Where and how praying mantises winter. Common mantis: habitat, color, photo
Praying mantises are large insects with a narrow, elongated body. Born predators and masters of camouflage, they ambush their prey, blending completely into the foliage and branches. By exterminating phytophagous insects, they benefit agriculture. The common praying mantis is a typical representative of the order of praying mantises, living in Europe. A characteristic feature of insects is their front legs, equipped with tools for grasping and holding prey. There are sharp spikes on the thighs and lower legs, which, like a trap, catch an unwary victim. Many people know about the mating cannibalism of praying mantises. This amazing feature has become a source of inspiration for writing scary stories and making films.
Description of the species
The common praying mantis (Mantisreligiosa) belongs to the order Praying Mantis, which includes 2,800 species. The insect's body is narrow and elongated. Males grow up to 43-52 mm, females are much larger - 50-75 mm. An anatomical feature of mantises is the structure of the forelimbs. Grasping legs with spiny elongated femurs and tibiae are designed for holding prey. The thigh and lower leg in a ligament function on the principle of scissors. On the inside of the coxae of the forelimbs there is a dark spot with a white mark in the middle.
Interesting fact. Despite the fact that females are larger than males, males have longer antennae and larger eyes.
The head is triangular, mobile, the insect is able to look back. On the sides there are large, convex compound eyes. In European mantises they have a black pupil. On the forehead there are long filamentous antennae and three simple ocelli. The mouthparts of the gnawing type are directed downward. The common mantis has two pairs of well-developed wings. Light males and young females are capable of flying over considerable distances.
The fore wings are narrow and leathery, they replace the elytra. The hind wings are wide, and when at rest they are folded on the back like a fan. The pronotum expands in the upper part, but never covers the head. The abdomen is elongated, soft, consists of 10 segments. On the last segment there are appendages - cerci. There are 10 pairs of spiracles on the sides of the body.
The color type of the common mantis is protective. Body color can be green (in 80% of cases), yellow, light or dark brown. Camouflage coloring allows you to blend in with the environment. When the insect is motionless, it completely mimics foliage or a twig. Camouflage serves two functions: it allows you to hunt from ambush and hide from enemies.
Information. When attacked by an enemy, the mantis opens its wings to increase in size. It sways from side to side and raises its front legs and the edge of its abdomen threateningly. All actions are aimed at scaring away the aggressor. If the enemy is too large, the mantis flies away.
History of the name
The scientific name of the species in Latin is Mantisreligiosa. The word mantis is translated “priest”, “prophet”, religiosa - “religious”. Carl Linnaeus did not choose the name by chance; when awaiting prey, the common mantis or the religious mantis folds its shins into the groove of its thighs. His pose resembles a man frozen in prayer.
Distribution area
The Mantisreligiosa species is thermophilic and cannot be found beyond the 50th parallel. The northern border of distribution in Europe runs through southern Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and France. The common praying mantis is often found in southern European regions, on the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, in Sudan, and in the Middle East. Predatory insects were brought to remote parts of the world - New Guinea, the USA, and the south of Canada was partially inhabited. Climate warming is promoting the expansion of the habitat to the north. Adult Mantisreligiosa is recorded in Belarus and Latvia, where it did not live before. In Russia, insects live in large numbers on the Black Sea coast, in the Crimea and the Caucasus.
Lifestyle
The praying mantis lives and hunts like a typical ambush hunter. The predator freezes until the prey is within reach. It grabs prey with its front legs and starts eating from the head. Males are careful in choosing hunting objects; they attack flies, locusts and other small insects. Large females often attack victims almost equal in size to them. Aggressive individuals attack lizards, birds, and frogs. They jump on the reptile's back and bite its head. The fight continues for several minutes, in the process the hunter can become the victim. If the outcome is successful, the prey is eaten within 2-3 hours. The female remains well fed for up to 4-5 days.
You can meet Mantisreligiosa in the forest, steppe herbs, and meadows. Insects do not even avoid large cities, where they have adapted to live in grass, parks and gardens. The favorite habitats of the common mantis are tall trees and bushes. Insects prefer a sedentary lifestyle. They do not leave their usual territory, they move between tiers. For movement, four limbs are used, less often wings.
Given enough food, they spend their entire lives on one plant. Insects have excellent vision; they detect the slightest movement in the environment. Camouflage coloring allows you to get closer to your prey unnoticed. Hunting takes place during the daytime. All soft tissues of the prey are eaten, leaving chitinous legs and wings. How long a common mantis lives depends on the amount of food and gender. The age of females is longer; on average, representatives of the species live 2-3 months in natural conditions. In captivity, the life expectancy of insects increases several times and is 12-13 months.
Like any insect, the praying mantis has many natural enemies. It is hunted by birds, snakes, small mammals, and bats. The arthropod runs slowly and takes off heavily. Its terrifying dance with its wings spread like a fan scares off only inexperienced young birds. For other large hunters, the mantis is easy prey.
