Observations on the Life Cycle, Mating and Cannibalism of Mantis Religiosa
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1 It's All Geek to Me: Translating Names Of
IT’S ALL GEEK TO ME: TRANSLATING NAMES OF INSECTARIUM ARTHROPODS Prof. J. Phineas Michaelson, O.M.P. U.S. Biological and Geological Survey of the Territories Central Post Office, Denver City, Colorado Territory [or Year 2016 c/o Kallima Consultants, Inc., PO Box 33084, Northglenn, CO 80233-0084] ABSTRACT Kids today! Why don’t they know the basics of Greek and Latin? Either they don’t pay attention in class, or in many cases schools just don’t teach these classic languages of science anymore. For those who are Latin and Greek-challenged, noted (fictional) Victorian entomologist and explorer, Prof. J. Phineas Michaelson, will present English translations of the scientific names that have been given to some of the popular common arthropods available for public exhibits. This paper will explore how species get their names, as well as a brief look at some of the naturalists that named them. INTRODUCTION Our education system just isn’t what it used to be. Classic languages such as Latin and Greek are no longer a part of standard curriculum. Unfortunately, this puts modern students of science at somewhat of a disadvantage compared to our predecessors when it comes to scientific names. In the insectarium world, Latin and Greek names are used for the arthropods that we display, but for most young entomologists, these words are just a challenge to pronounce and lack meaning. Working with arthropods, we all know that Entomology is the study of these animals. Sounding similar but totally different, Etymology is the study of the origin of words, and the history of word meaning. -
Mantodea (Insecta), with a Review of Aspects of Functional Morphology and Biology
aua o ew eaa Ramsay, G. W. 1990: Mantodea (Insecta), with a review of aspects of functional morphology and biology. Fauna of New Zealand 19, 96 pp. Editorial Advisory Group (aoimes mae o a oaioa asis MEMBERS AT DSIR PLANT PROTECTION Mou Ae eseac Cee iae ag Aucka ew eaa Ex officio ieco — M ogwo eae Sysemaics Gou — M S ugae Co-opted from within Systematics Group Dr B. A ooway Κ Cosy UIESIIES EESEAIE R. M. Emeso Eomoogy eame ico Uiesiy Caeuy ew eaa MUSEUMS EESEAIE M R. L. ama aua isoy Ui aioa Museum o iae ag Weigo ew eaa OESEAS REPRESENTATIVE J. F. awece CSIO iisio o Eomoogy GO o 1700, Caea Ciy AC 2601, Ausaia Series Editor M C ua Sysemaics Gou SI a oecio Mou Ae eseac Cee iae ag Aucka ew eaa aua o ew eaa Number 19 Maoea (Iseca wi a eiew o asecs o ucioa mooogy a ioogy G W Ramsay SI a oecio M Ae eseac Cee iae ag Aucka ew eaa emoa us wig mooogy eosigma cooaio siuaio acousic sesiiiy eece eaiou egeeaio eaio aasiism aoogy a ie Caaoguig-i-uicaio ciaio AMSAY GW Maoea (Iseca – Weigo SI uisig 199 (aua o ew eaa ISS 111-533 ; o 19 IS -77-51-1 I ie II Seies UC 59575(931 Date of publication: see cover of subsequent numbers Suggese om o ciaio amsay GW 199 Maoea (Iseca wi a eiew o asecs o ucioa mooogy a ioogy Fauna of New Zealand [no.] 19. —— Fauna o New Zealand is eae o uicaio y e Seies Eio usig comue- ase e ocessig ayou a ase ie ecoogy e Eioia Aisoy Gou a e Seies Eio ackowege e oowig co-oeaio SI UISIG awco – sueisio o oucio a isiuio M C Maews – assisace wi oucio a makeig Ms A Wig – assisace wi uiciy a isiuio MOU AE ESEAC CEE SI Miss M oy -
The Genus Metallyticus Reviewed (Insecta: Mantodea)
See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228623877 The genus Metallyticus reviewed (Insecta: Mantodea) Article · September 2008 CITATIONS READS 11 353 1 author: Frank Wieland Pfalzmuseum für Naturkunde - POLLICHIA-… 33 PUBLICATIONS 113 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE All in-text references underlined in blue are linked to publications on ResearchGate, Available from: Frank Wieland letting you access and read them immediately. Retrieved on: 24 October 2016 Species, Phylogeny and Evolution 1, 3 (30.9.2008): 147-170. The genus Metallyticus reviewed (Insecta: Mantodea) Frank Wieland Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie & Anthropologie und Zoologisches Museum der Georg-August-Universität, Abteilung für Morphologie, Systematik und Evolutionsbiologie, Berliner Str. 28, 37073 Göttingen, Germany [[email protected]] Abstract Metallyticus Westwood, 1835 (Insecta: Dictyoptera: