Search

Most behavior needs to strike a balance between the competing needs to find food and protect an animal from predators. The factors that influence this balance and the resulting behavior are not well understood in many animals. Here, we examined these influences in the praying mantis Tenodera sinensis by presenting perching individuals with alternating sinusoidally moving prey-like stimuli and rapidly expanding looming stimuli then scoring their behavior on a defensive–aggressive scale. In this way, we tested the hypothesis that such behaviors are highly context dependent. Specifically, we found that defensive responses, which are normally very consistent, are decreased in magnitude if the animal has just performed an aggressive response to the previous sinusoid. A thrash behavior not normally seen with looming alone was often seen following aggression. In thrashing, the animal tries to push the looming stimulus away. Thrashing almost exclusively followed aggressive responses to the sinusoid stimulus. Moreover, aggression levels were found to shift from low to high and back to low as adult animals aged and, in general, female mantises were more aggressive than males. Finally, the specific nature of the mid-life spike in aggressive behaviors differed according to whether the animals were lab raised or caught in the wild. Lab-raised animals showed roughly equal amounts of increased attention to the stimulus and very aggressive strike behaviors, whereas wild-caught animals tended to either ignore the stimulus or react very aggressively with strikes. Therefore, our hypothesis regarding context-dependent effects was supported, with all four factors influencing the behaviors that were studied.

We present the description of a new genus and new species of praying mantis, Hondurantemna chespiritoi gen. n. & sp. n. This species of cryptic mantis, collected in National parks in Mexico and Honduras, remained unknown despite its considerable body size. Based on a phylogenetic analysis with molecular data and traditional morphological analysis, we place this new genus within Antemninae, a monotypic Mantidae subfamily. We update the subfamily concept for Antemninae and provide a key to the two genera. We describe the external morphology of immatures and adults of the new species as well as the genital complexes of both sexes and the ootheca of Antemna rapax. The observed morphological changes between immature and adult females suggests that the selection for an alternate strategy for crypsis is a response to size increase of the abdomen during development. Immatures exploit a stick/branch habitat based on their morphological appearance while adult females appear as a leaf to disguise the profile of the body. Revisada por pares

A wasp mimicking praying mantis (Mantodea) of the early evolving Mantoididae family was discovered in 2013 at a research station near the Amazon River in Northern Peru. This adult specimen exhibited a striking bright red/orange and black coloration pattern that was undocumented in all known praying mantis species. We tested the status of this new specimen using external morphology, male genital dissections, and geographic distribution. Our findings demonstrate the specimen to represent a new species,Vespamantoida wherleyigen. nov. sp. nov., that is closely allied with a recently described species,Mantoida toulgoetiRoy, 2010, both of which are included within the newly erected genus. To support our actions, we present high resolution images of museum preserved and living specimens, morphological illustrations, a generic-level distribution map, and recorded video of the behavior of the holotype taken in the field at the time of collection. The bright red/orange coloration contrasted with black markings, the general appearance of a hymenopteran that includes a narrowed wasp waist, and the locomotory patterns and antennal movements mark this newly discovered species as unique among all hymenopteran mimicking Mantoididae as well as all other praying mantises.

We analyzed the rhythmic, cyclical dorsal-ventral abdominal pumping movements of nymphal and adult Hierodula patellifera (Audinet- Serville 1839), and adult Stagmomantis carolina (Johansson 1763), Tenodera sinensis (de Saussure 1871), Miomantis paykullii (Stål 1871), and Sphodromantis lineola (Burmeister 1838) using a combination of customized video analysis software and frame-by-frame video analyses. Despite the phylogenetic and ecological diversity of these species, we found fundamental similarities in the overall, intermittent patterns of their abdominal pumping movements. In adults of all species, intermittent bouts of abdominal pumping had median durations of 64-89 sec, and were separated by intervals with median durations of 10-25 sec. Bouts began with rhythmic upward abdominal deflections of progressively increasing amplitude and frequency which were superimposed on an overall, progressive abdominal elevation. Bouts ended with 1-4 very high amplitude, low frequency upward deflections after which the abdomen returned to its horizontal (resting) position. In H. patellifera, the overall adult pattern emerged gradually during larval development. Given the diversity of the species tested, our data suggest that intermittent abdominal pumping (which has been associated with respiratory behavior in insects) may be independent of ecological niche or acute environmental stressors in mantises. Instead, our data support the hypothesis that these apparently respiratory related, intermittent abdominal pumping movements are an emergent property of the mantis central nervous system organization., Fragmenta Entomologica, Vol. 51 No. 1 (2019)