Meaning in nature
The biological significance of the common mantis is associated with its lifestyle. He is a predator that destroys harmful insects. Adults and larvae eat phytophages on trees and shrubs. Attempts have been made more than once to organize the protection of agricultural lands with the help of praying mantises. Large-scale plans to use predators as biological weapons against pests have not been successful, but many farmers buy Mantisreligiosa oothecae. They are placed in gardens to safely kill aphids and thrips.
Sexual dimorphism of insects is clearly expressed in the sizes of male and female individuals.
The sexual behavior of insects is closely studied by scientists. Relations between partners are divided into two stages:
- pre-court;
- pairing.
In temperate climates, the breeding season is August–September. At the end of the abdomen of males there are sensitive olfactory organs - cerci. With their help, insects capture the pheromones of females. The courtship process involves carefully approaching the object of passion. The male slowly and carefully moves towards the female, trying to go around her from behind. When she turns her head, she freezes in place, taking advantage of the fact that mantises do not react to motionless figures. Courtship takes several hours, but allows you to remain alive until mating.
Having reached a potential partner, the male jumps on her back. It supports itself with its legs, placing them in special grooves on the sides of the female’s mesothorax. In this safe position, he begins copulation. The process can last 4-5 hours. In 50% of cases the male manages to escape. Having run away from his partner to a safe distance, he freezes for several minutes. This is necessary for relaxation.
Praying mantises are insects with incomplete metamorphosis. The development of an individual occurs in 3 stages: egg, larva, imago. 10-11 days after fertilization, the female common mantis lays eggs. The masonry is 100-300 pieces. A sticky secretion is released along with the eggs. After the liquid hardens, an ootheca is formed - a protective capsule in which the masonry is not exposed to external influences. The ootheca is yellow or brown in color and is attached to branches or stones. The eggs remain overwintering.
Larvae
The offspring of praying mantises appear in the spring. The larvae are born with many spines on the body and two filaments on the abdomen. The spines help the young to get out of the capsule. The larvae hang on the tail threads, this is how the first molt occurs. They will have to go through 4 more molts before they mature. Wingless larvae are similar in appearance to adults. They feed on fruit flies, aphids, and thrips.
Cannibalism during mating
During the breeding season, under the influence of sex hormones, the aggressiveness of females increases. The partner is in danger if the female has been fasting for 2-3 days. She may attack the male before copulation. This will provide the necessary nutrients, plus the size of the prey is larger than regular insects. The partner runs the risk of dying during mating; loss of the head does not affect copulation. Eating the male after accepting the spermatophore has the same reasons. The female praying mantis provides nutrition for future offspring, increasing the chances of producing a large number of eggs.
Interesting fact. Males choose large, well-fed females to mate with, this reduces the risk of being eaten during fertilization.
The domestic praying mantis is an exotic pet that can live at home for about a year. Insects are smart, sociable, and quite large in size. To house your pet you will need a terrarium. They come in two types: plastic and glass. The second option is preferable. Air access is provided by a mesh lid. The length of the dwelling should be 3 times the size of the praying mantis’ body.
The heat-loving insect requires a temperature of 22-26°C. It can be maintained with a special heater or a lamp installed near the container. Recommended humidity 40-60%. Maintained by daily spraying of the substrate. It is not necessary to install a drinking bowl; moisture on the walls of the terrarium is enough. The pet is picked up without fear; the more often the contact occurs, the sooner it gets used to the person.
Sand or coconut sawdust is poured onto the bottom as a substrate. Twigs and driftwood are placed inside for the insect to crawl on. An important nuance when keeping several common mantises is placing them in different containers. This will prevent cannibalism, which is typical for the species. Food for the predator includes grasshoppers, flies, locusts, crickets, and cockroaches. Pets are fed every 2-3 days. Depending on the size, 1-3 food insects are given at a time. By launching the prey inside the container, you can watch the hunt.
Security measures
Despite the widespread distribution of insects in some regions of Russia, the common mantis is listed in the Red Book. It is classified as a rare species in the Chelyabinsk, Voronezh, Kurgan, Belgorod and Lipetsk regions. The number of insects has decreased as a result of plowing, grass burning, continuous hayfields, and the use of pesticides in cultivating fields. In the habitats of mantises, economic activity is limited. To protect the species, plowing land, grazing livestock, using pesticides, killing or capturing insects is prohibited. In Germany, the common mantis is included in the Red List as a declining species. It cannot be caught in the wild and kept at home as a pet.
