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20 fun facts about praying mantises
Simple text and pictures illustrate facts about the praying mantis.
Book
Phylogeny of Dictyoptera: Dating the Origin of Cockroaches, Praying Mantises and Termites with Molecular Data and Controlled Fossil Evidence
Understanding the origin and diversification of organisms requires a good phylogenetic estimate of their age and diversification rates. This estimate can be difficult to obtain when samples are limited and fossil records are disputed, as in Dictyoptera. To choose among competing hypotheses of origin for dictyopteran suborders, we root a phylogenetic analysis (~800 taxa, 10 kbp) within a large selection of outgroups and calibrate datings with fossils attributed to lineages with clear synapomorphies. We find the following topology: (mantises, (other cockroaches, (Cryptocercidae, termites)). Our datings suggest that crown-Dictyoptera-and stem-mantises-would date back to the Late Carboniferous (~ 300 Mya), a result compatible with the oldest putative fossil of stem-dictyoptera. Crown-mantises, however, would be much more recent (~ 200 Mya; Triassic/Jurassic boundary). This pattern (i.e., old origin and more recent diversification) suggests a scenario of replacement in carnivory among polyneopterous insects. The most recent common ancestor of (cockroaches + termites) would date back to the Permian (~275 Mya), which contradicts the hypothesis of a Devonian origin of cockroaches. Stem-termites would date back to the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, which refutes a Triassic origin. We suggest directions in extant and extinct species sampling to sharpen this chronological framework and dictyopteran evolutionary studies.
Journal Article
First assessment of the biodiversity of praying mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) in Cameroon with DNA barcoding
Praying mantises are the apex insect predators in many ecosystems, nevertheless they receive relatively less recognition in biodiversity reviews. We report a first survey of diversity of praying mantises in Cameroon, which is situated in the Congo Basin region, one of the richest biodiversity hotspots. Combination of light trapping with manual collecting resulted in 495 specimens representing 62 species. A total of eight species are novel for the country, at least five species are likely undescribed. DNA barcodes of 72 specimens representing every collected species were obtained, curated, and submitted to NCBI database. For eight species, barcodes are published for the first time. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was created using all available barcodes of Mantodea of Central African subregion. The results obtained during this study stress the importance of combining traditional and molecular approaches during biodiversity assessments of often neglected taxa, the latter aiding in uncovering new species, resolving unknown morphological divergencies and assigning conspecifics.
Journal Article
Revealing parthenogenetic reproduction in a praying mantis inhabiting South American grasslands
Mantids are charismatic insects due to their appearance and behaviors, but knowledge about them, in particular at the Neotropics, is scarce.
Brunneria subaptera
(Coptopterygidae) is the most abundant praying mantis species in Uruguay, inhabiting one of the world’s largest natural grasslands. Data from collections and field observations indicated that Uruguayan samples of
B. subaptera
only included females, whereas both sexes were found in Argentina. This extreme-biased sex ratio could be explained through thelytokous parthenogenesis. Endosymbiotic bacteria, such as
Wolbachia
, can induce parthenogenesis, though their role in sex ratio distortions in diploid insects is understudied, with limited evidence from species like
Mantis religiosa
, where no phenotypic effects were observed. To test if
B. subaptera
females from Uruguay reproduce by parthenogenesis and evaluate
Wolbachia
infection as a possible cause, we bred virgin females in the laboratory. All produce viable offspring, confirming parthenogenesis in the studied Uruguayan localities. However,
Wolbachia
infection was not detected. Future studies will focus on studying other factors that may cause parthenogenesis in this species. These findings advance our understanding of mantids in the Neotropics, but will also constitute a very important step to unravel the reproductive biology and evolutionary processes behind reproduction in Neotropical mantids.
Journal Article
Morphology and material composition of raptorial foreleg cuticles in praying mantises Gongylus gongylodes and Sphodromantis lineola
Praying mantises (Mantodea, Insecta) are capable of capturing larger invertebrates and also smaller vertebrates with their raptorial forelegs. Forelegs may exhibit morphological adaptations based on the type of prey they prefer (e.g., softer or harder invertebrates). Since the functionality of a structure is also influenced by its material composition, it could be tailored to match the prey as well. To pave the way for deeper studies on trophic adaptations in insects, this study investigates the morphology, material composition and mechanical properties of the raptorial forelegs of two species of praying mantises with different prey preferences.
Sphodromantis lineola
favours harder and larger invertebrates, such as cockroaches (Blattaria), whereas
Gongylus gongylodes
feeds on softer and smaller invertebrates like flies (Diptera). Both males and females were examined in both species to assess potential sexual dimorphism. The results suggest that the morphology of the raptorial forelegs, the arrangement and tiltability of the spines, and the material mechanical properties of the leg cuticle could potentially be related to the preferred prey type. Autofluorescence documentations reflected the presence of micro gradients in the spines, which are related to their mechanical properties. However, pigmentation in the structures of
G. gongylodes
seemed to corrupt the autofluorescence, complicating comparisons between the species. Elemental analysis confirmed the presence of traces of transition and alkaline earth metals in the raptorial forelegs, though no significant species-specific differences and no correlations to the mechanical properties were detected.
