Mantodea

Mantodea
Large brown mantid, Archimantis latistyla hanging underneath a carrot flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Subclass: Pterygota Infraclass: Neoptera Superorder: Dictyoptera Order: Mantodea
Families
Chaeteessidae Metallyticidae Mantoididae Amorphoscelidae Eremiaphilidae Hymenopodidae Liturgusidae Mantidae Empusidae

Mantodea is an order (or suborder) of terrestrial, carnivorous insects characterized by raptorial forelegs (adapted to capturing prey) and leathery forewings. The closest relatives of mantids are the orders Blattodea (cockroaches) and Isoptera (termites). In some classifications, the cockroaches and mantids are grouped together in the single order Dictyoptera, with Mantodea and Blattodea considered suborders.

Praying mantid or mantid is a common name for any member of Mantodea (although sometimes the term is limited to the family Mantidae). Another common name is praying mantis, although this latter name technically refers to those that belong to the genus Mantis (Watkins and Bessin 2003). Often mistakenly spelled "preying" mantids, they are in fact named for the typical "prayer-like" stance.

There are approximately 2,300 species of mantids, variously divided into from eight (Beier 1968; Preston-Mafham 1991) to 15 families (Ehrmann 2002). The largest family is Mantidae.

Description

Members of Mantodea are notable for their generally large size for insects, ranging from 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) to more than 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) (Grzimek et al. 2004). Females are generally larger than males and may be twice the size of males (Grzimek et al. 2004). Key characteristics are raptorial forelegs, ultrasound "ear" on metathorax, leathery forewings, asymmetrical male genitalia, and eggs in foamy ootheca (TOL 2003).

Like all insects, mantids have a three-segmented body, with a head, thorax and abdomen. The ten-segmented abdomen is elongated and typically covered by two pairs of wings in adults, but some species have no wings. Their heads, which is triangular in most species, can turn 180 degrees as a result of flexible neck muscles (Grzimek et al. 2004). They have two, large compound eyes as well as three smaller, simple eyes (Grzimek et al. 2004). Most have long and narrow antennae with many segments, although some have feathery antennae (Grzimek et al. 2004).

Mantids are among the hemimetabolic insects—those whose immature stages are similar to the adults. The immature mantids primarily differ in the lack of wings and functional reproductive organs.

Most species of Mantodea are tropical, with less diversity in temperate regions, and no mantids in boreal or tundra climates (Grzimek et al. 2004).

Mantids are notable for their nimble reflexes. Their diet usually consists of living insects, including flies and aphids; larger species have been known to prey on small lizards, frogs, birds, snakes, and even rodents. They are considered top predators in the food chain (Grzimek et al. 2004). Most mantids are ambush predators, waiting for prey to stray too near to them. The mantis then lashes out at remarkable speed. Some ground and bark species, however, pursue their prey rather quickly. A mantid's prey is caught and held securely with its grasping, spiked forelegs.

Mantids are masters of camouflage and make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. Some species in Africa and Australia are able to turn black after a molt following a fire in the region to blend in with the fire ravaged landscape (fire melanism). In addition to this adaptation, they have adapted to not only blend with the foliage, but to mimic it, appearing as leaves, sticks, blades of grass, flowers, or even stones. Their diet and coloration frequently change as the mantid grows.

Reproduction

Sexual cannibalism is common among mantids in captivity, and under some circumstances may also be observed in the field. The female may start feeding by biting off the male’s head (as with any prey), and if mating had begun, the male’s movements may become even more vigorous in its delivery of sperm. Early researchers thought that because copulatory movement is controlled by ganglion in the abdomen not the head, removal of the male’s head was a reproductive strategy by females to enhance fertilisation while obtaining sustenance. Later, this bizarre behaviour appeared to be an artifact of intrusive laboratory observation. Whether the behaviour in the field is natural, or also the result of distractions caused by the human observer, remains controversial. Mantids are highly visual creatures, and notice any disturbance occurring in the laboratory or field such as bright lights or moving scientists. Research by Liske and Davis (1987) and others found (e.g. using video recorders in vacant rooms) that Chinese Mantids that had been fed ad libitum (so were not starving) actually displayed elaborate courtship behaviour when left undisturbed. The male engages the female in courtship dance, to change her interest from feeding to mating. Courtship display was also observed in some other species, but it does not hold for all mantids. Aldous Huxley made philosophical observations about the nature of death while two mantids mated in the sight of two characters in the novel Island. The species was Gongylus gongylodes.

