Stagmomantis tolteca Saussure 1861

Stagmomantis tolteca (Saussure, 1861)

Taxonomic history. The status of S. tolteca as a separate species is somewhat debatable. It was first described as Mantis (Stagmatoptera) tolteca by Saussure (1861), and subsequently regarded as synonymous with S. carolina by Saussure (1871) and later authorities (e.g., Beier 1935, Terra 1995, Ehrmann 2002). S. tolteca is recognized as a separate species by Saussure and Zehntner (1894) and Salazar (2005).

Distribution. USA and Mexico through Central America to Colombia (Saussure and Zehntner 1894; Hebard 1923a; Salazar 2005).

Species description. Saussure and Zehntner (1894); Salazar (2005), brief.

Features. S. tolteca is similar to S. carolina, with a comparatively more slender pronotum (Hebard 1923a). Male features: forewings are completely membranous, tessellated with brown spots, and with a hyaline marginal strip; hindwings are tessellated with brown spots (Saussure and Zehntner 1894). Female features: forewings can be green, brown or gray, with black marbling in the anterior portion; anterior portion of the hindwings is reddish, with the posterior portion being tessellated with yellow spots; stigma is dark (Saussure and Zehntner 1894).