Journal Article
Complete mitochondrial genomes of four species of praying mantises (Dictyoptera, Mantidae) with ribosomal second structure, evolutionary and phylogenetic analyses
Praying mantises are distributed all over the world. Though some Mantodea mitogenomes have been reported, an evolutionary genomic and phylogenetic analysis study lacks the latest taxonomic system. In the present study, four new mitogenomes were sequenced and annotated. Deroplatys truncate , D . lobate , Amorphoscelis chinensis and Macromantis sp. belong to Deroplatyidae, Amorphoscelidae and Photinaidae family, respectively. Our results indicated that the ATP8 gene may be lost in D . truncate and D . lobata mt genome, and four tRNA genes have not been found in D . truncate , D . lobata and Macromantis sp. A dN/dS pair analysis was conducted and it was found that all genes have evolved under purifying selection. Furthermore, we tested the phylogenetic relationships between the eight families of the Mantodea, including 35 species of praying Mantis. Based on the complete mitochondrial genome data, it was also suggested as sister to Deroplatyidae + Mantidae, Metallyticus sp., the only representative of Metallyticidae, is sister to the remaining mantises. Our results support the taxonomic system of Schwarz and Roy and are consistent with previous studies.
Journal Article
Exploring the Mitogenomes of Mantodea: New Insights from Structural Diversity and Higher-Level Phylogenomic Analyses
The recently reorganized classification of Mantodea has made significant progress in resolving past homoplasy problems, although some relationships among higher taxa remain uncertain. In the present study, we utilized newly sequenced mitogenomes and nuclear gene sequences of 23 mantid species, along with published data of 53 mantises, to perform familial-sampling structural comparisons of mantodean mitogenomes and phylogenomic studies. Our rstructural analysis revealed generally conserved mitogenome organizations, with a few cases of tRNA gene rearrangements, including the detection of trnL2 duplication for the first time. In our phylogenetic analysis, we found a high degree of compositional heterogeneity and lineage-specific evolutionary rates among mantodean mitogenomes, which frequently corresponded to several unexpected groupings in the topologies under site-homogeneous models. In contrast, the topologies obtained using the site-heterogeneous mixture model fit the currently accepted phylogeny of Mantodea better. Topology tests and four-cluster likelihood mapping analyses further determined the preferred topologies. Our phylogenetic results confirm the monophyly of superfamilial groups Schizomantodea, Amerimantodea, Heteromantodea, Promantidea, and Mantidea and recover the early-branching relationships as (Mantoidoidea + (Amerimantodea + (Metallyticoidea + Cernomantodea))). Additionally, the results suggest that the long-unresolved phylogenetic position of Majangidae should be placed within Mantidea, close to Mantoidea, rather than within Epaphroditoidea. Our findings contribute to understanding the compositional and structural diversity in mantodean mitogenomes, underscore the importance of evolutionary model selection in phylogenomic studies, and provide new insights into the high-level phylogeny of Mantodea.
Journal Article
A checklist of Mantodea for Myanmar with the first record of Schizocephalabicornis (Mantodea, Eremiaphilidae) for the country
This paper presents the first comprehensive checklist of Mantodea species in Myanmar, reporting a total of 54 species belonging to 11 families and 32 genera, one of which (i.e.,
) constitutes a new record for the country. Four species,
,
,
, and
, are considered doubtful within Myanmar's fauna and require further investigation to confirm their presence. Additionally,
,
, and
are regarded as erroneous records.
Journal Article
Rapid Diagnostic PCR Assay Method for Species Identification of Mantidis Ootheca (Sangpiaoxiao) Based on Cytochrom C Oxidase I (COI) Barcode Analysis
Mantidis Ootheca (sangpiaoxiao), the egg case of the mantis, is a type of insect-derived traditional medicine widely used in East Asia. However, species identification based on egg morphology is challenging, leading to the distribution of counterfeit and adulterated products. The use of inauthentic ingredients can pose serious health risks to consumers. This study aimed to develop PCR markers that can rapidly and accurately differentiate between authentic and counterfeit Mantidis Ootheca. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) region was sequenced in thirteen samples from four mantis species: Tenodera angustipennis, Statilia maculata, Hierodula patellifera, and T. sinensis. Four sets of SCAR primers were designed based on species-specific nucleotide polymorphisms, and a multiplex SCAR assay was developed by combining all sets of the primers. The sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) primers successfully produced amplicons for each target species, even with low-DNA templates or templates containing DNA from multiple samples. No amplification was observed for nontarget species. This study presents a novel approach for identifying authentic Mantidis Ootheca species using DNA-based diagnostic marker assays, which enable rapid and precise species identification. The SCAR assays developed in this study will aid in maintaining quality control and promoting the standardization of commercial Mantidis Ootheca products.
Journal Article
Morphological allometry and intersexuality in horsehair-worm-infected mantids, Hierodula formosana (Mantodea: Mantidae)
Parasitic castration is a strategy used by parasites to minimize damage to the host by consuming its reproductive system, which results in the morphological alteration of the host. We determined that the forewing shape and density of the antennal sensilla of field-collected adult male mantids (Hierodula formosana), infected by horsehair worms (Chordodes formosanus) was partially feminized (intersexuality), and both male and female mantids infected by horsehair worms exhibited allometric changes in their wings and walking legs. In addition, the testes of most infected male adults disappeared or reduced in size, whereas the number of ovarioles in infected female adults was unaffected. The infection mainly influenced the structures related to host reproduction and locomotion, suggesting unbalanced energy exploitation and the reduction of parasitic virulence. In addition, the intersexuality of infected male adults indicated that sexual differentiation in insects, which researchers have considered to be an autonomous process, was influenced by the infection. The similarity of the antennae of infected male adults with those of last-instar female nymphs suggested that parasitic juvenilization may cause such feminization, but the mechanism of parasitic influence on insect sex characteristics should be studied further.
Journal Article