Mantis in Iberia are carnivorous insects that rest on plants while they await their prey. The size, colour and shape can vary greatly between species through their virtually world wide distribution, which consists of more than 1800 species.
The green, brown or grey body colouring that we see in these European species allows them to hide undetected amongst shrubs or grasses.
During their early growth stages they shed their outgrown exoskeleton and at this time can take on the colour of the surrounding vegetation i.e. brown for dried grasses or green for lush plants. They will only feed on active prey and have well developed senses to locate a promising meal.
An ability to turn their heads to view 300º is unusual amongst insects and large, compound eyes set on a triangular head is a common trait amongst the differing types.
Alert to both food and danger they mostly rely on their mimicry to give them cover.
In their preferred method of hunting they simply sit in a discreet position, blending with their surroundings. The common name “Praying” mantis is in reference to its poise whilst waiting patiently for food to come within reach.
Video of a mantis in Spain eating a lizard
Fantastic video from Sue Eatock of Nature Plus -Grazalema: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/nature-plus-grazalema/
This mantis religiosa is positive proof that their food supply is not restricted to insects as many people say and that small lizards like this Andalucian wall lizard (Podarcis vaucheri) are definately on the menu!
Mantis hunting techniques
The two front legs are folded as if in prayer but are armed with many sharp spikes and when an insect passes close by they can snatch it from the air, grasping it as they draw their forelegs back in a pincer movement, thereby preventing escape.
Sitting close to flowers will provide a steady stream of pollinating insects to choose from, as they hunt by day. The remaining two pairs of legs are used to climb, cling onto plant material and jump.
Many, but not all, mantids have wings and are good flyers. The outer set of wings are coloured to match the body, are harder and act as protection for the second set.
One species in particular has another use for their wings. The Iris oratoria mantis has coloured eye spots on its wings and will stand tall, flapping its wings if it feels threatened – aiming to startle a predator. The more common and widespread Mantis religiosa has eye spots on the inside of its forelimbs which it can show to ward off predators. Males are more likely to fly while in search of a mate, some may fly to lights at night.
Mating and eating the male!
During copulation the male places a sperm sac inside the female. On some occasions the female may eat the head of the male during copulation if food is scarce. By doing this not only does she get necessary nourishment before egg laying but she also removes the competition for food in the vicinity.
As the eggs pass through her reproductive system, the stored sperm fertilizes them. She chooses a situation to place the eggs such as a branch, stem, rock or building and exudes a substance which develops into a foam and soon hardens. (Each species produces a slightly different shaped and coloured egg case). Inside this protective foam are individual cells, as few as thirty or up to three hundred depending on type. This ootheca affords protection to the developing nymphs. A single female may produce several oothecas.
Generally the mating and egg laying takes place at the end of summer with the eggs remaining in the ootheca over winter. When the temperatures are suitable the nymphs may all hatch together or in batches. They are voracious eaters and may cannibalise their siblings if there is not adequate food available. They will soon make the first of up to 7 moults before reaching the adult stage. They emerge as miniature mantis of around 4mm but have no wings at this point, so they rely on running and jumping away from danger.
In most cases, from hatching to adulthood, mating, egg laying and death occurs between spring and autumn of the same year. (It is rare for an adult mantis to survive through the winter). There are however some species that pass through the winter both as oothecas and nymphs such as the Iberian endemic Apteromantis aptera which is a protected species. This means that adults and nymphs may be seen together in both spring and autumn.
List of mantis present in Spain
- Mantises, in general, are often mistakenly referred to as “Praying Mantis” but this is the English name for just one species, Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa)- Insecto de Santa Teresa, the most common species in Europe.
- The European Dwarf Mantis (Ameles spallanzania) Mantis enana Europea is a very small mantid, around 1cm-3cm that lives in low vegetation in warm, dry places. (Also the very similar Ameles assoi, Ameles decolor, Ameles picteti and Ameles africana.)
- Apteromantis aptera In the past, there were few areas known where it existed in Spain so it was considered rare and previously catalogued on the red list of the IUCN endangered species as “vulnerable”.
- Iris oratoria – Mediterranean Mantis – Mantis mediterránea
- African Mantis – Sphodromantis viridis – Mantis africana
- Conehead Mantis – Empusa pennata – Mantis palo
The least common and less seen mantis in Spain
Spain is also home to several rarer species of mantis. These include unique species such as the Geomantis larvoides, Rivetina baetica, Pseudoyersinia canariensis, Blepharopsis mendica, Pseudoyersinia paui and Perlamantis alliberti,
- Geomantis larvoides
- Rivetina baetica
- Pseudoyersinia canariensis
- Blepharopsis mendica (Canary Islands and North Africa)
- Pseudoyersinia paui
- Perlamantis alliberti
Who predates on mantis in Spain?
Mantis species may have a voracious appetite but sometimes they are preyed upon themselves. The left hand image shows a colourful Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) which is a summer visitor to Iberia, about to take a preying mantis into the nest tunnel to feed to its young. The image to the right has been enlarged to show a tiny parasitic wasp which uses the long ovipositor at the rear to embed its eggs inside the mantis ootheca where the larva will feed off its contents, in this case the mantis eggs involved are Apteromantis aptera.
These two images are both of common Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa) oothecae. The left hand image shows pieces hanging that protect each tiny mantis inside the egg case but are shed as they exit and disperse. This was a mass emergence as there is a lot of debris, it is very fine and so will soon break away. The nymphs will always exit via the central line where there are overlaid flaps like tiles, the side walls are too solid for them to break.
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