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UKMF Newsletter issue 6
Average feeding success in nature appears to be relatively high, when comparing the rate of
abdominal expansion in the field to captive females maintained on High diets. 6. In the field,
nearly all mounts and copulations occurred in September in both years, when female feeding
success is expected to be high. If mating activity occurs during a window of high female
feeding success, so as to reduce the risk of cannibalism for males, then the female feeding
regime may be implicated in the phenology of mating activity in cannibalistic species.
Mohammad, K. S., Alla, S. M. G., El-Hamouly, H., Ehrmann, R., Nasser, M. G. E.,
Mantodea of Egypt. Zootaxa, 2011, 3044: 1–27.
Abstract: The Mantodea of Egypt were studied by examining and identifying specimens
from four main Egyptian collections and some of those preserved in international museums,
collecting specimens from various parts of the country between July 2007 and April 2010,
and previous Egyptian records. We found 60 species belonging to 21 genera and 4 families.
Eremiaphilidae included 31 species in 2 genera with one new record from Egypt,
Eremiaphila gigas; Empusidae, 7 species in 4 genera; Mantidae, 18 species in 13 genera
with one new species, Elaea solimani; and Tarachodidae, 3 species in 2 genera. We provide
identification keys for Egyptian taxa, data on the material examined, the world distribution,
synonyms and a description of the new species.
O’Hanlon, J., Intraspecific Interactions and Their Effect on Habitat Utilisation by the
Praying Mantid Ciulfina biseriata (Mantodea: Liturgusidae). Journal of Ethology 2011,
29 (1): 47-54. Url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10164-010-0220-6
Abstract: Tree trunks are spatially separated habitat patches for the tree-running mantid
Ciulfina biseriata (Mantodea: Liturgusidae). This paper investigates how intraspecific
interactions may affect spacing patterns in C. biseriata. Many mantid species inhabit tree
trunk surfaces, but little is known about how they interact with this type of habitat.
Behavioural observations and choice tests investigated the effect of a conspecific on habitat
utilisation. Field surveys were used to investigate patterns of movement in the field. The
decision to inhabit a tree trunk may be affected by the presence of a conspecific. Whereas
adult males seek out females when selecting habitat, females will actively avoid males.
Habitat choice decisions are primarily based on aspects of their mating system rather than
on competition for space or food resources. The behavioural interactions of C. biseriata are
described, including novel observations of same-sex mating behaviour in adult males.
O’Hanlon, J. C. and Holwell, G. I., The Influence of Abrupt Forest Edges on Praying
Mantid Populations. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 2011, 4 (2): 107–114.
Abstract: 1. The concept of an 'edge' habitat that is influenced by the biotic and abiotic
characteristics of neighbouring habitats is a broadly applied principle in ecology. 2. Ciulfina
klassi Giglio-Tos (Mantodea: Liturgusidae) inhabit vertical tree trunk surfaces in a restricted
patch of coastal Melaleuca woodlands in the world heritage listed Wet Tropics Region of far
north Queensland, Australia. Preliminary observations suggested that abrupt forest edges
may have a positive effect on population density in the praying mantis C. klassi. 3. During
field surveys over a two-year period, mantid densities were found to be higher at forest
edges than forest interiors. 4. Greater sapling recruitment at forest edges may contribute to
this edge effect by providing dense patches of tree trunk habitats. 5. The population
characteristics of C. klassi are also described here in the context of our current
understanding of praying mantid life histories. Aspects of the ecology of this tropical praying
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