Mantodea) is one of the most fascinating praying mantids but little is known of its biology. Several morphological traits are plesiomorphic, such as the short prothorax, characters of the wing venation and possibly also the lack of discoidal spines on the fore femora. On the other hand, Metallyticus has autapomor- phies which are unique among extant Mantodea, such as the iridescent bluish-green body coloration and the enlargement of the first posteroventral spine of the fore femora. The present publication reviews our knowledge of Metallyticus thus providing a basis for further research. Data on 115 Metallyticus specimens are gathered and interpreted. The Latin original descriptions of the five Metallyticus species known to date, as well as additional descriptions and a key to species level that were originally published by Giglio-Tos (1927) in French, are translated into English. -
Cryptic Female Mantids Signal Quality Through Brightness
Functional Ecology 2015, 29, 531–539 doi: 10.1111/1365-2435.12363 Sexual signals for the colour-blind: cryptic female mantids signal quality through brightness Katherine L. Barry*, Thomas E. White, Darshana N. Rathnayake, Scott A. Fabricant and Marie E. Herberstein Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia Summary 1. Cryptic coloration may evolve in response to selective pressure imposed by predators, yet effective intraspecific communication may require some level of detectability. This creates a tension between the benefits of sexually selected visual traits and the predatory costs imposed by greater conspicuousness, and little is known about how this tension may be ameliorated in highly cryptic species. 2. We explore these competing demands in the false garden mantid Pseudomantis albofimbriata, a colour-blind and seemingly cryptic insect. We use reflectance spectrometry and receptor-noise modelling to characterize the conspicuousness of mantid body regions in the visual systems of mates (mantids), as well as potential predators (birds) and prey (bees). We then use condition manipulation and conspecific choice tests to further explore the colour traits of interest. 3. Based on visual modelling, we find that male mantids are inconspicuous to conspecifics, prey and predators – that is, they are chromatically and achromatically cryptic. In contrast, female mantids are chromatically cryptic to all potential receivers, but their abdomens are achromatically conspicuous. Our food manipulation experiment shows that females in good condition (and therefore with more eggs) have brighter abdomens than females in poor condition. Choice assays show male mantids are consistently attracted to females bearing brighter abdomens. 4. Our results reveal brightness-mediated sexual signalling in a colour-blind and classically cryptic insect. -
Arthropod Grasping and Manipulation: a Literature Review
Arthropod Grasping and Manipulation A Literature Review Aaron M. Dollar Harvard BioRobotics Laboratory Technical Report Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University April 5, 2001 www.biorobotics.harvard.edu Introduction The purpose of this review is to report on the existing literature on the subject of arthropod grasping and manipulation. In order to gain a proper understanding of the state of the knowledge in this rather broad topic, it is necessary and appropriate to take a step backwards and become familiar with the basics of entomology and arthropod physiology. Once these principles have been understood it will then be possible to proceed towards the more specific literature that has been published in the field. The structure of the review follows this strategy. General background information will be presented first, followed by successively more specific topics, and ending with a review of the refereed journal articles related to arthropod grasping and manipulation. Background The phylum Arthropoda is the largest of the phyla, and includes all animals that have an exoskeleton, a segmented body in series, and six or more jointed legs. There are nine classes within the phylum, five of which the average human is relatively familiar with – insects, arachnids, crustaceans, centipedes, and millipedes. Of all known species of animals on the planet, 82% are arthropods (c. 980,000 species)! And this number just reflects the known species. Estimates put the number of arthropod species remaining to be discovered and named at around 9-30 million, or 10-30 times more than are currently known. And this is just the number of species; the population of each is another matter altogether. -
