Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Part I Urban entomology
- Part II Insects in the urban environment
- 4 Blattaria
- 5 Coleoptera
- 6 Collembola, Dermaptera
- 7 Diptera, Ephemeroptera
- 8 Hemiptera, Homoptera
- 9 Hymenoptera
- 10 Isoptera
- 11 Lepidoptera
- 12 Mantodea, Neuroptera
- 13 Orthoptera, Phasmatodea
- 14 Phthiraptera
- 15 Plecoptera, Psocoptera
- 16 Siphonaptera
- 17 Thysanoptera, Thysanura, Trichoptera
- Part III Other arthropods in the urban environment
- Family, genus, species index
- Index
- References
12 - Mantodea, Neuroptera
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 August 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Part I Urban entomology
- Part II Insects in the urban environment
- 4 Blattaria
- 5 Coleoptera
- 6 Collembola, Dermaptera
- 7 Diptera, Ephemeroptera
- 8 Hemiptera, Homoptera
- 9 Hymenoptera
- 10 Isoptera
- 11 Lepidoptera
- 12 Mantodea, Neuroptera
- 13 Orthoptera, Phasmatodea
- 14 Phthiraptera
- 15 Plecoptera, Psocoptera
- 16 Siphonaptera
- 17 Thysanoptera, Thysanura, Trichoptera
- Part III Other arthropods in the urban environment
- Family, genus, species index
- Index
- References
Summary
MANTODEA
Introduction
Praying mantids are primarily tropical insects, and there are about 1800 species in eight families worldwide. They are characterized by an elongate prothorax and modified front legs. Front coxae are long and mobile, and the front femora and tibiae usually have strong spines, and flex for grasping prey. Legs are held in front of the head, simulating an attitude of prayer, which is the origin of the common name. They are predaceous on living insects. There may be an elaborate premating sequence, and the male usually approaches the female with caution. In some instances the female in copulation turns around and devours the participating male. Females of some species use a pheromone to attract males.
Eggs are laid in batches of 12–400 in an eggcase, which begins as a frothy liquid but hardens into a tough fibrous protective structure after the eggs have been deposited in it. The shape and placement of the eggcase are characteristic for each species. Most mantids spend the winter or tropical dry season in the egg stage; however, Empusa spp. overwinter as nymphs. There is usually one generation per year in north temperate regions, but several in the tropics. Adults and nymphs are found on trees and ornamental plants around buildings; some species fly to lights at night.
Mantidae
Species in this family are exclusively carnivorous and occur in all warm regions of the world.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Urban Insects and ArachnidsA Handbook of Urban Entomology, pp. 346 - 349Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2005
References
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Praying mantids of the United States, native and introduced. Smithsonian Inst. Rep., 1950 (1951), 339–62Google Scholar
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Prete, F. R., H. Wells, P. H. Wells, and L. E. Hurd (eds.). The Praying Mantids: Research Perspectives. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998
By dawn's early light: matutinal mating and sex attractants in a Neotropical mantid. Science, 205 (1979), 25–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frightening attitudes and floral simulations in praying mantids. Proc. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond., 14 (1939), 91–6Google Scholar
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The Megaloptera and Neuroptera of Minnesota. Am. Midl. Nat., 47 (1952), 421–34CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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Studies in Australian Neuroptera. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 40 (1915), 734–752; 41 (1916), 41–70; 41, 221–48; 41, 269–332; 43 (1918), 116–22; 43 (1919), 750–86; 43, 787–818; 44, 414–37Google Scholar
Notes on the biology of Stagmomantis carolina (Joh.) (Orthoptera, Mantidae). Bull. Brooklyn Entomol. Soc., 36 (1941), 170–7Google Scholar
and . Specificity of mantid othecae. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 40 (1947), 557–75CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Praying mantids of the United States, native and introduced. Smithsonian Inst. Rep., 1950 (1951), 339–62Google Scholar
and . Life history and population characteristics of the mantid Stagmomantis carolina (Mantodea: Mantidae). Environ. Entomol., 29 (2000), 64–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
and . Range expansion of an introduced mantid Iris oratoria and niche overlap with a native mantid, Stagmomantis limbata (Mantodea: Mantidae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 91 (1998), 422–9CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prete, F. R., H. Wells, P. H. Wells, and L. E. Hurd (eds.). The Praying Mantids: Research Perspectives. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998
By dawn's early light: matutinal mating and sex attractants in a Neotropical mantid. Science, 205 (1979), 25–7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frightening attitudes and floral simulations in praying mantids. Proc. R. Entomol. Soc. Lond., 14 (1939), 91–6Google Scholar
New antlions from the southwestern United States (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). Psyche, 63 (1956), 82–108CrossRefGoogle Scholar
and . A synopsis of Nearctic Chrysopidae with a key to the genera (Neuroptera). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash., 58 (1956), 177–202Google Scholar
and . The green lacewings of the world: a generic review (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Bull. Bri. Mus. Hist. (Entomol.), 59 (1990), 117–286Google Scholar
A revision of the Nearctic Hemerobiidae, Berothidae, Sisyridae, Polystoechotidae, and Dilaridae (Neuroptera). Proc. Am. Acad. Arts Sci., 74 (1940), 193–280CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faulkner, D. K. Current knowledge of the biology of the moth lacewing Oliances clara Banks (Insecta: Neuroptera: Itonidae). Advances in Neuropterology. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium. Neuropterology, 197–203
Flint, O. S., Jr. Neuroptera. In Hurlbert S. H. (ed.) Biota Acutica de Sudamerica Austral. San Diego, CA: San Diego State University
Notes and keys to the Neuroptera of Missouri. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 40 (1947), 123–36CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Systematics of the dobsonfly subfamily Cordalidae (Megaloptera: Cordalidae). Syst. Entomol., 6 (1981), 253–90CrossRefGoogle Scholar
and . Notes on the development of some Indian Ascalaphidae and Myrmeleonidae. Rec. Ind. Mus., 6 (1911), 101–10Google Scholar
On the life history of Croce filipennis Westw. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., 11 (1911), 151–60CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Contribution to the knowledge of the Hemerobiidae of Western North America (Neuroptera). Proc. US Nat. Mus., 116 (1965), 205–22CrossRefGoogle Scholar
The Megaloptera and Neuroptera of Minnesota. Am. Midl. Nat., 47 (1952), 421–34CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neuroptera of the Amazon Basin. Pt. 7 Corydalidae. Acta Amazonica, 12 (1983), 825–37CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Studies in Australian Neuroptera. Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. W., 40 (1915), 734–752; 41 (1916), 41–70; 41, 221–48; 41, 269–332; 43 (1918), 116–22; 43 (1919), 750–86; 43, 787–818; 44, 414–37Google Scholar