Praying mantises are predominantly large insects with an elongated body of a very unique structure. Their very mobile head with large bulging eyes is almost triangular in shape and its gnawing-type mouthparts are directed downward and slightly backward. Antennae with many segments are usually filamentous, but in some species they are feathery or comb-like. There are 3 simple eyes located above the base of the antennae. Of all the sections of the chest, the anterior one is especially strongly developed, bearing the grasping limbs characteristic of mantises. Their structure is so unique that just by one front leg one can easily distinguish representatives of this order from all other insects. In the front leg of the praying mantis, the coxa is greatly elongated: it is slightly shorter than the femur. The thigh is long and along the lower edge is seated with 3 rows of strong spines. The tibia is shorter than the thigh and is also lined with sharp spines along the lower edge; the tarsus is thin, 5-segmented, and does not differ from the tarsi on the other legs. The thigh and lower leg, folding together, form a powerful grasping apparatus that functions like scissors.
Most praying mantises have well-developed both pairs of wings, with the front ones being narrower and more dense; they perform the function of elytra. The hind wings are wide, membranous, in a calm state they fold like a fan and are covered with elytra. However, there are also completely wingless, larval-like species, such as, for example, those living in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, earth mantis(Geomantis larvoides). The abdomen of mantises is elongated, 10-segmented, soft, usually slightly flattened, with multi-segmented long cerci.
This characteristic body structure of the praying mantis clearly indicates very subtle adaptations to the predatory lifestyle that these insects lead. In their behavior, they represent a classic example of “lurking predators,” otherwise called “Westerners.”
The mantis, lying in wait for prey, sits in the thickness of the grass or among the leaves of a bush, raising its pronotum and front legs upward, the tibia of which are inserted into the thighs, like the blade of a penknife (Table 25). The mantis owes its name to this characteristic pose. The insect sits motionless, as if frozen in “prayerful ecstasy.” Only his head is in motion: it constantly turns from side to side, looking for prey. But now the victim is discovered; The praying mantis begins its hunt. he creeps up to her with slow, barely noticeable movements and then, quickly throwing his front legs forward, grabs her, pinching her between his thigh and lower leg. When the prey is eaten, the mantis again assumes a “prayer pose” in anticipation of the next victim.
A wide variety of insects serve as food for praying mantises, and its composition depends mainly on which insects are found more often during hunting; Only in young larvae is there a predominance of a certain type of food in the food ration, namely aphids. Praying mantises are very voracious and eat a huge number of insects during their lives. Yes, male larva tree mantis(Hierodula tenuidentata) ate 147 alfalfa aphids, 41 fruit flies and 266 house flies during its 85 days of development. Being unpretentious in their choice of food, mantises show a tendency towards cannibalism, which is observed even in young larvae when they are raised together. There are known cases when female praying mantises, which are generally more voracious, ate males during mating or immediately after it.
A praying mantis sitting in ambush during a hunt is made invisible not only by its motionless pose, but also by the very shape of its body and coloring. Among mantises there are species that live on trees and resemble bark in appearance; others are rod-shaped. Various cases of imitation of lichens, leaves or flowers have been observed.
Body coloring is usually protective in nature. Green, yellow and brown tones predominate. Within the same species there may be individuals that differ in color. U common mantis(Mantis religiosa) three color forms are observed: green, yellow and brown. Observations in nature show that green individuals are usually found on vegetative vegetation, and brown ones are usually found on plants that burn out from the sun after the growing season. To clarify the beneficial role of such colors in the common praying mantis, many special experiments were carried out in which differently colored individuals were placed on different backgrounds - corresponding and inappropriate to their coloring. These experiments showed that mantises kept on a background that does not match their coloration are eaten in greater numbers by birds than those kept on a background that matches their coloration.
When disturbed, mantises can take threatening poses, which in some species are very original. For example, this pose is peculiar in the praying mantis Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi, which lives in East Africa, which raises the elytra above its back like two signal flags, where on the underside bright, large eye spots appear that are sharply conspicuous.
A threatening posture may be accompanied by intimidating sounds, as is the case with Sarawakian mantis(Hestiasula sarawaka), living on the island of Kalimantan (Borneo). In this mantis, all parts of the body visible from above at rest are gray or brown in color. When irritated, the insect spreads its front legs and moves both pairs of wings to the side. At the same time, all the brightly colored surfaces of the body protrude outward: bright crimson coxae of the front legs, yellow thighs with a black border, and black wings with yellow spots. At the same time, the mantis begins to sway from side to side, rustling its wings and clicking the shin of its front leg on its thigh.
Currently, about 2000 species of mantises are known, most of which are distributed in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres. Only a few species go beyond the subtropics, living in deserts and even steppes.
In the USSR, there are only about 20 species of praying mantises, belonging to only two families. Most of our species are part of the family real praying mantises(Mantidae), which are characterized by the typical structure of a triangular head bearing thread-like antennae. Of these, the most widely known common mantis(Mantis religiosa, table 25, 2) is a large insect, green or brownish-yellow in color, with well-developed elytra and wings. The latter are glassy-transparent and greenish or brownish only along the anterior edge and at the apex. On the inside of the coxae of the front legs there is a black spot, often with a light eye in the center. Females, 48-76 mm long, are significantly larger than males (40-61 mm).
