First assessment of the biodiversity of praying mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) in Cameroon with DNA barcoding

Material. 62♂ (VGPC23319-20, VGPC23621-80,): 12♂ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 27.VII-1.VIII.2021, V. Govorov leg.; 23♂ same data, but 2- 10.VIII.2021; 9♂ same data, but 11-22.VIII.2021; 15♂ same data, but 26.I-9.III.2022, J. Sˇobot- nı´k leg; 2♂ same data, but 25.V-2.VI.2021, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg.; 1♂ same data, but 1-31.III.2018, J. Synek leg. Distribution. Cameroon, CAR, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon. Comments. One adult male was found to be infected by a horsehair worm (Chordodes sp., Nematomorpha). Prohierodula mundamensis Giglio-Tos, 1911 Type locality. Mukonje Farm near Mundame on the Mungo River, Cameroon. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ ZMHB. Material. 1♂ (VGPC23538): Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚ 28’15.6"E, 25.V-2.VI.2021, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg. Distribution. Cameroon, CAR, Gabon, Republic of the Congo. Comments. DNA sequence obtained from this species does not cluster together with other species of Prohierodula, rather than branches with Cataspilota and Polyspilota. This might indicate the currently unresolved relationships within tribe Polyspilotini. Prohierodula picta (Gerstaecker, 1883) Type locality. Victoria (= Limbe´), Cameroon. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ EMAU. Material. 12♂, 5♀ (VGPC23317-8, VGPC23457-8, VGPC23493-4, VGPC23606-16): 6♂, 3♀ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 27.VII-1.VIII.2021, V. Govorov leg.; 4♂, 2♀ same data, but 2-10.VIII.2021; 2♂ same data, but 11-22.VIII.2021. Distribution. Cameroon, CAR, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.

Comments. Adult females were observed resting on the underside of plant leaves, guarding the ootheca. Prohierodula viridimarginata La Greca, 1956 Type locality. Epulu, Kibali Ituri, Uele Ibembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ MZFN. Material. 5♂ (VGPC23488, VGPC23617-20): 1♂ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 27.VII-1.VIII.2021, V. Govorov leg.; 2♂ same data, but 2-10. VIII.2021; 1♂ same data, but 11-22.VIII.2021; 1♂ same data, but 25.V-2.VI.2021, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg. Distribution. CAR, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon. Comments. New record for Cameroon. Sphodromantis Stål, 1871 Sphodromantis aureoides Roy, 2010 Type locality. Mundame, Cameroon. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ NHMW. Material. 2♂, 2♀ (VGPC23815-8): South-West Region, Limbe´, secondary forest, 1-30. VIII.2019, Ntah Eliot Nji Bama leg. Distribution. Cameroon. Comments. Roy [40] suggested, judging by the absence of this species in collection records from 1970 onwards, that S. aureoides might be a victim of aggressive competition from domi- nant Sphodromants lineola pinguis La Greca, 1967, and possibly, hybridisation with it, there- fore disappearing from its distribution area. Our findings show that this remarkable species continues to exist in Cameroon. Sphodromantis balachowskyi La Greca, 1967 Type locality. Makokou, Gabon. PLOS ONE Diversity of praying mantises in Cameroon PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304163 May 23, 2024 15 / 23