Litaneutria

[Kris Anderson]

Hebard conducted the last known analysis of Litaneutria in 1935.  He studied samples of Litaneutria specimens that were collected from several different locations within the central and western United States and concluded that all of the previously described species should be considered geographical variations of L. minor.  Despite the neglect of Hebard’s conclusions in the modern literature, his synonymy was the last known complete analysis of Litaneutria and was until this publication regarded as the current taxonomy.  However, after conducting a thorough analysis of several hundred Litaneutria specimens that were sampled across the continent, in addition to analyzing the available type specimens, I have found that three previous names represent valid species and just one name should be regarded as synonym of L. minor, whereas three species should be treated as junior synonyms of L. ocularis.  Additionally, three new species will be described in the upcoming publication.

Litaneutria elongata n. sp.

Litaneutria emarginatae n. sp.

Litaneutria magnalamina n. sp.

Litaneutria minor (Scudder, 1872)

            = Litaneutria borealis (Bruner, 1893)

Litaneutria ocularis Saussure, 1892

            = Litaneutria longipennis Beier, 1929 n. syn.

            = Litaneutria obscura Scudder, 1896 n. syn.

            = Litaneutria pacifica Scudder, 1896 n. syn.

            = Tithrone corseuli Jantsch, 1986, n. syn.

            = Tithrone clauseni Jantsch, 1995, n. syn.

Litaneutria skinneri Rehn, 1907

“Praying Mantises of the United States and Canada”

https://www.researchgate.net/project/Praying-Mantises-of-the-United-States-and-Canada