| Mantodea Fossil range: Cretaceous - Recent |
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 Large brown mantid, Archimantis latistyla underneath a carrot flower
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Chaeteessidae |
The insect order Mantodea or mantises consists of approximately 2,300 species worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats, of which a majority are in the family Mantidae. The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Archimantis latistyla, commonly known as the large brown mantis (also known as the stick mantis or Australian mantis) is a species of mantid The carrot ( Daucus carota subsp sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek karōton Arthropods are Animals belonging to the Phylum Arthropoda (from Greek ἄρθρον arthron, " Joint " Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described Pterygota is a subclass of Insects that includes the winged insects Neoptera is a classification group that includes almost all the winged Insects specifically those that can flex their wings over their abdomens Dictyoptera includes three groups of polyneopterous insects - cockroaches ( Blattaria) termites ( Isoptera) and mantids ( Mantodea) Chaeteessidae is a family of mantises containing a single genus which is thought to have diverged from the rest of the order relatively early in the Evolution of The Mantis family Metallyticidae consists of a single small genus living mostly in South-East Asia. Mantoididae is a small family of order Mantodea containing a single genus Amorphoscelididae is a family of praying mantises. This family includes Gyromantis and paraoxypilus as some examples See also Eremiaphilidae is a small family of the order Mantodea (mantises Hymenopodidae is a family of the order Mantodea (mantises with three subfamilies Mantidae is the largest family of the order Mantodea, commonly known as praying mantises most are tropical or subtropical Empusidae is a family of Mantises Insects ( Class Insecta) are a major group of Arthropods and the most diverse group of Animals on the Earth with over a million described The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 Mantidae is the largest family of the order Mantodea, commonly known as praying mantises most are tropical or subtropical For most of the past century, only this single family was recognized within the order, and the term "mantid" was therefore historically used for any member of the order; technically, however, the term only refers to this one family, meaning the species in the other eight recently-established families are not mantids, by definition (i. e. , they are empusids, or hymenopodids, etc. ), and the term "mantises" (or the more colloquial "praying mantises") should be used when referring to the entire order. Often mistakenly spelled preying mantis (an eggcorn, since they are notoriously predatory), they are in fact named for the typical "prayer-like" stance. In Linguistics, an eggcorn is an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate with a Deity or spirit The word mantis derives from the Greek word mantis for prophet or fortune teller. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly In Religion, a prophet (or prophetess) is a person who has encountered the Supernatural or the divine and serves as an intermediary Fortune-telling is the practice of predicting the future usually of an individual through mystical or supernatural means and often for commercial gain In Europe, the name "praying mantis" refers to only a single species, Mantis religiosa. Mantis religiosa, referred to as the European mantis outside of Europe (and known simply as the praying mantis in Europe and elsewhere is one of The closest relatives of mantises are the orders Isoptera (termites) and Blattodea (cockroaches), and these three groups together are sometimes ranked as an order rather than a superorder. The termites are a group of Social Insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (but see also taxonomy Cockroaches (or simply "roaches" are Insects of the order Blattaria.
Mantises are notable for their hunting abilities. They are exclusively predatory, and 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. This article is primarily about the human diet For a discussion of animal diets see List of feeding behaviours. True flies are Insects of the Order Diptera ( Greek: di = two and pteron = wing possessing a single pair of Lizards are a large and widespread group of Reptiles of the order Squamata, with nearly 5000 species and ranging across all continents except This article is about the block cipher algorithm For the ultrafast laser pulse measurement technique see Frequency-resolved optical gating. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. Rodentia is an order of Mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously-growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must Most mantises are ambush predators, waiting for prey to stray too near. An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors (the ambushing force use Concealment to attack a passing enemy The mantis then lashes out at remarkable speed. Some ground and bark species, however, pursue their prey rather quickly. Prey are caught and held securely with grasping, spiked forelegs ("raptorial legs"); the first thoracic segment, the prothorax, is commonly elongated and flexibly articulated, allowing for greater range of movement of the front limbs while the remainder of the body remains more or less immobile. The term raptorial implies much the same as " Predatory quot but most often refers to modifications of an arthropod's foreleg that make it function for the grasping The prothorax is the foremost of the three segments in the Thorax of an Insect, and bears the first pair of legs The articulation of the head is also remarkably flexible, permitting nearly 300 degrees of movement in some species, allowing for a great range of vision (their compound eyes have a large binocular field of vision) without having to move the remainder of the body. Binocular vision is vision in which both Eyes are used together As their hunting relies heavily on vision, they are primarily diurnal, but many species will fly at night, and can be commonly encountered at lights. In Animal behavior, diurnality indicates an Animal that is active during the Daytime and rests during the Night.