The common mantis is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, reaching as far north as 54° north latitude; in the south of the African continent - to the Transvaal and the Cape Land. Thanks to man, it has now expanded far beyond its range, having been brought by trading ships to North America and Australia.
The common mantis overwinters in the form of diapausing eggs, the laying of which begins in summer and extends until late autumn. It proceeds, like all praying mantises, in a rather peculiar way. The female begins laying eggs soon after mating; at the same time, she sits calmly on a stone or plant stem, only slowly bending forward. At this time, a sticky liquid emerges from the ovipositor along with the eggs, which, enveloping the eggs, soon hardens, forming a characteristic capsule (ootheca) about 3 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide. The color of the ootheca varies from light yellow to brown or gray. The ootheca is flattened above and below and consists of transverse chambers divided by partitions into small compartments, each of which contains an oblong egg. The number of eggs in a clutch ranges from 100 to 300. At the upper end of the ootheca there is a special blade in which the exit from the capsule is located. The eggs remain in such a capsule until spring and can withstand temperatures down to -18°C.
In the spring, the eggs hatch into larvae that differ from adults not only in body size, but also in the features of its structure. The entire surface of the larva's body is covered with small spines directed backwards; at the end of the abdomen there are two long filaments. First contracting and then stretching, the larva gradually escapes from the egg chamber and moves to the outlet of the ootheca, and in this movement the spinules provide significant assistance to it, making it difficult to slide back. The larva squeezes through the exit hole and climbs out, but it does not succeed in doing this completely, since the elastic edges of the hole, contracting, clamp the tail filaments. In this position, the larva begins to molt. Having freed itself from the old outer coverings, it becomes similar to an adult praying mantis, but only with rudimentary wings, and begins to lead an independent life. The larva grows very quickly and, after molting 4 more times, turns into an adult insect. Already in summer you can find adult mantises sitting in “ambush” on herbaceous plants or on the branches of bushes.
The Central Asian mantis is very similar to the common mantis tree mantis(Hierodula tenuidentata, table 25, 2), known from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, as well as from India. It can be distinguished primarily by the presence of a sharp, opaque white spot on each elytra. In the common mantis, this spot (stigma) is indistinct and light green. The tree mantis, as its name emphasizes, is associated with tree-shrub vegetation and is most often found in floodplains of rivers, along the valleys of which it rises high into the mountains - up to 1700 m above sea level. Hatching of larvae in Tajikistan begins in mid-May and proceeds with 8 molts. Adult mantises live about 55-60 days. The tree mantis is one of our most voracious species. Its young larvae feed on aphids, and adult forms feed on various large insects: bugs, dipterans and especially orthoptera. Sometimes in tugai forests it is found in very large quantities - up to 50 specimens per tree. It is estimated that in this case, mantises sitting on a tree during their development period destroy insects and other animals weighing a total of 1150-1300 g.
Unlike most species of mantises, which spend most of their time on plants, rivetina (Rivetina baetica and other species, table 25, 4) are often found in deserts or mountains in areas with sparse vegetation, moving quickly across open rocky ground in search of victims. The gray coloration of the body of the rivetina and its larva matches the background. The larvae of Rivetina are especially interesting: with their body raised high above the ground on thin long legs, they scurry about fussily, reminiscent of ants in their habits.
The smallest of our praying mantises are baby praying mantis(Armene, table 25, 5). Their length is only about 1/2 cm. They also live in deserts and also have a grayish color that harmonizes with the background. Particularly interesting among them is the short-winged species Armene breviptera, found in the mountains of Tajikistan at altitudes from 2300 to 2700 m. This rare tiny praying mantis lives on the slopes of southern exposure, where it hides under stones.
In species empusa family(Empusidae) the head has a conical process protruding forward, sometimes forked at the end, and the antennae in males are feathery. This characteristic structure of the head gives originality to the entire appearance of the empusa. The famous French naturalist Fabre wrote: “Among the insects of our countries there is no more strange creature. This is some kind of ghost, a devilish ghost... The pointed physiognomy of the empusa looks not just cunning: it would be useful to Mephistopheles.”
The praying mantis insect lives in almost all corners of the globe; in total there are more than 2,000 thousand species of these huge predatory insects of various colors.
During the mating season, the female mantis, like a female, eats her partner during mating or after copulation.
Appearance
The body length of a male can reach 40 - 52, and that of a female from 47 to 80 mm. Body color can be not only green, but also yellow and brown-gray.
There are hooks on the forelimbs, the head is triangular in shape, and the eyes are pronounced. On the back of the head there are antennae 5-7 cm long.
Due to its coloring and body shape (rod-shaped), resembling a flower or a plant twig, it can go unnoticed by potential victims. There are species that do not have wings, but some of them have two pairs.