At any given moment, behavior is controlled by a combination of external stimuli and an animal's internal state. As physiological conditions change, vastly different behaviors might result from the same stimuli. For example, the motivation to hunt and hunting strategy are influenced by satiety. Here, we describe how sensory responsiveness and motor activity of a praying mantis (

BackgroundThe Madagascar National Strategic Plan for Malaria Control 2018 (NSP) outlines malaria control pre-elimination strategies that include detailed goals for mosquito control. Primary surveillance protocols and mosquito control interventions focus on indoor vectors of malaria, while many potential vectors feed and rest outdoors. Here we describe the application of novel tools that advance our understanding of diversity, host choice, and Plasmodium infection in the Anopheline mosquitoes of the Western Highland Fringe of Madagascar.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe employed a novel outdoor trap, the QUadrant Enabled Screen Trap (QUEST), in conjunction with the recently developed multiplex BLOOdmeal Detection Assay for Regional Transmission (BLOODART). We captured a total of 1252 female Anopheles mosquitoes (10 species), all of which were subjected to BLOODART analysis. QUEST collection captured a heterogenous distribution of mosquito density, diversity, host choice, and Plasmodium infection. Concordance between Anopheles morphology and BLOODART species identifications ranged from 93-99%. Mosquito feeding behavior in this collection frequently exhibited multiple blood meal hosts (single host = 53.6%, two hosts = 42.1%, three hosts = 4.3%). The overall percentage of human positive bloodmeals increased between the December 2017 and the April 2018 timepoints (27% to 44%). Plasmodium positivity was found primarily in vectors considered to be of secondary importance, with an overall prevalence of 6%.Conclusions/SignificanceThe QUEST was an efficient tool for sampling Anopheline mosquitoes. Vectors considered to be of secondary importance were commonly found with Plasmodium DNA in their abdomens, indicating a need to account for these species in routine surveillance efforts. Mosquitoes exhibited multiple blood feeding behavior within a gonotrophic cycle, with predominantly non-human hosts in the bloodmeal. Taken together, this complex feeding behavior could enhance the role of multiple Anopheline species in malaria transmission, possibly tempered by zoophilic feeding tendencies.Author SummaryMalaria continues to be a significant threat to public health in Madagascar. Elimination of this disease is impeded by numerous factors, such as vector surveillance that does little to account for the potential role of secondary malaria vectors, which rest and feed outdoors. In this study, we designed a novel, low cost QUadrant Enabled Screen Trap (QUEST) to address the lack of traps for outdoor mosquitoes. We used this in conjunction with our novel BLOOdmeal Detection Assay for Regional Transmission (BLOODART) to assess mosquito feeding behavior in the Western Highland Fringe of Madagascar. Our analysis revealed significant variability in mosquito density, diversity, host choice, and Plasmodium infection across traps placed within and between two nearby villages at two timepoints; indicating a strong, small-scale spatial component to disease transmission that warrants further investigation. Many of the mosquitoes in this sample (46.4%) fed on two or three host species, indicating complex feeding behaviors that could influence malaria transmission. Further, Plasmodium DNA was detected in the abdomens of numerous vectors of supposed secondary importance, indicating a neglected parasite reservoir and an increased need to account for these species in routine surveillance efforts.