Mantises are masters of camouflage and most species make use of protective coloration to blend in with the foliage or substrate, both to avoid predators themselves, and to better snare their victims. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism In Botany, a leaf is an above-ground Plant organ specialized for Photosynthesis. Various species have adapted to not only blend with the foliage, but to mimic it, appearing as either living or withered leaves, sticks, tree bark, blades of grass, flowers, or even stones. 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). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. While mantises can bite, they have no venom, and are not dangerous to humans. This article is about the class of Biotoxins For other uses see Venom (disambiguation and Venomous (disambiguation. They do not appear to be chemically protected; nearly any large predatory animal will eat a mantis if it is able to detect it (mantises are generally quite aggressive towards one another, in fact, and most species are readily cannibalistic when given the opportunity). Cannibalism is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food
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Evolution
Mantises are evolved from proto-cockroaches, diverging from their common ancestors by the Cretaceous period, possibly from species like Raphidiomimula burmitica, a predatory cockroach with mantis-like forelegs. Blattoptera is a name given to various "roachid" fossil insects related to Cockroaches Mantises and Termites, and of general cockroach-like appearance The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of Possibly the earliest known modern mantis is Regiata scutra, although more common (and confirmed) is Santanmantis, a stilt-legged genus, also from the Cretaceous. Like their close termite cousins, though, mantises did not become common and diverse until the early Tertiary period. The termites are a group of Social Insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (but see also taxonomy The chuprichondira geological time interval covers roughly the time span between the demise of the non- avian Dinosaurs and beginning of the most recent Ice Age, approximately
Reproduction and life history
Sexual cannibalism is common among mantises in captivity, and under some circumstances may also be observed in the field. This article is about arthropod behavior for the human psychological disorder see sexually motivated cannibalism Sexual cannibalism is a special 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. In Anatomy, a ganglion (pl ganglia) is a tissue mass. Neurology In neurological contexts ganglia are composed mainly of 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. Mantises 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 mantises that had been fed ad libitum (so were not starving) actually displayed elaborate courtship behavior when left undisturbed. The Chinese mantis ( Tenodera sinensis) is a species of Praying mantis. The male engages the female in courtship dance, to change her interest from feeding to mating. Courtship display has also been observed in other species, but it does not hold for all mantises.
The reason for sexual cannibalism has been the subject of some debate, with some considering submissive males to be achieving a selective advantage in their ability to produce offspring. An ootheca (pl oothecae) is a type of egg mass made by any member of a variety of species (usually Insects or Mollusks) This theory is supported by a quantifiable increase in the duration of copulation among males who are cannibalized, in some cases doubling both the duration and the chance of fertilization. This is further supported in a study where males were seen to approach hungry females with more caution, and were shown to remain mounted on hungry females for a longer time, indicating that males actively avoiding cannibalism may mate with multiple females. The act of dismounting is one of the most dangerous times for males during copulation, for it is at this time that females most frequently cannibalize their mates. This increase in mounting duration was thought to indicate that males would be more prone to wait for an opportune time to dismount from a hungry female rather than from a satiated female that would be less likely to cannibalize its mate. Some consider this to be an indication that male submissiveness does not inherently increase male reproductive success, rather that more fit males are likely to approach a female with caution and escape. [1]
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 near the tip of the female’s abdomen.