The oral apparatus is capable of tearing off pieces of the victim's flesh and gnaw it. The abdomen is elongated and ovoid in shape. The hind limbs and wings are well developed.
The female uses her wings reluctantly, since its size is impressive and it is difficult for it to take off, while the male, on the contrary, very often changes its location thanks to short flights from one place to another.
Habitat
Habitat
For a comfortable existence and reproduction, the insect prefers to live in places such as:
- Tropics;
- Deserts;
- Mountainous terrain;
- African savannas;
- Rainforests;
Green meadows are the most favorite place for them, as a huge variety of insects live there, which can be hunted.
Lifestyle
Their penchant for cannibalism forces them to live alone. Possessing a well-honed skill in camouflage, he can sneak up on the victim unnoticed, then grab him with his long limbs, leaving him no chance of salvation.
Clutching it between the thigh and lower leg, he tries to quickly extinguish the resistance of the prey by biting into the vital organs with his ferocious jaws capable of gnawing flesh. When absorbing food, hooks located on the inner part of the forelimbs help him hold his prey.
The female praying mantis is larger than the male, so it can hunt not only insects, but also small birds.
Nutrition
Their diet is varied, the daily menu may include the following:
As you already understand, this list can be continued, it should be noted that praying mantises are very voracious insects, so they do not stop eating throughout the day.
Reproduction
The habitat affects the mating season; in the tropics it can take place all year round, and in areas with a temperate climate it usually begins in the first ten days of June.
The mating process for each male may be the last. Only the lazy have never heard of the pairing of these insects. During or after copulation, the female tries to eat her partner, but sometimes they still manage to escape from the irritated person.
In 50% of cases, she does this in order to replenish her body with a sufficient amount of protein, since the process at the initial stage of egg development is energy-consuming.
Literally after some time, the female makes several clutches, each of which can contain from 50 to 200 eggs. Before laying, it secretes a special liquid of light yellow or brownish color, after which the liquid dries and turns into a protected capsule.
Often such bags of masonry can be seen hanging on fences, poles, tree branches and grass. On the top of the capsule there is an exit from it.
Some species of mantises prefer to spend the winter in the egg stage. In early spring, after 3 - 6 weeks, the larvae hatch from them, at first they resemble ants. After 4 or 5 molts, they take on the true appearance of their parents.
Immediate family
The closest species to this insect are: crickets and cockroaches.
Lifespan
According to scientists, praying mantises can live for about a year.
Defense
They have quite a lot of enemies, mainly birds, snakes and small rodents. During an attack, the insect can defend itself with its front legs, on which hooks are located. Hooks can cause serious injury to the enemy, including humans.
But this method will work if it is large; small mantises can use their color as protection. In South-West Asia and Africa there live individuals whose coloring resembles a flower or leaves, thanks to which they can suddenly release their wings, stand in a pose and scare off a predator.
- Some scientists suggest that during mating, the female praying mantis must bite off the male's head so that he can release sperm and fertilize her.
- According to the data shared by scientists; Cannibalism among insects of this species living in captivity is much more common than among individuals living in the wild.
- Its body is considered to be rod-shaped.
- He can fix himself with his limbs raised and stand there for several hours, moving only his head.
- The brightest representatives of this species live in tropical forests in Southeast Asia and Africa.
- The males of some species prefer to impregnate the female while she is eating, so as not to fall into the merciless jaws themselves.
Praying mantises are predatory insects that received such an interesting name for the special “prayerful” pose they take while tracking down prey. Quite a long time ago they were classified as cockroaches due to the similarity of characteristics, but over time they were separated into a separate detachment of Bogomolovs.
External characteristics of mantises
There are more than 2 thousand species of mantises on the planet, and they all differ radically in color and lifestyle. How to determine the type of praying mantis? In terms of external features, representatives of the Bogomolov order have many similar characteristics: a small triangular head, very mobile, with well-developed eyes, a narrow body, articulated limbs.
The existing front wings, equipped with an intricate pattern, are often used by insects for protection; in case of approaching danger, they open them wide, thereby scaring away the enemy. Transparent rear wings are required for flight. Sometimes completely wingless or short-winged specimens are found. How to determine what species praying mantises are?
Insect specificity
The most specific feature of such a unique insect is its color, which matches the color of individual elements of its habitat: stones, grass, flowers, tree leaves. The most common praying mantises are yellow and brown and green in color, which accounts for 80% of their total number. It is almost impossible to see a motionless mantis in the natural environment. An insect can only reveal its presence by movement.
The mantis moves slowly, but in case of danger it is able to very quickly move to a safe distance and freeze in place again. Because the favorite pose of such a unique insect is expectant. Like spiders, praying mantises are ambushers, ready to wait patiently for days on end for an unwary mosquito.