ARTHROPODA Subphylum Hexapoda Protura, Springtails, Diplura, and Insects
NINE Phylum ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA Protura, springtails, Diplura, and insects ROD P. MACFARLANE, PETER A. MADDISON, IAN G. ANDREW, JOCELYN A. BERRY, PETER M. JOHNS, ROBERT J. B. HOARE, MARIE-CLAUDE LARIVIÈRE, PENELOPE GREENSLADE, ROSA C. HENDERSON, COURTenaY N. SMITHERS, RicarDO L. PALMA, JOHN B. WARD, ROBERT L. C. PILGRIM, DaVID R. TOWNS, IAN McLELLAN, DAVID A. J. TEULON, TERRY R. HITCHINGS, VICTOR F. EASTOP, NICHOLAS A. MARTIN, MURRAY J. FLETCHER, MARLON A. W. STUFKENS, PAMELA J. DALE, Daniel BURCKHARDT, THOMAS R. BUCKLEY, STEVEN A. TREWICK defining feature of the Hexapoda, as the name suggests, is six legs. Also, the body comprises a head, thorax, and abdomen. The number A of abdominal segments varies, however; there are only six in the Collembola (springtails), 9–12 in the Protura, and 10 in the Diplura, whereas in all other hexapods there are strictly 11. Insects are now regarded as comprising only those hexapods with 11 abdominal segments. Whereas crustaceans are the dominant group of arthropods in the sea, hexapods prevail on land, in numbers and biomass. Altogether, the Hexapoda constitutes the most diverse group of animals – the estimated number of described species worldwide is just over 900,000, with the beetles (order Coleoptera) comprising more than a third of these. Today, the Hexapoda is considered to contain four classes – the Insecta, and the Protura, Collembola, and Diplura. The latter three classes were formerly allied with the insect orders Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) and Thysanura (silverfish) as the insect subclass Apterygota (‘wingless’). The Apterygota is now regarded as an artificial assemblage (Bitsch & Bitsch 2000). -
July 2020 Riverside Nature Notes
July 2020 Riverside Nature Notes Dear Members and Friends... by Becky Etzler, Executive Director If you stopped by in the past We are fortunate to have such a wonderful week or so, you will have noticed family of supporters. I have to give a shout out that the Riverside Nature Center to the staff, Riverside Guides, meadow tenders, is fully open and welcoming volunteers, Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant visitors. There were no banners, Society, Hill Country Master Naturalists, the fireworks, bullhorns or grand Board of Directors and our RNC Members. Each opening celebrations announcing of you have made this difficult time much more our reopening. Let’s call it a “soft bearable, even if we haven’t been able to hug. opening”. Let’s all keep a positive attitude and follow the The staff and I wanted to quietly put to test our example of a wonderfully wise woman, Maggie plans and protocols. Can we control the number Tatum: of people inside? Is our cleaning and sanitizing methods sufficient? Are visitors amenable to our recommendations of mask wearing and physical FRIENDS by Maggie Tatum distancing? Are we aware of all the possible touch points and have we removed potentially Two green plastic chairs hazardous or hard to clean displays? Do we have Underneath the trees, adequate staff and volunteer coverage to keep Seen from my breakfast window. up with cleaning protocols and still provide an They are at ease, engaging experience for our visitors? Framed by soft grey fence. A tranquil composition. Many hours were spent discussing and formulating solutions to all of these questions. -
Biodiversity Journal, 2020,11 (3): 799–802
Biodiversity Journal, 2020, 11 (3): 799–802 https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2020.11.3.799.802 Where two giants meet: the first records of Sphodromantis viridis in Sicily and Greece and the spread in Europe of Hiero- dula tenuidentata (Insecta Mantoidea) show new crossroads of mantids in the Mediterranean Roberto Battiston1, Simone Andria1, Domenico Borgese2, William Di Pietro1 & Alberto Manciagli2 1World Biodiversity Association Onlus, c/o Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Lungadige Porta Vittoria 9, Verona, Italy 2Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali dell’Università degli Studi di Catania, Via