Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Parastagmatoptera Saussure, 1871 (Dictyoptera, Mantidae, Stagmatopterinae) with a biogeographic comment.

A full taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Parastagmatoptera Saussure is presented, including illustrations of all taxa and the male genitalia of all species and the description of two new species: Parastagmatoptera sottilei sp.n. and Parastagmatoptera centralis sp.n. The following species are synonyms: Parastagmatoptera tessellata Saussure & Zehtner (male nec female) and Parastagmatoptera hoorie Caudell syn.n. of Parastagmatoptera flavoguttata (Serville); Parastagmatoptera confusa G.-Tos syn.n. of Parastagmatoptera pellucida G.-Tos; Parastagmatoptera. tessellata Saussure & Zehtner (female nec male), Parastagmatoptera. serricornis Kirby and Parastagmatoptera vitrepennis Bruner syn.n. of Parastagmatoptera unipunctata (Burmeister); Parastagmatoptera concolor Jantsch syn.n. of Parastagmatoptera theresopolitana G.-Tos. Parastagmatoptera vitreola (Stål,) previously treated as synonym of Parastagmatoptera flavoguttata is returned to species status; P. immaculata Chopard previously treated as sub-species of Parastagmatoptera flavoguttata is recognized as a separate species. Parastagmatoptera amazonica Werner and Parastagmatoptera glauca (Rehn) are transferred to subfamily Photinainae. In total, nine species are recognized, each is presented with a diagnosis, full description, assessments, distribution data and a comprehensive bibliography. A taxonomic history of the genus and its species is provided. A key to all Parastagmatoptera species is included and each is fully illustrated. Finally, a biogeographic analysis is made..