Depending on the species, the female then lays between 10 to 400 eggs. These are typically deposited in a frothy mass that is produced by glands in the abdomen. A gland is an organ in an animal's body that synthesizes a substance for release such as Hormones or Breast milk, often into the Bloodstream This froth then hardens, creating a protective capsule with a further protective coat, and the egg mass is called an ootheca. An ootheca (pl oothecae) is a type of egg mass made by any member of a variety of species (usually Insects or Mollusks) 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 parasitic wasps. In a few species, the mother guards the eggs.
As in related insect groups, mantises go through three stages of metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult (mantises are among the hemimetabolic insects). Metamorphosis is a Biological process by which an Animal physically develops after Birth or hatching involving a conspicuous and relatively Hemimetabolism or hemimetaboly, also called incomplete metamorphosis, is a term used to describe the mode of development of certain insects that includes The nymph and adult insect are structurally quite similar, except that the nymph is smaller and has no wings or functional genitalia. The nymphs are also sometimes colored differently from the adult, and the early stages are often mimics of ants. Biological mimicry occurs when a group of organisms the mimics, have Ants are social Insects of the family Formicidae and along with the related families of Wasps and Bees belong to the order A mantis nymph increases in size (often changing its diet as it does so) by replacing its outer body covering with a sturdy, flexible exoskeleton and molting when needed. An exoskeleton is an external Skeleton that supports and protects an animal's body in contrast to the internal Endoskeleton of for example a Human. Ecdysis is the Molting of the Cuticula in Arthropods and related groups ( Ecdysozoa) This can happen up to five to ten times, depending on the species. After the final molt most species have wings, though some species are wingless or brachypterous ("short-winged"), particularly in the female sex.
In tropical species, the natural lifespan of a mantis in the wild is about 10-12 months, but some species kept in captivity have been sustained for 14 months. In colder areas, females will die during the winter (as will any surviving males).
Defense mechanisms
Generally, mantises are protected simply by virtue of concealment. When directly threatened, many mantis species stand tall and spread their forelegs, with their wings fanning out wide. The fanning of the wings evidently makes the mantis seem larger and more threatening, with some species having bright colors and patterns on their hind wings and inner surfaces of their front legs for this purpose. If harassment persists, a mantis may then strike with its forelegs and attempt to pinch or bite. As part of the threat display, some species also may produce a hissing sound by expelling air from the abdominal spiracles. Spiracles are small openings on the surface of some Animals that usually lead to Respiratory systems In Elasmobranchs ( Sharks and When flying at night, at least some mantises are able to detect the echolocation sounds produced by bats, and when the frequency begins to increase rapidly, indicating an approaching bat, they will stop flying horizontally and begin a descending spiral toward the safety of the ground, often preceded by an aerial loop or spin. [2]
Pest control uses
Many gardeners consider mantises to be desirable insects, as they prey upon many harmful insect species. Organic gardeners who avoid pesticides may encourage mantises as a form of biological pest control. Organic horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits vegetables flowers or ornamental plants by following the essential principles of organic agriculture in soil A pesticide is a substance or mixture of substances used to kill a pest. Biological control of pests in Agriculture is a method of controlling pests (including Insects Mites Weeds and plant diseases Tens of thousands of mantis egg cases are sold each year in some garden stores for this purpose.
