Collection at Cleveland Museum

[guapoalto049]

I spent the day a few months back at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History exploring the collection. Here are some highlights:



Choeradodis, Heterochaeta, Toxodera, Archimantis



Stenophylla



Stenophylla



assorted Choeradodis



Phasmomantis



African species, with some Plistospilota, Tenodera, and assorted Sphodromantis



Macrodanuria







Above 2 are Ischnomantis males



Oxyela elegans male (above pic) and female (below picture), a newish species





Assorted box of African species



Macromantis nicaraguae male



Oddball Gongylus from Madagascar, no species on label. G. trachellophyllus is the only other species in the genus, and it has been only recorded from what I know of in India.

 

[Dracus]

The madagascan "oddball" is Chopardempusa neglecta (Paulian, 1958). Similar to Gongylus, but the resemblance is at least in part convergent.

 

[guapoalto049]

Your expertise is always appreciated, Dracus! It's morphology had me thinking Gongylus sp.

 

[CosbyArt]

Glad to see the unidentified species was identified by Dracus, nicely done, perhaps the museum would be interested to know to properly tag the specimen.

A great collection, I really like the Choeradodis mantids. I am shocked though the specimens were able to be handled.

Truly amazing the dates found on some of the specimens too - what a time in history of the one dated 1877. Were those the originals collected by James Wood-Mason, or just the year they were first discovered (if you know)? Mr. Wood-Mason was quite the pioneer, and what a time to have been busy with mantids.

In 1877 Thomas Edison announced his new phonograph invention, Billy the Kid killed his first person, Alexander Graham Bell installed the first commercial phone service, the microphone was invented, and so many other various footnotes in history that year.

 

[guapoalto049]

The dates are those that the official holotype was named, unfortunately. I'm curious how long insects last in a pinned collection! 

And yes, Choeradodis is even impressive when dead!

 

[CosbyArt]

The dates are those that the official holotype was named, unfortunately. I'm curious how long insects last in a pinned collection!

And yes, Choeradodis is even impressive when dead!

I figured that was the case after I typed out the message. That is a good question about how long they last (I didn't know either), I did some searching and found the oldest was pinned in 1702 - see the details at the GuinnessWorldRecords article (I found other articles confirming the butterfly date, and saying it is the oldest pinned specimen).

That they are, I had a opportunity to get Choeradodis once but the offer fell through. Perhaps I'll get a chance to have one eventually.