A. Longo, 19, Catania, Italy ABSTRACT The first presence records of the Giant African Mantis Sphodromantis viridis (Forskål, 1775) (Insecta Mantoidea) are reported for Sicily and Greece, with new evidences on the human- mediated spreading of this species in the Mediterranean area. In Greece, Sphodromantis viridis meets the distribution of the Giant Asian Mantis Hierodula tenuidentata (Saussure, 1869), and these two mantids have been recorded together in the same locality. Some single records from France and Corsica also open the possible expansion of this species in more northern regions. These different spreading dynamics, taking place in the Mediterranean area, in a fast-evolving scenario, are here discussed. KEY WORDS Giant mantises, distribution, new records, human impact, invasive species. Received 10.07.2020; accepted 23.08.2020; published online 30.09.2020 INTRODUCTION in a fast-changing scenario (Schwarz & Ehrmann, 2018). During the last few years, the mantid popula- The Giant African Mantis Sphodromantis viridis tions in the Euro-Mediterranean area have signifi- (Forskål, 1775) is also spreading in the Mediter- cantly changed. -
Curriculum Vitae
CURRICULUM VITAE Lawrence E. Hurd Phone: (540) 458-8484 Department of Biology FAX: 540-458-8012 Washington & Lee University Email: [email protected] Lexington, Virginia 24450 USA Education: B.A., Hiram College, 1969 Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1972 Positions (in reverse chronological order): Herwick Professor of Biology, Washington & Lee University 2008-present; Pesquisador Visitante Especial, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM) 2013-2015. Editor- in-Chief,Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 2007 – present. Research supported by John T. Herwick Endowment, Brazilian research fellowship from CAPES, and by Lenfest faculty research grants from Washington and Lee University. Head of Department of Biology, Washington and Lee University, 1993-2008. Editorial Board of Oecologia, 1997 - 2003. Professor of Biology, Program in Ecology, School of Life and Health Sciences, and member of Graduate Faculty, University of Delaware, 1973-1993. Joint appointments: (1) College of Marine Studies (1974-1984); (2) Department of Entomology and Applied Ecology, College of Agriculture (1985-1993). Research supported by grants from NSF, NOAA (Sea Grant), and UDRF (U. Del.). Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, 1972 - 1973. Studies of population genetics and agro-ecosystems with D. Pimentel. Supported by grant from Ford Foundation to DP. Postdoctoral Fellow, Costa Rica, summer 1972. Behavioral ecology of tropical hummingbirds with L. L. Wolf. Supported by NSF grant to LLW. Memberships: American Association for the Advancement of Science Linnean Society -
(Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae: Paramantini) in Albania
www.biotaxa.org/rce Revista Chilena de Entomología (2018) 44 (4): 407-409 Scientific Note First record of Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae: Paramantini) in Albania Primera cita de Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl (Mantodea: Mantidae: Mantinae: Paramantini) en Albania Torsten van der Heyden1 1 Immenweide 83, D-22523 Hamburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3C670724-CE7F-4929-84CC-694464A7DB8F Abstract. The first record ofHierodula transcaucasica from Albania is reported. Additional information on the distribution of the species is given. Key words: Dictyoptera, distribution, Mediterranean Region. Resumen. Se presenta la primera cita de Hierodula transcaucasica de Albania. Se da información adicional acerca de la distribución de la especie. Palabras clave: Dictyoptera, distribución, Región Mediterránea. The mantis genus Hierodula Burmeister, 1838 contains more than 100 species, mostly reported from Africa, Asia and Australia (Patel and Singh 2016; Otte et al. 2018; van der Heyden 2018). So far, Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878, commonly known as Giant Asian Mantis, has been reported from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan (Battiston and Massa 2008; Ehrmann 2011; Ghahari and Nasser 2014; Patel and Singh 2016; Pushkar and Yepishin 2016; van der Heyden 2018). Recently, the species is spreading in the area of the Greek islands (Battiston et al. 2017; van der Heyden 2018). Its possible presence on the island of Crete was discussed by van der Heyden (2018). On 2-X-2018, Aleksander Golemaj observed and photographed a female specimen of H. transcaucasica in an abandoned garden in a northern suburb of Vlorë in southern Albania (Figs. -