However, mantises prey on neutral and beneficial insects as well, basically eating anything they can successfully capture and devour. Beneficial insects are any of a number of species of insects that perform valued services like Pollination and pest control Although their diet primarily consists of small invertebrates, large mantises have been observed eating small vertebrates such as lizards, mice, snakes, and small birds such as hummingbirds. An invertebrate is an Animal lacking a Vertebral column. The group includes 98% of all animal Species — all animals except those in the Chordate Vertebrates are members of the Subphylum Vertebrata, Chordates with backbones or spinal columns The grouping sometimes includes Lizards are a large and widespread group of Reptiles of the order Squamata, with nearly 5000 species and ranging across all continents except A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one A snake is an elongate Reptile of the suborder Serpentes Like all reptiles snakes are covered in scales. Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Hummingbirds are Birds in the family Trochilidae, and are endemic to the Americas. [2]
Conservation status
Only one Spanish species, Apteromantis aptera, is listed as Lower Risk/Near Threatened. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Apteromantis aptera is a Species of Praying mantis endemic to the Iberian Peninsula With one exception (the ground mantis Litaneutria minor in Canada, where it is rare - though it is common in the United States), North American mantises are not included among threatened or endangered species, though species in other parts of the world are under threat from habitat destruction. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Habitat destruction is the process in which natural Habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present The European mantis (Mantis religiosa) is the state insect of Connecticut and Virginia, but the General Statutes of Connecticut do not list any special protected status, as it is a non-native species from Europe and Northern Africa. Mantis religiosa, referred to as the European mantis outside of Europe (and known simply as the praying mantis in Europe and elsewhere is one of Connecticut ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state [3]
Introduced species
About 20 species are native to the United States, including the common Carolina mantis, and only one in Canada. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Carolina mantis ( Stagmomantis carolina) is a Praying mantis native to the Southern United States and one of six Species found Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Two species (the Chinese mantis and the European Mantis) were deliberately introduced to serve as pest control for agriculture, and have spread widely in both countries. The Chinese mantis ( Tenodera sinensis) is a species of Praying mantis. Mantis religiosa, referred to as the European mantis outside of Europe (and known simply as the praying mantis in Europe and elsewhere is one of A pest is an organism which has characteristics that are regarded by Humans as injurious or unwanted While it is legal to keep native mantises as pets or to sell egg cases for gardening, non-native species are illegal to possess and release in the United States, under the Non Native Invasive Species Act of 1992.
Historical references
One of the earliest mantis references is in the ancient Chinese dictionary Erya, which gives its attributes in poetry (representing courage and fearlessness), as well as a brief description. The Erya is the oldest extant Chinese dictionary. Bernhard Karlgren (1931 49 concluded that "the major part of its Glosses must reasonably 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 mantises became relatively accurate. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Roesel von Rosenhof accurately illustrated and described them in the Insekten-Belustigungen (Insect Entertainments). Aldous Huxley made philosophical observations about the nature of death while two mantises mated in the sight of two characters in the novel Island (the species was Gongylus gongylodes). Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 &ndash 22 November 1963 was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Island (ISBN 0-06-008549-5 is the final book by English novelist Aldous Huxley, published in 1962. Gongylus gongylodes, also known as the wandering violin mantis or Indian rose mantis, is an Insect of the order Mantodea. The naturalist Gerald Durrell's autobiography My Family and Other Animals includes an account of a very evenly matched battle between a mantis and a gecko. Gerald ('Gerry' Malcolm Durrell OBE ( January 7, 1925 &ndash January 30, 1995) was a naturalist, Zookeeper My Family and Other Animals is an autobiographical work by naturalist Gerald Durrell, telling of his childhood spent on the Greek island Geckos are small to average sized Lizards belonging to the family Gekkonidae which are found in warm climates throughout the world
Sources
- Tree of Life - Mantodea
- 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
References
- ^ J. P. Lelito and W. D. Brown (2006) Sexual conflict in a praying mantis. The American Naturalist 168 [1].
- ^ Yager, D. , May, M. (1993) Coming in on a Wing and an Ear. (Cover Story). Natural History 102. 1: 28.
- ^ CT.gov: The State Insect
External links
- Do female mantids really eat their mates?
- The Legal Myths Surrounding the Praying Mantis
- Praying mantis photos, information and care.
Gallery
 Mantis (Melbourne, Australia) |
 Mantis nymphs clinging to a leaf (Israel) |
 Sudanese hymenopodid mantis |
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 Mantis ootheca |
 Mantis ootheca |
 Mantis in India |
 Ameles decolor |
 a hymenopodid mantis |
 Hierodula parviceps eating a cricket |
 hymenopodid mantis |
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 Paramantis prasina |
 Phyllocrania paradoxa |
 Phyllocrania paradoxa |
 Popa spurca |
 Mantis in Grand Rapids, Michigan |
 Mantis on a Gum tree |
 A praying mantis in Kona |
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 A close-up of a Mantis |
 a green and brown MANTIS (Canada) |
 Mantis ootheca (Canada) |
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