forefemoral spination (Insecta: Dictyoptera)

Here we describe a new praying mantis species, Burmantis hexispinea sp. nov., from middle Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species differs from other species of Burmantis in the forefemoral spination with six large spines, instead of five. Although not the first adult of Burmantis, the holotype provides exclusive adult morphology of this genus: the wing venation is typical of Mantodea, and male terminalia are symmetrical or nearly symmetrical, with long cerci and styli. The holotype exhibits intraspecific variation in the forefemoral spination between the leg pair, and this suggests caution when proposing new taxa based on such characters.

Gene characteristics of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Paratoxodera polyacantha and Toxodera hauseri (Mantodea: Toxoderidae).

The family Toxoderidae (Mantodea) contains an ecologically diverse group of praying mantis species that have in common greatly elongated bodies. In this study, we sequenced and compared the complete mitochondrial genomes of two Toxoderidae species, Paratoxodera polyacantha and Toxodera hauseri, and compared their mitochondrial genome characteristics with another member of the Toxoderidae, Stenotoxodera porioni (KY689118). The lengths of the mitogenomes of T. hauseri and P. polyacantha were 15,616 bp and 15,999 bp, respectively, which is similar to that of S. porioni (15,846 bp). The size of each gene as well as the A+T-rich region and the A+T content of the whole genome were also very similar among the three species as were the protein-coding genes, the A+T content and the codon usages. The mitogenome of T. hauseri had the typical 22 tRNAs, whereas that of P. polyacantha had 26 tRNAs including an extra two copies of trnA-trnR. Intergenic regions of 67 bp and 76 bp were found in T. hauseri and P. polyacantha, respectively, between COX2 and trnK; these can be explained as residues of a tandem duplication/random loss of trnK and trnD. This non-coding region may be synapomorphic for Toxoderidae. In BI and ML analyses, the monophyly of Toxoderidae was supported and P. polyacantha was the sister clade to T. hauseri and S. porioni.

Leveraging female genitalic characters for generic and species delimitation in Nilomantis Werner, 1907 and Ilomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Mantodea, Nilomantinae)

Praying mantis species description and higher-level taxonomy has historically relied on external morphological characters, male genitalic characters, and geographic distribution. For the first time, female genitalic characters were used to delimit genus- and species-level boundaries using two genera with a complex taxonomic history,NilomantisWerner, 1907 andIlomantisGiglio-Tos, 1915. We present comprehensive morphological evidence for the validity ofIlomantis, currently a junior synonym ofNilomantisand describe a new species,Ilomantis ginsburgaesp.n. We provide a key to the species ofNilomantisandIlomantisbased on genitalic and external morphological character states. High-resolution images, illustrations of morphological characters, and measurement data are also presented. We conclude that female genital characters have significant utility in praying mantis taxonomy and should be incorporated as an additional data source to complement traditional taxonomic and genetic data.

The Functional Significance of Chiral Genitalia: Patterns of Asymmetry, Functional Morphology and Mating Success in the Praying Mantis Ciulfina baldersoni.

Genital asymmetry is relatively common and widespread throughout the animal kingdom. The functional significance of genital asymmetry is however, poorly understood for most species. Male praying mantids of the genus Ciulfina are remarkable in possessing complex and directionally asymmetric genital phallomeres in some species, and chirally dimorphic/antisymmetric genitalia in others. Here we explore the chiral dimorphism in male genitalia of Ciulfina baldersoni which appear to exhibit genital antisymmetry. We test whether genital orientation influences mating success, copulation duration and the attachment duration of spermatophores. Additionally we investigate genital interactions between male and females using x-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Lastly we assess whether genital asymmetry is associated with non-genital morphological asymmetry of a range of traits. Our results highlight the complex functional morphology of genitalia in this praying mantis species and yet demonstrate no functional difference between dextral and sinistral morphs other than the direction of attachment with both morphs enjoying equal levels of mating success. Chiral morphs also did not strongly associate with any other forms of asymmetry. We therefore conclude that genital chirality in Ciulfina baldersoni is a likely case of antisymmetry with no functional significance to genital orientation, and is likely to be selectively neutral.

Rediscovery of Mantellias pubicornis Westwood, 1889, a rare praying mantis from the Amazon (Mantodea, Thespidae, Oligonicinae).

Many praying mantis species remain known from type specimens only. The majority of these taxa have vague taxonomic limits, as original descriptions are often very short, making strong emphasis on superficial characters (Rivera 2010). One clear example of this is the Amazonian Mantellias Westwood, 1889, a monotypical genus represented by Mantellias pubicornis Westwood, 1889.

New data on the fauna, taxonomy and ecology of praying mantises (Dictyoptera, Mantodea) from Russia

Two little-known species of praying mantises, Severinia turcomaniae (Saussure, 1872) and Rivetina nana Mistshenko, 1967, are reported for the faunas of Russia and Europe for the first time based on the material collected in Astrakhan Province of Russia. New data on the morphology, ecology, and distribution of these species are given. The male genitalia of S. turcomaniae and the female of R. nana are described for the first time. The lectotype of Oxythespis turcomaniae Saussure, 1872 is designated and deposited in the collection of the Zoological Museum of the Moscow University. The synonymy of O. turcomaniae and Mantis wagneri Kittary, 1849 is shown to be insufficiently justified; M. wagneri is provisionally placed in the genus Severinia Finot, 1902. Since R. nana Lindt, 1968 is most probably not a synonym of R. nana Mistshenko, 1967 but a separate species, a substitute name R. pseudonana Shcherbakov nom. n. is proposed for the former. Some characters traditionally used for the identification of Rivetina species are shown to be significantly variable and thus unreliable. A key to 11 praying mantis species of the Russian fauna is provided. The recent discovery of S. turcomaniae and R. nana in the northern Caspian Sea region is assumed to reflect the expansion of the natural ranges of thermophilic species caused by increasing aridity of the climate.