Praying mantises lead a solitary lifestyle. They are more active during the day, as potential victims are tracked visually. It is precisely because of the long wait that the overwhelming number of insects have, and some specimens have, a special body shape. For example, species of praying mantises that live in grass are painted green and resemble a blade of grass; brown-colored insects look like dry twigs. In the praying mantis Choerododis stalii, tiny spots on the body imitate damage to the leaf blade of the plant. Tropical species of mantises that wait for their prey in flowers have a curved abdomen and flat lobes on their feet, reminiscent of flower petals.
It is especially striking in its adaptability to natural colors, which at a young age is white, but as it matures it becomes pink, completely indistinguishable from a flower.
Mantis: the most common species
The most common are
In Russia, species of such insects are found mostly in steppe regions, as well as in southern Siberia, the North Caucasus, the Far East, South Africa, Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The tree mantis of the genus Hierodula and the spotted-winged mantis (Iris polystictica) also live there.
In the southern regions of Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus, the Empusa mantis has adapted, characterized by its large size (about 6.5 cm in length), a pointed triangular head and a long protruding outgrowth in front.
Preferring open bushy spaces, it is most active in the dark. The larvae appear in the summer and immediately switch to feeding on butterflies and fillies. In the southern regions of Russia, a praying mantis from the genus Bolivaria is often found.
By the way, bolivarians, spotted-winged mantises and empusas in some places become rare representatives of the animal world due to the destruction of dense herbs when plowing steppe lands.
Desert species of mantises, whose names are difficult for the average person to remember, are characterized by their small size and similarity to ants in the process of movement. Prominent representatives are rivetina (Rivetina and Armena).
Habitat
The praying mantis can live both on the upper tiers of trees and shrubs, and at the very surface of the earth, in the grass. Thanks to its well-developed wings, the insect can fly, and only males fly. Given enough food, a praying mantis can live in a tree for the rest of its life.
Being heat-loving by nature, mantises feel most comfortable in the tropical and subtropical zones. It is there, in humid forests, that the largest number of varieties of such insects is found. In cold climates, predators tend to inhabit the warmest regions: dry meadows and steppes.
Nutritional Features
Almost all species of mantises feed on insects; representatives of the tropics prefer lizards and frogs. In a day, the praying mantis is able to eat 7 small cockroaches, spending about half an hour chewing each one. In the process of eating, he is consistent: first he chews the soft parts, and then moves on to the harder ones. The norm of life for them is cannibalism, which sometimes manifests itself at the most inopportune moment.
It has been noticed that after mating, it often eats its chosen one. In order not to end up in the stomach of his lady, the partner performs a ritual dance before the act of intercourse, setting the female up for a peaceful mood.
Mating of tropical mantises occurs year-round; species of temperate mantises unite in a single impulse in the autumn. The female is capable of laying up to four hundred eggs several times. Choose any suitable surface for the masonry: grass stems, tree branches, sand. The female dips each clutch into a foamy mass, which, when hardened, forms a gray, brown or sand-colored capsule. Egg maturation lasts from 3 weeks to six months. In temperate climate species, the eggs survive the winter. Mantis nymphs differ from adult insects only in the absence of wings; the body shape is exactly the same, as is the gluttony. Adult individuals develop very quickly and in the process of growing up can survive about fifty molts.
Intimidate the enemy
Praying mantises are peace-loving insects, but in the face of approaching danger they take an unfriendly “hunting” pose. To make them more intimidating, they can make sounds: rustle their wings, click their legs. If this does not have any effect on the enemy, they fly away or rush at the enemy and bite him. Moreover, in an attack on the enemy, in an attempt to prick him, he puts forward his grasping legs. Chameleons, snakes, and birds are considered enemies of praying mantises. Today, mantises are becoming increasingly popular and sought-after animals in home insectariums.
Praying Mantises ( Mantodea) - a special order of insects. In a number of features (the structure of the abdomen, wings, the production of special capsules-ootheca for eggs) they are similar to cockroaches - based on these characteristics they were sometimes even combined into one order. But in their lifestyle and behavior, praying mantises are not at all similar to cockroaches - they are active predators living alone.
The praying mantis is known for its "prayer pose" with its front legs folded over its chest. These legs are grasping, with sharp spines, and open like a penknife. Quickly throwing them forward, the mantis deftly captures the prey.
In total, about 2 thousand species of mantises are known. Large tropical species are capable of attacking small lizards, birds, and frogs. But an ordinary mantis 6 cm in size can kill and eat a lizard 10 cm long in 3 hours and digest it in 6 days. At this time he doubles in weight. But the usual food of praying mantises is insects.