Background The Madagascar National Strategic Plan for Malaria Control 2018 (NSP) outlines malaria control pre-elimination strategies that include detailed goals for mosquito control. Primary surveillance protocols and mosquito control interventions focus on indoor vectors of malaria, while many potential vectors feed and rest outdoors. Here we describe the application of tools that advance our understanding of diversity, host choice, and Plasmodium infection in the Anopheline mosquitoes of the Western Highland Fringe of Madagascar. Methodology/Principal findings We employed a modified barrier screen trap, the QUadrant Enabled Screen Trap (QUEST), in conjunction with the recently developed multiplex BLOOdmeal Detection Assay for Regional Transmission (BLOODART). We captured a total of 1252 female Anopheles mosquitoes (10 species), all of which were subjected to BLOODART analysis. QUEST collection captured a heterogenous distribution of mosquito density, diversity, host choice, and Plasmodium infection. Concordance between Anopheles morphology and BLOODART species identifications ranged from 93–99%. Mosquito feeding behavior in this collection frequently exhibited multiple blood meal hosts (single host = 53.6%, two hosts = 42.1%, three hosts = 4.3%). The overall percentage of human positive bloodmeals increased between the December 2017 and the April 2018 timepoints (27% to 44%). Plasmodium positivity was frequently observed in the abdomens of vectors considered to be of secondary importance, with an overall prevalence of 6%. Conclusions/Significance The QUEST was an efficient tool for sampling exophilic Anopheline mosquitoes. Vectors considered to be of secondary importance were commonly found with Plasmodium DNA in their abdomens, indicating a need to account for these species in routine surveillance efforts. Mosquitoes exhibited multiple blood feeding behavior within a gonotrophic cycle, with predominantly non-human hosts in the bloodmeal. Taken together, this complex feeding behavior could enhance the role of multiple Anopheline species in malaria transmission, possibly tempered by zoophilic feeding tendencies., Author summary Malaria continues to be a significant threat to public health in Madagascar. Elimination of this disease is impeded by numerous factors, such as vector surveillance that does little to account for the potential role of secondary malaria vectors, which tend to rest and feed outdoors. In this study, we designed a low cost, modified barrier screen trap, called the QUadrant Enabled Screen Trap (QUEST). We used this in conjunction with the recently developed BLOOdmeal Detection Assay for Regional Transmission (BLOODART) to assess mosquito feeding behavior in the Western Highland Fringe of Madagascar. Our analysis revealed significant variability in mosquito density, diversity, host choice, and Plasmodium infection across traps placed within and between two nearby villages at two timepoints; indicating a strong, small-scale spatial component to disease transmission that warrants further investigation. Many of the mosquitoes in this sample (46.4%) fed on two or three host species, indicating complex feeding behaviors that could influence malaria transmission. Further, Plasmodium DNA was detected in the abdomens of numerous vectors of supposed secondary importance, indicating a neglected parasite reservoir and an increased need to account for these species in routine surveillance efforts.

Anti-predator defences are typically regarded as relatively static signals that conceal prey or advertise their unprofitability. However, startle displays are complex performances that deter or confuse predators and can include a spectacular array of movements, colours and sounds. Yet, we do not fully understand the mechanisms by which they function, their evolutionary correlates, or the conditions under which they are performed and evolve. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses of startle displays including behavioural data, using praying mantises as a model system. We included 58 species that provide a good representation of mantis diversity and estimated the strength of phylogenetic signal in the presence and complexity of displays. We also tested hypotheses on potential evolutionary correlates, including primary defences and body size. We found that startle displays and morphological traits were phylogenetically conserved, whereas behavioural traits were highly labile. Surprisingly, body size was not correlated with display presence or complexity in phylogenetically controlled analyses. Species-rich clades were more likely to exhibit displays, suggesting that startle displays were probably involved in lineage diversification. We suggest that to further elucidate the conditions under which startle displays evolve, future work should include quantitative descriptions of multiple display components, habitat type, and predator communities. Understanding the evolution of startle displays is critical to our overall understanding of the theory behind predator–prey dynamics.

Recent phylogenetic advances have uncovered remarkable biogeographic histories that have challenged traditional concepts of dispersal, vicariance and diversification in the Greater Antilles. Much of this focus has centred on vertebrate lineages despite the high diversity and endemism of terrestrial arthropods, which account for 2.5 times the generic endemism of all Antillean plants and non-marine vertebrates combined. In this study, we focus on three Antillean endemic praying mantis genera, Callimantis , Epaphrodita and Gonatista , to determine their phylogenetic placement and geographical origins. Each genus is enigmatic in their relation to other praying mantises due to their morphological affinities with both Neotropical and Old World groups. We recovered the three genera as a monophyletic lineage among Old World groups, which was supported by molecular and morphological evidence. With a divergence at approximately 107 Ma, the lineage originated during the break-up of Gondwana. Ancestral range reconstruction indicates the lineage dispersed from an African + Indomalayan range to the Greater Antilles, with a subsequent extinction in the Old World. The profound ecomorphic convergence with non-Caribbean groups obscured recognition of natural relationships within the same geographical distribution. To the best of our knowledge, the lineage is one of the oldest endemic animal groups in the Greater Antilles and their morphological diversity and restricted distribution mark them as a critical taxon to conserve.