<strong>Some taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in American Mantodea (Insecta, Dictyoptera)—Part I </strong>

Multiple nomenclatural problems persist in mantodean taxonomy. This constitutes an important challenge for praying mantis systematics, its forthcoming development and future consolidation. In this first contribution, we attempt solving a number of issues involving mostly Neotropical praying mantis species described by Brazilian entomologists Paulo S. Terra, Cândido F. de Mello-Leitão, Salvador de Toledo Piza Junior and Lauro J. Jantsch. We provide evidence to justify the following nomenclatural changes. In Acanthopidae, Acontiothespis travassosi Jantsch, 1986 is a new synonym of Raptrix perspicua (F. 1787). Changes in Thespidae are: Emboicy Terra, 1982 is a new synonym of Chloromiopteryx Giglio-Tos, 1915, E. mirim Terra, 1982 is transferred to Chloromiopteryx as C. mirim (Terra, 1982) (new combination); Musoniola plurilobata Mello-Leitão, 1937 is transferred to Chloromiopteryx as C. plurilobata (Mello-Leitão, 1937) (new combination); Metathespis modesta Piza, 1968 is removed from synonymy with Chloromiopteryx thalassina (Burmeister, 1838) and considered valid as C. modesta (Piza, 1968) (new combination and status revalidated); Metathespis precaria Piza, 1968 is removed from synonymy with Chloromiopteryx thalassina (Burmeister, 1838) and considered a new synonym of Miobantia rustica (Fabricius, 1781); Eumiopteryx magna Jantsch, 1991 is transferred to Anamiopteryx as A. magna (Jantsch, 1991) (new combination). For Mantidae/Amelinae, Tithrone corseuli Jantsch, 1986 and T. clauseni Jantsch, 1995 are new synonyms of Litaneutria minor (Scudder, 1872); in Mantidae/Photininae Coptopteryx gigliotosi Piza, 1960 (non Werner, 1925), its replacement name Coptopteryx ermannoi Jantsch & Corseuil, 1988 and Paraphotina precaria Piza, 1966 (the latter currently placed within Coptopteryx) are all new synonyms of Coptopteryx argentina (Burmeister, 1838), whereas Brachypteromantis bonariensis Piza 1960 (currently placed among Coptopteryx) is a new synonym of Coptopteryx gayi (Blanchard, 1851); Tithrone major Piza, 1962 is transferred to Orthoderella as O. major (Piza, 1962) (new combination); Orthoderella brasiliensis Roy & Stiewe, 2011 is a new synonym of Orthoderella major (Piza, 1962); Tithrone catharinensis Piza, 1962 is a new synonym of Photina vitrea (Burmeister, 1838); Margaromantis Piza, 1982, Rehniella Lombardo, 1999, Colombiella Koçak & Kemal, 2008 and Lombardoa Özdikmen, 2008 are all new synonyms of Photiomantis Piza, 1968 (status revalidated); Metriomantis planicephala Rehn 1916 is transferred to Photiomantis as P. planicephala (Rehn, 1916) (new combination) and Photiomantis silvai Piza, 1968 is considered a new synonym of Photiomantis planicephala (Rehn, 1916); Margaromantis nigrolineata Menezes & Bravo, 2015 is transferred to Photiomantis as P. nigrolineata (Menezes & Bravo, 2015) (new combination). In Mantidae/Vatinae, Uromantis amazonica Jantsch, 1985 and Uromantis paraensis Jantsch, 1985 (currently placed among Stagmomantis), are new synonyms of Chopardiella latipennis (Chopard, 1911), while Pseudovates hyalostigma Mello-Leitão, 1937 and Vates obscura Toledo Piza, 1983 are new synonyms of V. biplagiata Sjöstedt, 1930. Lectotypes are designated for Chloromiopteryx thalassina (Burmeister, 1838) and Orthoderella major (Piza, 1962). Finally, we provide supplementary information about the works of S. de T. Piza and L. J. Jantsch, and a necessary critical assessment of their taxonomic contributions to the Mantodea.

On the identity and taxonomic status of the enigmatic mantid Thespoides bolivari Chopard, 1916 (Mantodea: Mantidae, Angelinae).

Chopard (1916) published a brief paper in which he cited and described a number of praying mantis species from the neotropics. The specimens he studied belonged to the prominent Spanish Entomologist Ignacio Bolívar y Urrutia (1850-1944), whose collection is now housed at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid (MNCN), Spain (Izquierdo et al. 1997). In this publication Chopard described Thespoides bolivari Chopard, 1916 as a new genus and species, based on a single male obtained by French coleopterist René Oberthür in Cauca, Colombia. According to Chopard (1916) the specimen was remarkable for having, among other features, an abdomen that is markedly shorter than the rest of its body-certainly an unusual morphological trait among the Mantodea. Chopard assigned Thespoides to the Miopteryginae (Thespidae), but it was later reassigned (together with Angela Serville, 1839 as the "Angelae group") to the subfamily Schizocephalinae (Mantidae) by Giglio-Tos (1927). Current classifications consider the Angelinae to comprise a distinct subfamily of the Mantidae, with Thespoides and Angela as the only representatives of this subfamily with a Neotropical distribution (e.g. Ehrmann 2002).