Vision in the mantispid: a sit‐and‐wait and stalking predatory insect

Mantispids (Neuroptera: Mantispidae) are remarkable insects as a result of their close resemblance to the praying mantis (order Mantodea). Although not closely related phylogenetically, as a result of similar selective pressures, both mantispids and mantids have evolved powerful raptorial forelegs for capturing insects. Another striking feature is the hypermetamorphosis in mantispid development, as well as the parasitizing behaviour of the first‐instar larvae. The present review focuses on the role of mantispid vision. First, the morphology and functional significance of the larval eyes (stemmata) are examined. In principle, the stemmata are suitable for spatial vision because of their arrangement and structure. This is then followed by a discussion of how adult mantispids are able to capture fast‐moving insects successfully, although, in contrast to the praying mantis, mantispids rely on superposition eyes rather than on apposition eyes with a frontal region of high acuity. For both larvae and adults, comparisons are made with other insect groups. The present review also addresses the role of mantispid vision as an important cue for triggering mating behaviour; accordingly, sex‐specific differences are considered. Finally, vision in the context of orientation flight is discussed.     

Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784) – the first invasive praying mantis (Mantodea,Mantidae) in the fauna of Russia

Summary

Recent years have seen an increasing number of alien praying mantis species being introduced and establishing populations across Europe. Here we add to this count, reporting a stable and spreading population of an Asian species, Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784), in Krasnodar Krai of Southern Russia. This is the first introduced praying mantis species in the Russian fauna and the first representative of the genus Statilia Stål, 1877 in Europe. We review what is known about biology of this species and provide diagnostic characters to distinguish nymphs, adults and oothecae from native and introduced European species of praying mantis. Our attempts at captive breeding identify humidity as one of the most important factors limiting possible spread of S. maculata. Invasion to neighbouring territories and other countries with a humid subtropical climate remains a very real possibility with an unknown outcome for local ecosystems.     

Social and maintenance behaviour in two Australian ocypodid crabs (Crustacea: Brachyura)

The feeding, burrowing and fighting behaviour and courtship display of the two ocypodids Heloecius cordiformis (H. Milne Edwards) and Hemiplax latifrons (Haswell) are described from daytime observations in the field over a two-year period and from four months study under laboratory conditions. The behaviour of the two species is compared with that of other ocypodid crabs. Heloecius cordiformis and Hemiplax latifrons live intertidally in estuaries in semi-permanent burrows and feed on detritus sifted from the mud and sand by the mouth-parts. The two species each possess considerably stereotyped patterns of behaviour, particularly in relation to fighting and courtship display in which the two differ most. The courtship display of Heloecius cordiformis closely resembles that of vertically waving, narrow-fronted species of fiddler crabs (genus Uca). The fighting behaviour of Hemiplax latifrons is similar to that of the New Zealand Hemiplax hirtipes (Jacquinot) which apparently lacks courtship display.     

Prey capture in mantids: A non-stereotyped component of lunge

The praying mantis Tenodora aridifolia sinensis strikes at prey with the pincer-like motion of its prothoracic legs. During strike the mantis moves its body forward toward the prey in a lunge which is propelled by its four walking legs. Using a tethered mantis preparation we have studied the lunge produced by the movement of the walking legs. We have found that lunge is correctly oriented toward prey no matter where it moves in three-dimensional space. This demonstrates that the lunge that accompanies the strike is in this species aimed and not invariant in distance and direction as suggested for other mantids.     

It Takes Two to Tango: Relative Influence of Male and Female Identity and Morphology on Complex Courtship Display in a Newt Species

Consistency in behaviour is currently receiving a renewed interest. Although courtship display is generally consistent in terms of behavioural sequence and structure, there is also commonly important variation in the intensity of courtship display between and within males of a given species. Indeed, not all males have the same ability to perform courtship display (variation between males), and each male can potentially adjust his courtship effort in response to the environment (variation within a male). Although the study of male courtship display has received considerable attention in recent years, it is still unclear which part of the variation can be explained by male ability or motivation. We investigated this issue on two phases of the complex courtship display of the palmate newt Lissotriton helveticus. Overall, we found that both male and female identities affected courtship behaviour, but the relative influence of each sex depended on the courtship phase. Male identity explained variation in fan and creep‐quiver display, whereas female identity explained variation in creep‐quiver only. Interestingly, we did not find any link between the expression of courtship display and male or female morphological traits. Our study showed consistency of male courtship display in newts and successfully dissects the different sources of variation that can affect behavioural repeatability/consistency of courtship display.     

