PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds

PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds
ORDER MANTODEA
Mantids, praying mantids
NO. SPECIES
IN AUSTRALIA
SOME
DISTINCTIVE
FEATURES
Have a characteristic
way of standing with
forelegs held together
as if in prayer while
waiting for prey
LIFE CYCLE
More than 160 species in Australia. About 18,000 species worldwide. Mantids
are considered to be beneficial, preying on insects of all kinds. Some large
species will feed on frogs and small lizards. Owing to their low numbers they
are unlikely to significantly affect populations of beneficial insects. Green
mantid (Orthodera ministralis) is a common garden species.
www.ento.csiro.au/education/insects/mantodea.html
www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_hoppers/Mantids.htm
Members of this order are fairly homogeneous in appearance. The praying
mantis is so called because of its praying pose as it sits in wait for passing
insects. Mantids usually occur as single individuals in tree tops to ground level.
ADULT Body 1. Generally fairly large and elongated, 1-12 cm long.
2. Most mantids are green or brown and well camouflaged.
Wings 1. Two pairs. Forewings are narrow and thickened and
cover membranous hindwings, broad and folded in
longitudinal plaits when at rest. Some species have
reduced wings or are wingless.
2. Males of most species are fully winged and can fly while
females have either reduced wings or no wings at all.
Legs Front legs modified with 1 or 2 rows of spines for seizing
prey from ambush (raptorial legs).
Head 1. Triangular head which moves freely.
2. Antennae long and thin.
3. Large compound eyes and 3 simple eyes (ocelli).
NYMPH
Similar to adults but wingless, light in colour, often eaten by
other insects, spiders and birds.
There is a gradual metamorphosis - egg, nymph (several stages) and adult
with 1 generation each year in colder climates. In the tropics 2 overlapping
generations may occur each year.
Praying
mantid
Compare
praying mantids
with leaf insects
(Phasmatodea)
which do not have
raptorial legs
Some lacewings
(Neuroptera) also
have raptorial
front legs.
METHOD OF
FEEDING
ADULT
NYMPH
Praying mantids lay their eggs in a frothy mass
attached to branches and trunks of plants or placed
on the ground under logs or stones. The frothy mass
hardens, emerging nymphs resemble wingless adults.
Eggs hatch and each little mantid forces its way
through the opening at the top of the egg case. The
surface of the hardened egg mass often has small
round emergence holes of wasps which have
parasitized and destroyed the mantid eggs inside.
Ants, small mammals and birds may eat the eggs.
All stages have chewing mouthparts. All mantids are predators,
eating insects of all kinds. They adopt a ‘sit and wait’ method for
capturing prey. Very large species in northern Australia may eat small
frogs, birds and lizards. Males and female mantids may eat their
young, females may eat males. Mantids may bite if handled.
Insects and allied pests - Mantodea (mantids) 195