The collection of Mantodea of the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, includes 26 holotypes, 7 allotypes, 4 lectotypes, 23 paratypes, and 1 paralectotype. Four type specimens were designated as lectotypes within this work. Highly accurate measurement data, high resolution images of specimens and labels, verbatim label data, georeferenced coordinates, original and newly assigned database codes, and bibliographic data are presented for all primary types. Label data for all paratype specimens in the collection are provide in tabular form. The location of the USNM collection has been moved to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History as a loan under the Off-site Enhancement Program.

Ilomantis thalassina (Saussure, 1899) Tropidomantis thalassina Saussure, 1899: 593; Kirby, 1904: 227 Ilomantis [Tropidomantis] thalassina (Saussure, 1899) Giglio-Tos, 1915: 46, 1927: 137; Paulian 1957: 30; Roy 1987: 121; Ehrmann, 2002: 193 Nilomantis [Ilomantis] thalassina (Saussure, 1899) Beier 1935: 54���55; Otte & Spearman 2005: 120���121 Type species Holotype ♂. Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Frankfurt, Germany; Allotype ♀. Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Frankfurt, Germany. Type location Nosy Be, Madagascar. Examined specimens The list consists of 8 specimens. Madagascar: Ampijoroa, 1 ♂, Ankarafantsika, 170m, I- 57, R.E., Insitut Scientifique de Madagascar, Genitalia No. 0 0 0 0 7 S. K. Brannoch (MNHN); Distr. d���Ambanja, 1 ♀, Madagascar Nord, N. de Beangona-Ambevy, Vall��e d���Antremabe, 400m, II- 1964, P. Soga, Genitalia No. 0 0 0 0 9 S. K. Brannoch (MNHN); Nossi B��, 1 ♂, Voeltzkow, genitalia R. Roy No. 4072 (MNHN); 2 ♀ (MNHN); 1 ♀, 1900, Dr. Joly, Genitalia No. 0 0 0 0 8 S. K. Brannoch (MNHN); Nossi B�� Sambirano, 2 ♀, J. de Coudenfiore (MNHN); Toliara Prov., R��serve Sp��ciale de Cap Sainte Marie, 12.3 km, 262 ��W Marovato, elev. 200 m 11���15 Feb 2002, 23�� 34 ��� 54 ���S 45 �� 10 ��� 6 ���E, coll: Fisher, Griswold et al., California Acad. of Sciences, at light in spiny forest thicket, collection code: BLF 5501, CASENT 3006172, 5501, MN 413 Primary Voucher, GSMC 000141 (CASENT). Natural history Specimens studied were collected between January and February in Northern Madagascar. No specific behavioral or ecological information is known from the literature. Diagnosis Pronotum with a medial keel that runs from the anterior margin of the prozone to the posterior margin of the metazone. Postcervical plate and exposed thoracic membrane of the cervix broad with an approximately hexagonal shape. Females (ca. 26.5���27 mm) relatively longer than males (ca. 22.5 mm); both females and males of this species are relatively longer than those within Ilomantis ginsburgae n.sp. Female genitalia: gonapophysis VIII (GA) with pronounced medial outgrowth (MO); gonoplac (GL) with divergent apical cleft (AC). Male genitalia: processo distale (pda) small, adjacent to a relatively rounded posterodextral margin; processo ventrale sclerificato (pva) slightly arched along the anterior margin with a relatively straight posterior margin. Distributed within the Southern region of the Republic of Madagascar. F = 3 DS/ 11���12 AvS/ 4 PvS; T = 11���14 AvS/ 12���14 PvS. Redescription (all measurements in mm, unless noted otherwise) Female (Fig. 1 A,B). Length 26.5���27.05; forewing length 18.58���19.6; hindwing length 19.2���20.56; pronotum length 5.32���5.53; prozone length 2.0��� 2.2; pronotum maximum width 1.95���2.13; pronotum minimum width 1.39���1.52; head width 4.56���4.58; head vertex to clypeus 1.63���1.97; frons width 1.76���1.85; frons height 0.47���0.53; prothoracic femur length 6.2���6.54; mesothoracic femur length 5.9���6.12; mesothoracic tibia length 4.10���4.17; mesothoracic tarsus length 3.06; metathoracic femur length 6.36���6.59; metathoracic