Behavioural evidence for a female sex pheromone in Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract.  The mating behaviour of Cotesia flavipes Cameron, 1891 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was observed under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrate that chemical stimuli play an important role in bringing males and females together for mating. Females from this species release chemical compounds to attract males, which exhibit a distinct courtship behaviour divided into three main steps: (i) antennation, (ii) lateral bouncing and (iii) wing fluttering. Ethological tests using hexane extracts from two different parts of the female's body (head plus thorax and abdomen) demonstrate that males are more attracted and also display a courtship behaviour when a filter paper containing hexane extracts from the abdomen is presented to them, indicating that the abdomen is the source of the sex pheromone of this species. Naive males of this species respond to hexane extracts of this gland by displaying courtship behaviour. Furthermore, additional tests show that C. flavipes females mate only once, whereas virgin males do not show any preference for virgin or mated females, suggesting that mated females of this species continue to produce sex attractants after mating.     

Behavioural interactions between the lizard <Emphasis Type="Italic">Takydromus tachydromoides</Emphasis> and the praying mantis <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tenodera aridifolia</Emphasis> suggest reciprocal predation between them

The Japanese lacertid lizard Takydromus tachydromoides and the praying mantis Tenodera aridifolia are sympatric generalist predators feeding on similar prey. To confirm reciprocal predation between them, we observed the behavioural interactions between the lizards and the mantises of different sizes in a laboratory condition. The lizards caught small mantises (from first to fifth instars), but sometimes escaped from large mantises (from sixth instar to adult). Large mantises occasionally showed catch responses to the lizards. The lizards sometimes caught the mantis without a tongue-flick response (sampling of chemical cues), and they sometimes did not catch the small mantises showing immobile or cryptic responses that prevent visual detection. These results suggested the primary role of vision on recognition of the mantis as a prey. The lizards spent a longer time to approach larger mantises. The time from orienting to catch was longer when the lizards showed tongue-flick responses. The lizard also spent a longer time before deciding to escape from the mantis than to catch it. Biological significance of these differences in timing was discussed.     

Stable and variable parameters in courtship songs of grasshoppers of the subfamily Gomphocerinae (Orthoptera,Acrididae)

The courtship behavior of seven grasshopper species of the subfamily Gomphocerinae from different localities of Russia, Ukraine and Greece was described. Not only the sounds but also the corresponding stridulatory movements of the hind legs and visual display accompanying the courtship song were analyzed. Comparison of the degree of variation in different courtship parameters showed that the most stable traits were the syllable and pulse periods. The potential role of stable and variable traits in the grasshopper courtship songs is discussed.     

Sexual dimorphism of auditory function and structure in praying mantises (Mantodea; Dictyoptera)

Sexual dimorphism of tympanate auditory systems in insects has bees described in only a few taxonomically isolated cases. However, widespread sexual dimorphism occurs in the ultrasound-sensitive, midline ear of the praying mantis.
In dimorphic species, it is always the female mantis that shows a reduction in ultrasonic hearing. The dimorphism may be mild—a difference in tuning and small reduction in sensitivity—or extreme with no evidence of audition in the female. In all but the mildest cases, the reduction in hearing is accompanied by significant anatomical divergence from the male ear structure. Two distinct metathoracic groove ('ear') types are linked to hearing reduction in the females.
Anatomical evidence of auditory sexual dimorphism appears in 34% of the 183 mantis genera examined. The dimorphic genera are widely but non-uniformly distributed within three of the four largest mantis families.
Auditory sexual dimorphism is closely correlated with dimorphism in wing length. In general, mantises with functional wings have sensitive ultrasonic hearing while those with short wings do not. These findings support the hypothesis that ultrasonic hearing in mantises is part of a defensive system against attack by echolocating bats.     

Comparative Studies of Reproductive Behavior in Mantis Shrimps and Fiddler Crabs

Comparative ethological studies of closely related species canplace into clear perspective the functions of behavioral traitsas species diverge and adapt to different environments. In thispaper we contrast the reproductive behavior of species withintwo crustacean groups: the mantis shrimps (stomatopods) andthe fiddler crabs (genus Uca). For the stomatopods, we identifyprobable selective relationships between features of species'ecology and their mating systems. Population density, the kindand availability of shelters in which these shrimps live, theintensity of predation and spawning cycles all play importantroles in molding reproductive behavior in this group. Associationsbetween the ecology and mating systems of fiddler crabs havebeen discussed recently elsewhere. Here we focus on a comparativeanalysis of sexual communication in these crabs. A study ofcompetitive courtship signaling and mate choice in the fiddlercrab Uca beebei has shown that certain male courtship signalsare highly attractive probably because they exploit female sensory-responsesystems that have been molded by selection for escape from predators.Interspecific comparison of male courtship displays and theresponses of females to these displays suggest that sensoryexploitation may play an important role in the evolution ofsexual signals in the genus. Comparative studies have advancedour understanding of how natural and sexual selection affectthe reproductive behavior of both stomatopods and fiddler crabs.