A recently laid Praying mantis egg pod

The mating season in temperate countries typically begins in autumn. To mate following courtship, the male usually leaps onto the female’s back, and clasps her thorax and wing bases with his forelegs. He then arches his abdomen to deposit and store sperm in a special chamber at the tip of the female’s abdomen.

Depending on the species, the female then lays between 10 to 400 eggs. These are deposited in a frothy mass that is produced by glands in the abdomen. This froth then hardens, creating a protective capsule with a further protective coat, and the egg mass is called an ootheca. Depending on the species these can be attached to a flat surface, wrapped around a plant or even deposited in the ground. In spite of the versatility and durability of the eggs, they are often preyed on, especially by several species of wasps. Variability in the species also determines whether or not the mother guards the egg pod or leaves it.

The praying mantis goes through three stages of metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult. Scientists also refer to this as an incomplete metamorphosis because the nymph and adult insect look essentially alike, except that the nymph is smaller and has no wings. A mantis nymph increases in size by replacing its outer body covering with a sturdy, flexible exoskeleton and molting when needed. This can happen up to five to ten times, depending on the species. After the final molt it should have full grown wings. Some species are wingless or brachypterous, particularly in the female sex.

Human perceptions

On a human hand

Absolutely harmless

Many gardeners consider mantids to be desirable insects, as they prey upon many harmful insect species. Organic gardeners who avoid pesticides may encourage mantids as a form of biological pest control. Mantis egg cases are sold in some garden stores for this purpose.

It should be noted, however, that mantids prey on neutral and beneficial insects as well, basically eating anything they can successfully capture and devour. Although mantid diet primarily consists of small invertebrates, large mantids have been observed eating small vertebrates such as lizards, mice, snakes, and small birds such as hummingbirds.[1] The naturalist Gerald Durrell's autobiography My Family and Other Animals includes an account of a very evenly matched battle between a mantid and a gecko.

Conservation status

Only one Spanish species, Apteromantis aptera, is listed as Lower Risk/Near Threatened.

History

One of the earliest mantid references is in the ancient Chinese dictionary Erya, which gives its attributes in poetry (representing courage and fearlessness), as well as a brief description. A later text, the Jingshi Zhenglei Daguan Bencao 經史證類大觀本草 ("Bencao of the Daguan period, Annotated and Arranged by Types, Based upon the Classics and Historical Works") from 1108, is impressively correct on the construction of the egg packages, the development cycle, the anatomy and even the function of the antennae.

By the 18th century the biology and morphology of the mantids became relatively accurate. Roesel von Rosenhof accurately illustrated and described them in the Insekten-Belustigungen (Insect Entertainments).

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Beier, M. 1968. 12. Ordnung Mantodea (Fangheuschrecken). Pages 1-47 in Handbuch der Zoologie 4(2) 2/12. J.-G. Helmcke, D. Starck, and H. Wermuth, eds. de Gruyter, Berlin.

Ehrmann, R. 2002. Mantodea: Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt. Natur und Tier, Münster. By Reinhard Ehrmann Natur und Tier-Verlag, 2002 ISBN: 3-931587-60-6 Cite: 4454

• Grzimek, B., D. G. Kleiman, V. Geist, and M. C. McDade. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Detroit: Thomson-Gale, 2004. ISBN 0307394913.

By Ken Preston-Mafham Facts on File, Inc., 1991 ISBN: 0816022984 Cite: 2740

• Tree of Life - Mantodea

Tree of Life Web Project. 2003. Mantodea. Praying mantids and their relatives. Version 01 January 2003 (temporary). http://tolweb.org/Mantodea/8213/2003.01.01 in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/

• Klausnitzer, Bernhard (1987). Insects: Their Biology and Cultural History. Unknown. ISBN 0-87663-666-0. 
• O'Toole, Christopher (2002). Firefly Encyclopedia of Insects and Spiders. Firefly. ISBN 1-55297-612-2. 
• Checklist of Mantodea originally compiled by the Los Angeles County Museum

• Watkins, G., and R. Bessin. 2003. Praying mantids]. University of Kentucky Entomology. Retrieved October 26, 2007.

External links

• Phylogeny of Mantodea based on molecular data: evolution of a charismatic predator (PDF)
• Natures's Best Masked Flower Image
• Pages from Bird Watcher's Digest and RLEPhoto showing mantises eating hummingbirds.
• Do female mantids really eat their mates?

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