tibia length 6.83���7.01; metathoracic tarsus length 4.27���4.74. Head (Fig. 7 A). Cranial vertex elevation yellow. Area posterior to the lateral ocelli concave. Ocelli reduced with relatively larger, lateral ocelli sitting within a slightly raised cylindrical ocellar tubercle; the smaller, unpaired median ocellus positioned anterior to a sulcus that lies medially between the unpaired ocellus and the antennal sclerites, spanning the distance between the antennae; area surrounding the median ocellus is very slightly raised. Antennae extend to mid-body. Thorax. Pronotal medial keel reaching anterior margin (Fig. 11 A). Postcervical plate and exposed thoracic membrane of the cervix broad with an approximately hexagonal shape (Fig. 13 A). Forewings opaque with light green costal region, hindwings opaque to hyaline; costal vein of both fore- and hindwings with light ciliation. Prothoracic legs. Femur maximum width ca. 1.3���1.5 times the value of the male femur maximum width. F = 3 DS/ 11���12 AvS/ 4 PvS; T = 12���13 AvS/ 12���14 PvS. Meso- and metathoracic legs. Lightly ciliated across surface with ciliation density increasing distally. Mesothoracic basitarsus approximately the same length as the remaining tarsal segments combined; metathoracic basitarsus 1.5 times longer than the remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen. Supra-anal plate triangular, ciliated across the surface, narrower than the subgenital plate. Cerci filiform, tapering. Genitalia (Figs 3 A, 5 A,B). Gonapophysis VIII (GA) moderately slender, variably ciliated, and visibly curved from both the ventral (VH) and lateral (LH) perspectives; GA is heavily surfaced with fossettes. From VH, GA angles inward; a rugose, sclerotized tubercle projects posterolaterad from this region; apical lobe (AL) ovoid; heavily ciliated. AL with a membrane that projects from the internal dorsal margin of the structure, forming a shallow pocket as the membrane merges with the dorsal margin of GA, lending AL the appearance of being bilobed or mitten-shaped. From LH, GA is curved ventrad; GA ventral margin features a tumescent medial outgrowth (MO), which projects posterior to the crest of the curve. GA dorsal margin is invaginated anterior to the curve towards the ventral habitus. Gonapophysis IX (GP) is relatively short, apically mammiform, and invaginated along the ventral margin; GP ventral margin features a subulate overhang, the medial tine (MT). Gonoplac (GL) is shorter than GA, broad, tumescent, variably ciliated, and obtusely arched ventrad; from LH, GL base has a rectangular dilation on the anteroventral margin. GL features a prominent apical cleft (AC) with divergent, blunted tines. From LH, GL possesses a pronounced sclerotization that traverses the length of the structure, terminating just before the AC. GL ventral and dorsal margins are sculpturate, rugose. Male (Fig. 1 C,D). Body length 22.49���22.51; forewing length 16.46���16.92; hindwing length 17.08���17.64; pronotum length 4.32���4.69; prozone length 1.69���1.81; pronotum maximum width 1.49���1.72; pronotum minimum width 1.08���1.36; head width 3.76���4.08; head vertex to clypeus 1.56���1.6; frons width 1.46���1.48; frons height 0.47���0.53; prothoracic femur length 5.22���5.48; mesothoracic femur length 5.35���5.7; mesothoracic tibia length 3.6���3.84; mesothoracic tarsus length 2.58���3.17; metathoracic femur length 5.53���5.71; metathoracic tibia length 6.02; metathoracic tarsus length 2.903. Head (Fig. 8 B). Cranial vertical margin and posterior half of lateral ocelli yellow. Area posterior to the lateral ocelli slightly concave. Ocelli well developed and sit atop a raised, ocellar tubercle; lateral ocelli relatively larger than unpaired, median ocellus. Reddish-brown pigmentation may or may not be present adjacent to the compound eyes, near