Methane Production in Terrestrial Arthropods (Methanogens/Symbiouis/Anaerobic Protsts/Evolution/Atmospheric Methane) JOHANNES H
Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 91, pp. 5441-5445, June 1994 Microbiology Methane production in terrestrial arthropods (methanogens/symbiouis/anaerobic protsts/evolution/atmospheric methane) JOHANNES H. P. HACKSTEIN AND CLAUDIUS K. STUMM Department of Microbiology and Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Science, Catholic University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld, NL-6525 ED Nimegen, The Netherlands Communicated by Lynn Margulis, February 1, 1994 (receivedfor review June 22, 1993) ABSTRACT We have screened more than 110 represen- stoppers. For 2-12 hr the arthropods (0.5-50 g fresh weight, tatives of the different taxa of terrsrial arthropods for depending on size and availability of specimens) were incu- methane production in order to obtain additional information bated at room temperature (210C). The detection limit for about the origins of biogenic methane. Methanogenic bacteria methane was in the nmol range, guaranteeing that any occur in the hindguts of nearly all tropical representatives significant methane emission could be detected by gas chro- of millipedes (Diplopoda), cockroaches (Blattaria), termites matography ofgas samples taken at the end ofthe incubation (Isoptera), and scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), while such meth- period. Under these conditions, all methane-emitting species anogens are absent from 66 other arthropod species investi- produced >100 nmol of methane during the incubation pe- gated. Three types of symbiosis were found: in the first type, riod. All nonproducers failed to produce methane concen- the arthropod's hindgut is colonized by free methanogenic trations higher than the background level (maximum, 10-20 bacteria; in the second type, methanogens are closely associated nmol), even if the incubation time was prolonged and higher with chitinous structures formed by the host's hindgut; the numbers of arthropods were incubated. -
An Insect Community Study of the Morris Arboretum Green Roof Samantha Nestory University of Pennsylvania
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Kosmopolis University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Internship Program Reports Education and Visitor Experience 2018 An Insect Community Study of the Morris Arboretum Green Roof Samantha Nestory University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_internreports Part of the Biodiversity Commons, and the Horticulture Commons Recommended Citation Nestory, Samantha, "An Insect Community Study of the Morris Arboretum Green Roof" (2018). Internship Program Reports. 3. https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_internreports/3 An independent study project report by The aH y Honey Farm Endowed Natural Lands Intern (2017-2018) This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/morrisarboretum_internreports/3 For more information, please contact [email protected]. An Insect Community Study of the Morris Arboretum Green Roof Abstract Green roofs are becoming increasingly popular in cities around the globe because of their numerous benefits to humans. Green roofs can also benefit wildlife, particularly insects, through the creation of habitat. The og al of this study was to evaluate the biodiversity of the insect community on the Morris Arboretum intensive green roof and to identify management strategies to promote more diversity. We vacuum sampled the green roof three times in August and September 2017. Insects in the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, and Mantodea were sorted, preserved, and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic rank. Overall, 891 insects were collected and identified. Two groups, ants and aphids, accounted for 566 of those insects. There was low diversity and abundance of Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, which could be attributed to the lack of fall-flowering plants, larval host plants, and overwintering sites.