Praying mantises have a camouflage color - matching the color of the trees, grass, flowers, sticks, stones, leaves among which they live. A motionless mantis in its natural environment is almost impossible to notice. Only movement can give it away. The praying mantis usually moves very slowly, but if there is obvious danger, it can crawl away quite quickly - and freeze again in a new place. When clearly attacked, this insect behaves differently - it opens its wings, increasing its size, and begins to swing, trying to scare its enemies. A number of tropical species make sounds at the same time - the rustling of wings, the clicking of legs. Some mantises have contrasting spots on their wings that are hidden when at rest. But when the wings spread, these spots, like someone’s large eyes, suddenly appear in front of the enemy, frightening him. In addition, the attacked mantis throws its open grasping legs forward, trying to prick the enemy with its spines.
Praying mantis Pseudocreoborta wahlbergi in a threatening pose
Praying mantises are primarily inhabitants of the tropics or subtropics. Most widely distributed common mantis (Mantis religiosa): from South Africa to Central Asia, the Caucasus, the south of central Russia - approximately to the line of Kursk, Bryansk, Orel, Belgorod. But along the northern borders of its distribution, the praying mantis is rare. For example, near Kiev we observed it 1–4 times a year, and near Kharkov - even less often, occasionally. But already on the Black Sea coast, in Crimea, in the Caucasus, this is a fairly common insect. The common mantis is found in southern Siberia, Kazakhstan and the Russian Far East. With ships, this species also came to Australia and the USA, and is now found there even in large cities, for example in New York.
We also had unexpected encounters with a praying mantis: either it flew into the window of a house, or it sat on the sidewalk of a city street, at a trolleybus stop. But still, the usual habitat of this insect in the city is close to natural: dense thickets of grass, bushes, trees in parks and botanical gardens.
The common praying mantis has three color forms: green, yellow and brown - to match the color of the environment where it lives. We encountered mostly green mantises – up to 80% of encounters. It is possible that the color of this insect also varies across areas of distribution, depending on the area in which which colors of the vegetation predominate.
You can meet the common praying mantis both in the grass and on the branches of bushes and trees. These insects have well-developed wings, but we observed only males flying. They fly especially actively at night, although they can fly from tree to tree during the day. But usually the mantis does not strive to move - if there is food, the tree mantis can live its entire life on one tree or bush, even on one large branch.
The praying mantis has a movable triangular head with developed eyes. He looks around carefully, he is attracted by every slightest movement nearby. Noticing a moving small object, a hungry mantis begins to slowly move towards it and, approaching, grabs it with its hunting legs and eats it. The mantis can catch small insects, motionless waiting for them in ambush, using its protective coloration. But the mantis actively pursues large prey, equal or even larger in size, for example an adult locust, crawls towards it openly, tries to jump onto its back and grabs it, first of all by the head. After which he immediately begins to eat, also from the head.
Stationary objects do not cause any reactions in mantises; they only catch moving prey (similar behavior can be seen in many spiders). But the mantis necessarily reacts to a moving object. In experiments, these insects even tried to catch the image of a colored square moving on a white screen.
If a large object that suddenly appears nearby is too large, the mantis may display a defensive reaction - then it spreads its wings and throws its legs forward with a special repulsive movement, trying to put their sharp ends and spines forward. A well-fed, weakened or old mantis also repels insects approaching it, which in other conditions would become its prey.
The praying mantis is gluttonous. The larvae eat 5–6 aphids, fruit flies, and house flies per day; An adult insect can eat 7-8 cockroaches about a centimeter in length in a row, spending about half an hour on each. Having caught a cockroach, the mantis begins to gnaw its soft parts, especially the abdomen, and finally the harder parts, in particular the head. All that remains of the cockroach are wings, sometimes pieces of legs, and the mantis eats soft insects almost without a trace.
The breeding season of praying mantises in temperate climates extends from August to September. At this time, males begin to migrate in search of females. At the end of the abdomen of mantises there are special outgrowths - cerci, they are organs of smell. In males, the cerci are better developed and, perhaps, help in finding partners.
It is widely believed that a larger and more voracious female praying mantis will definitely eat the male upon meeting. However, in reality this is not always the case. Having noticed the female, the male praying mantis carefully and very slowly, with frequent long stops, freezing, begins to approach her, swaying slightly. At this time, the female can catch prey, eat, and clean herself. If she notices the male’s movement and turns her head towards him, he immediately freezes for a long time. This approach and contact can last 5–6 hours. As a rule, the male tries to approach the female from behind, from the back - this is the most successful and safe way for him. But if he approaches from the side, the female often notices him and attacks. Hungry females are the most aggressive; a well-fed insect reacts sluggishly to moving objects, and this also helps the male protect himself from attack. Positioning itself at the back of the female and quickly leaving after the meeting, the male praying mantis often remains alive. So cannibalism among these creatures is not such an obligatory phenomenon as previously thought.
When laying eggs, the fertilized female simultaneously secretes a special sticky liquid. Enveloping the eggs and hardening, this liquid forms a capsule - an ootheca, in the middle of which there are 100-300 eggs. Oootheca sticks to plants or stones, it is quite hard, retains the moisture inside the eggs necessary for the development and protects them from negative external influences. The eggs of the common mantis in the ooteca can withstand short-term frosts down to –18 °C.