the frontal sulci. Antennae extend past mid-abdomen. Thorax. Pronotum as in females (Fig. 11 B). Postcervical plate and exposed thoracic membrane of the cervix as in females (Fig. 13 B). Wings generally hyaline and iridescent, light ciliation across surface of both fore- and hindwings. Prothoracic legs. Femur maximum width ca. 0.7���0.75 times the value of the female femur maximum width. F = 3 DS/ 11���12 AvS/ 4 PvS; T = 11���14 AvS/ 13���14 PvS. Meso- and metathoracic legs. Lightly ciliated across surface with ciliation density increasing distally. Meso- and metathoracic basitarsus approximately the same length as the remaining tarsal segments combined. Abdomen. Supra-anal plate triangular, ciliated across the surface; much narrower than the subgenital plate. Subgenital plate approximately rounded at the terminus. Cerci long, compressed, tapering. Styli short. Genitalia (Fig. 9). Dorsal sclerotization of the left phallomeric complex elongate anteriorly, broadening towards the posterior margin; anterior process (ap) moderately narrow, recurved, and lightly sclerotized; L 4 B dextral posterolateral margin rugose; apical process (paa) tumescent, recurved distally with a rounded and moderately sclerotized apical margin. Lobo membranoso (loa) relatively short, apex moderately sclerotized. Ventral sclerotization of the left phallomere complex (i.e., the ventral phallomere) (L 4 A) longer than wide with a slightly undulate and sclerotized antero-sinistral margin; L 4 A posterior region broad, lightly ciliated; processo distale (pda) pouch-shaped, rounded apically. Anterior apodeme (an) rounded anteriorly with a slightly sclerotized sinistral margin; processo ventrale sclerificato (pva) obtusely arched, tumescent, and heavily sclerotized along the posterior and dextral margins; piastra ventrale (pia) heavily sclerotized and linearly shaped with a triangular projection along the anterior margin; pia situated on the anterior margin of a membranous fold that features a generally straight, moderately sclerotized lateral margin. R 1 posterior region ciliated with a slightly tapered, rounded posterior margin; right arm (bm) moderately narrow, pointed apically., Published as part of Sydney K. Brannoch & Gavin J. Svenson, 2016, Leveraging female genitalic characters for generic and species delimitation in Nilomantis Werner, 1907 and Ilomantis Giglio-Tos, 1915 (Mantodea, Nilomantinae), pp. 209-244 in Insect Systematics & Evolution 47 on pages 228-231, DOI: 10.1163/1876312X-47032141, http://zenodo.org/record/269839, {"references":["Saussure, H. (1899). In: Voeltzkow, A.: Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Reisen in Madagaskar und Ostafrika in den Jahren 1889 - 1895. Orthoptera: Mantidae. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, 1 (24): 567 - 664.","Kirby, W. F. (1904) A synonymic Catalogue of Orthoptera. (Forficilidae, Hemimeridae, Blattidae, Mantidae and Phasmidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), London 1: 207 - 316.","Giglio-Tos, E. (1915) Mantidi esotici. VIII. Acromantinae. Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparata della R. Universita di Torino 30: 1 - 16.","Paulian, R. (1957) Faune de Madagascar. Insectes Mantodea. Publications de l'Institut de Recherche Scientifique Tananarive - Tsimbazaza 5: 1 - 102.","Roy, R. (1987) Le peuplement en Mantes des iles situees au large de l'Afrique. Bulletin de la Societe zoologique de France 112: 117 - 125.","Ehrmann, R. (2002) Mantodea: Gottesanberinnen der Welt. Munster, Natur und Tier Verlag Munster.","Beier, M. (1935) Genera Insectorum, Vol. 201. Mantodea. Subfamilie: Orthoderinae, Choeradodinae, Deroplatinae. Wytsman, Brussels.","Otte, D. & Spearman, L. A. (2005) Mantida species file. Catalog of the mantids of the world, volume 1. Association of Insect Diversity, Philadelphia, PA."]}