Eggs of praying mantises from the south of central Europe apparently require temporary cooling—winter diapause—to develop. When breeding in captivity, it is often enough to keep the praying mantis eggs in the refrigerator for a month at a temperature of 0... +3 °C. But in the tropics, the development of mantis eggs occurs without diapause.
The newborn mantis larva has long filaments at the end of the abdomen and many backward-pointing spines on the body. These spines help her crawl out of the ootheca. But the tail filaments of the larva are pinched by the edges of the egg capsule - then the larva immediately molts, leaves the old skin and becomes similar to an adult mantis, only small and wingless. It has a protective coloration, but compared to adult insects it is very mobile.
At first, the larvae feed on small thrips and aphids, then, as they grow, they move on to fruit flies and larger flies. When kept in captivity, in a limited space, mantis larvae actively attack each other. But in nature they manage to spread out before it comes to mutual destruction.
In Europe and Central Asia, praying mantis larvae usually appear in April–May. After about two and a half months, having moulted 5 times, they turn into adult insects. After another 10–14 days, males begin to look for females.
An adult insect lives 55–60 days. Males usually die earlier than females - after the breeding season they become lethargic and stop hunting. The male praying mantis, caught in the wild as an adult, died in our captivity by the end of September, and the female died in October. Even when optimal conditions are created, with an abundance of food, warmth and light, mantises die during October, depending on the time of their birth in the spring. That is, the life span of 2 months allotted to an adult insect is very strict. The old mantis develops dark brown spots on its body, and its bright green color fades. A chemical analysis of the insect’s body during this period reveals the disappearance of vital amino acids in the body, in particular valine, leucine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine, etc. Adding these amino acids to the food and water for the mantis, as well as vitamins A, D, E and a complex of B vitamins extends its life until the end of December, that is, by 2–3 months compared to the usual period.
In addition to the usual, in the Crimea, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, the Southern Volga region, southern Siberia, Kazakhstan and Central Asia spotted wing mantis (Iris polystictica). In the south of the steppe strip you can find praying mantises of the genus Bolivaria, and in Central Asia - tree mantises Hierodula.
Empusa (Empusa) are found in southern Europe, the Caucasus and Transcaucasia, Central Asia and southern Kazakhstan. These mantises have a very characteristic appearance: a triangular head with a pointed end and a special outgrowth sticking out in front - in this way they resemble little devils. These rather large insects (females reach 6.5 cm, males are slightly smaller) are generally similar to the common mantis, but slimmer, with a thinner abdomen. Male empusas have developed feathery antennae, which indicates their good perception of odors. Species of this genus are very active at night. Their larvae appear in the summer and are noticeably larger than the larvae of other mantises, so they immediately begin to feed on small flies (rather than thrips and aphids), and quickly switch to feeding on fillies and butterflies. Unlike a number of other mantises, empusas overwinter not with eggs in the ooteca, but with already grown larvae and even adults.
In addition to plant-living mantises, desert species are also found in Central Asia. They are small in size, stick to sand and rocks, and move quickly in search of prey. Their movements are similar to ants. These are, for example, rivetins ( Rivetina). Baby praying mantises from the armen family ( Armena) have a size of about 1.5 cm and are found not only in deserts, but also in the mountains, at an altitude of up to 2.7 km, where they hide under stones. Desert and mountain species of mantises also have a corresponding gray inconspicuous coloration.
To a certain extent, praying mantises, especially their larvae, are beneficial insects, because destroy pests, especially on fruit trees and berry bushes. Thus, the Central Asian tree mantis eats about 25 g of various insects during its development. However, the menu of praying mantises also includes some useful species, such as bees and riders. Attempts to use mantises to control agricultural pests, their mass breeding and resettlement for these purposes have not yet yielded results. But these insects still deserve careful treatment in their habitats.
In recent years, mantises have become rare in a number of places, in particular in the Crimea - empusas, spotted-winged mantises, and bolivarians. A possible reason for this is the destruction of the habitats of these insects, dense steppe vegetation, and the plowing of virgin steppe lands. But by preserving small areas of dense herbs - micro-reserves for insects - and limiting the use of pesticides, mantises can also be preserved. This is especially desirable to do on the northern edges of their range, in Russia, where mantises are already quite rare.
Literature
Gornostaev G.N. Insects of the USSR. – M.: Mysl, 1970.
Animal life. T. 3. Invertebrates. – M.: Education, 1969.
Plavilshchikov N.N. Insect key. – M.: Education, 1957.
Chervona Book of Ukraine (Tvarinniy suite)/Ed. MM. Shcherbak. – Kyiv: Ukrainian Encyclopedia, 1994.