Here we reconstruct the evolutionary shift towards floral simulation in orchid mantises and suggest female predatory selection as the likely driving force behind the development of extreme sexual size dimorphism. Through analysis of body size data and phylogenetic modelling of trait evolution, we recovered an ancestral shift towards sexual dimorphisms in both size and appearance in a lineage of flower-associated praying mantises. Sedentary female flower mantises dramatically increased in size prior to a transition from camouflaged, ambush predation to a floral simulation strategy, gaining access to, and visually attracting, a novel resource: large pollinating insects. Male flower mantises, however, remained small and mobile to facilitate mate-finding and reproductive success, consistent with ancestral male life strategy. Although moderate sexual size dimorphisms are common in many arthropod lineages, the predominant explanation is female size increase for increased fecundity. However, sex-dependent selective pressures acting outside of female fecundity have been suggested as mechanisms behind niche dimorphisms. Our hypothesised role of predatory selection acting on females to generate both extreme sexual size dimorphism coupled with niche dimorphism is novel among arthropods.

Exotic insect species pose an increasing threat to Florida's native ecosystems through direct negative effects as predators of native taxa, and indirect effects by competing for food and habitat resources. Although many exotic species established in Florida have no demonstrable negative impact on native insect communities, it is nonetheless important to document the presence of newly established species in order to evaluate their invasive potential. This study documents for the first time an established population of an introduced mantis, Liturgusa maya Saussure & Zehntner (Mantodea: Liturgusidae), in the USA. The paper includes a review of the species' natural history in its native range in Central and South America. At present, this mantis is known only from a small, localized area; however, more widespread establishment in and beyond south Florida is possible because of the region's subtropical climate. To facilitate monitoring of the introduced population of L. maya, an identification key to the genera of Florida mantises is included to help non-specialists easily differentiate L. maya from the native mantis genera that occur in Florida.

We present the description of a new genus and new species of praying mantis, Hondurantemna chespiritoi gen. n. & sp. n. This species of cryptic mantis, collected in National parks in Mexico and Honduras, remained unknown despite its considerable body size. Based on a phylogenetic analysis with molecular data and traditional morphological analysis, we place this new genus within Antemninae, a monotypic Mantidae subfamily. We update the subfamily concept for Antemninae and provide a key to the two genera. We describe the external morphology of immatures and adults of the new species as well as the genital complexes of both sexes and the ootheca of Antemna rapax. The observed morphological changes between immature and adult females suggests that the selection for an alternate strategy for crypsis is a response to size increase of the abdomen during development. Immatures exploit a stick/branch habitat based on their morphological appearance while adult females appear as a leaf to disguise the profile of the body.

A phylogenetic analysis of the order Embioptera is presented with a revised classification based on results of the analysis. Eighty-two species of Embioptera are included from all families except Paedembiidae Ross and Embonychidae Navas. Monophyly of each of the eight remaining currently recognized families is tested except Andesembiidae Ross, for which only a single species was included. Nine outgroup taxa are included from Blattaria, Grylloblattaria, Mantodea, Mantophasmatodea, Orthoptera, Phasmida and Plecoptera. Ninety-six morphological characters were analysed along with DNA sequence data from the five genes 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase I and histone III. Data were analysed in combined analyses of all data using parsimony and Bayesian optimality criteria, and combined molecular data were analysed using maximum likelihood. Several major conclusions about Embioptera relationships and classification are based on interpretation of these analyses. Of eight families for which monophyly was tested, four were found to be monophyletic under each optimality criterion: Clothodidae Davis, Anisembiidae Davis, Oligotomidae Enderlein and Teratembiidae Krauss. Australembiidae Ross was not recovered as monophyletic in the likelihood analysis in which one Australembia Ross species was recovered in a position distant from other australembiids. This analysis included only molecular data and the topology was not strongly supported. Given this, and because parsimony and the Bayesian analyses recovered a strongly supported clade including all Australembiidae, we regard this family also as monophyletic. Three other families – Notoligotomidae Davis, Archembiidae Ross and Embiidae Burmeister, as historically delimited – were not found to be monophyletic under any optimality criterion. Notoligotomidae is restricted here to include only the genus Notoligotoma Davis with a new family, Ptilocerembiidae Miller and Edgerly, new family, erected to include the genus Ptilocerembia Friederichs. Archembiidae is restricted here to include only the genera Archembia Ross and Calamoclostes Enderlein. The family group name Scelembiidae Ross is resurrected from synonymy with Archembiidae (new status) to include all other genera recently placed in Archembiidae. Embiidae is not demonstrably monophyletic with species currently placed in the family resolved in three separate clades under each optimality criterion. Because taxon sampling is not extensive within this family in this analysis, no changes are made to Embiidae classification. Relationships between families delimited herein are not strongly supported under any optimality criterion with a few exceptions. Either Clothodidae Davis (parsimony) or Australembiidae Ross (Bayesian) is the sister to the remaining Embioptera taxa. The Bayesian analysis includes Australembiidae as the sister to all other Embioptera except Clothididae, suggesting that each of these taxa is a relatively plesiomorphic representatative of the order. Oligotomidae and Teratembiidae are sister groups, and Archembiidae (sensu novum), Ptilocerembiidae, Andesembiidae and Anisembiidae form a monophyletic group under each optimality criterion. Each family is discussed in reference to this analysis, diagnostic combinations and taxon compositions are provided, and a key to families of Embioptera is included.

Some praying mantids have sensitive ultrasonic hearing arising from a unique ‘cyclopean’ ear located in the ventral metathorax. The present study explores the evolutionary history of the mantis auditory system by integrating large anatomical, neurophysiological, behavioural, and molecular databases. Using an ‘auditory phylogeny’ based on 13 morphological characters, we identified a primitively earless form of metathoracic anatomy in several extant taxa. In addition, there are five distinct mantis auditory systems. Three of these can be identified anatomically, and the other two can only be detected neurophysiologically. Superimposing these results onto a phylogenetic tree derived from molecular data from seven genes shows that the cyclopean mantis ear evolved once approximately 120 Mya. All the other auditory system types are either varying degrees of secondary loss, or are recent innovations that each occurred independently multiple times. The neurophysiological response to ultrasound is remarkably consistent across all taxa tested, as is the multicomponent, in-flight behaviour triggered by ultrasound. Thus, mantids have an ancient, highly conserved auditory neural–behavioural system. Although ultrasonic hearing in several insect groups evolved in response to bat predation, mantis hearing predates the appearance of bats (approximately 63 Mya) and must originally have functioned in communication, prey detection, or avoidance of nonbat predators. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 94, 541–568. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: acoustic startle – bat evasion – cyclopean ear – insect ear – insect hearing – molecular phylogeny – tympanum.

An examination of Malagasy specimens accessed within the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France, produced a praying mantis (Insecta: Mantodea) of an undescribed genus and species. An investigation of the internal and external morphology, in addition to its collection locality, revealed that this specimen belongs to the Iridopterygidae subfamily Tropidomantinae. Furthermore, the specimen’s unique combination of characters justified the creation of a new genus. Geographic distributional records and external morphological character evidence are presented for Cornucollis gen. n. masoalensis sp. n. We provide a dichotomous key of the Tropidomantinae and Nilomantinae genera distributed within Madagascar. High-resolution images, illustrations of morphological characters, natural history information, and measurement data are presented.

A recent targeted entomological survey in the Republic of Rwanda has produced two conspecific male and female specimens of an undescribed species of praying mantis (Mantodea). The specimens were collected in Nyungwe National Park in May of 2013. The species is closest morphologically to Dystacta alticeps (Schaum, 1853). Therefore, a new species is described, Dystacta tigrifrutex sp. n., along with the first instar nymphs and ootheca. In addition, the previously monotypic genus Dystacta Saussure, 1871 is re-described to provide a broader definition of the genus group. Habitus images, measurement data, a key to species, natural history information, and locality data are provided.

The oriental genus Ceratomantis Wood-Mason, 1876, is revised with a new synonymy and three new species., Le genre oriental Ceratomantis Wood-Mason, 1876, est révisé avec une nouvelle synonymie et trois nouvelles espèces., Roy Roger, Svenson Gavin. Revision of the genus Ceratomantis Wood-Mason, 1876 (Dictyoptera, Mantodea). In: Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, volume 112 (4), décembre 2007. pp. 433-444.