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Praying mantids (Mantodea: Mantidae) are iconic insects that have captivated biologists for decades, especially the species with cannibalistic copulatory behavior. This behavior has been cited as evidence that insects lack nociceptive capacities and cannot feel pain; however, this behaviorally driven hypothesis has never been rigorously tested at the genetic or functional level. To enable future studies of nociceptive capabilities in mantids, we sequenced and assembled a draft genome of the Chinese praying mantis (Tenodera sinensis) and identified multiple classes of nociceptive ion channels by comparison to orthologous gene families in Arthropoda. Our assembly—produced using PacBio HiFi reads—is fragmented (total size = 3.03 Gb; N50 = 1.8 Mb; 4,966 contigs), but is highly complete with respect to gene content (BUSCO complete = 98.7% [odb10_insecta]). The size of our assembly is substantially larger than that of most other insects, but is consistent with the size of other mantid genomes. We found that most families of nociceptive ion channels are present in the T. sinensis genome; that they are most closely related to those found in the damp-wood termite (Zootermopsis nevadensis); and that some families have expanded in T. sinensis while others have contracted relative to nearby lineages. Our findings suggest that mantids are likely to possess nociceptive capabilities and provide a foundation for future experimentation regarding ion channel functions and their consequences for insect behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Praying mantises are the apex insect predators in many ecosystems, nevertheless they receive relatively less recognition in biodiversity reviews. We report a first survey of diversity of praying mantises in Cameroon, which is situated in the Congo Basin region, one of the richest biodiversity hotspots. Combination of light trapping with manual collecting resulted in 495 specimens representing 62 species. A total of eight species are novel for the country, at least five species are likely undescribed. DNA barcodes of 72 specimens representing every collected species were obtained, curated, and submitted to NCBI database. For eight species, barcodes are published for the first time. A maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was created using all available barcodes of Mantodea of Central African subregion. The results obtained during this study stress the importance of combining traditional and molecular approaches during biodiversity assessments of often neglected taxa, the latter aiding in uncovering new species, resolving unknown morphological divergencies and assigning conspecifics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The praying mantis Creobroter nebulosa Zheng (Mantedea: Hymenopodidae) is an insect that has medicinal and esthetical importance, and being a natural enemy for many insects, the species is used as a biological control agent. In this publication, we used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the fine morphology of antennae of males and females of this species. The antennae of both sexes are filiform and consist of three parts: scape, pedicel, and flagellum (differing in the number of segments). Based on the external morphology and the sensilla distribution, the antennal flagellum is could be divided into five regions. Seven sensilla types and eleven subtypes of sensilla were observed: grooved peg sensillum (Sgp), Bohm bristles (Bb), basiconic sensillum (Sb), trichoid sensillum (StI, StII), campaniform sensillum (Sca), chaetic sensillum (ScI, ScII, ScIII), and coeloconic sensillum (ScoI, ScoII). In Mantodea, the ScoII is observed for the first time, and it is located on the tip of the flagellum. The external structure and distribution of these sensilla are compared to those of other insects and possible functions of the antennal sensilla are discussed. The males and females of the mantis could be distinguished by the length of antennae and number of Sgp. Males have antennae about 1.5 times longer and have significantly larger number of Sgp compared to females. The sexual difference in distribution of the Sgp suggests that this type of sensilla may play a role in sex-pheromones detection in mantis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependable functioning of switchgear is essential to maintain the stability of power supply systems. Partial discharge (PD) is a critical phenomenon affecting the insulation of switchgear, potentially leading to equipment failure and accidents. PDs are generally grouped into metal particle discharge, suspended discharge, and creeping discharge. Different types of PDs are closely related to the severity of a PD. Partial discharge pattern recognition (PDPR) plays a vital role in the early detection of insulation defects. In this regard, a Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN) for PDPR in switchgear is proposed in this paper. To eliminate the sensitivity to initial values of BPNN parameters and to enhance the generalized ability of the proposed BPRN, an improved Mantis Search Algorithm (MSA) is proposed to optimize the BPNN. The improved MSA employs some boundary handling strategies and adaptive parameters to enhance the algorithm's efficiency in optimizing the network parameters of BPNN. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is introduced to reduce the dimensionality of the feature space to achieve significant time saving in comparable recognition accuracy. The initially extracted 14 feature values are reduced to 7, reducing the BPNN parameter count from 183 with 14 features to 113 with 7 features. Finally, numerical results are presented and compared with Decision Tree (DT), k-Nearest Neighbor classifiers (KNN), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The proposed method in this paper exhibits the highest recognition accuracy in metal particle discharge and suspended discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female spiders and praying mantises are renowned for their cannibalism of male partners before, during, or after mating. While several hypotheses have been proposed to explain species-specific examples of sexual cannibalism, much variation remains unexplained, including why the timing of cannibalism varies across taxa. Here, I outline how sexually cannibalistic behavior could evolve via sexually antagonistic selection as a type of behavioral resistance to male-imposed mating costs, and how such a generalizable interpretation provides a framework for understanding the evolution of both sexual cannibalism in females and anti-cannibalistic traits in males. I discuss how differences between mating systems that physiologically constrain males to mate only once (monogyny) or twice (bigyny) and systems where the sexes can potentially mate multiply (polygyny and polyandry) are likely to influence how sexual conflict shapes cannibalistic behavior. I review key examples from the literature that suggest how sexually cannibalistic behavior might function as a female resistance trait and provide comprehensive predictions for testing this hypothesis empirically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of mantis, Arria qinlingensissp. n., is described based on both male and female specimens collected from Qinling Mt., China. This new species has similar external morphology to A. leigongshanensis (Ge and Chen, 2008); these two species represent a mysterious evolutionary clade in the genus Arria Stål, 1877. The discovery of this moss-mimicking mantis species represents the northernmost distribution of the genus Arria. Illustrations and ecological images of Arria species in China are presented, and the images of the final-instar nymph for both sexes of A. leigongshanensis (Ge and Chen, 2008) and the ootheca of Arria qinlingensissp. n. are illustrated. The distribution of the two species in China is discussed and mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spermatheca and colleterial glands of female insects are organs associated with the reproductive system, responsible for sperm storage and secretion of egg coverings, respectively. Here we compared the development, secretory activity, and chemical nature of the secretion in the spermatheca and colleterial glands of different-aged females of the drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis. We also provide the ultrastructure of these organs in alate females. These structures have been poorly investigated in termites when compared to other eusocial insects (Hymenoptera) and termite-related dictyopterans (mantises and cockroaches). The spermatheca of C. brevis comprises a cone-shaped structure, connected to the genital chamber by a short duct. The colleterial glands, in turn, are divided into anterior and posterior tubules, each showing a basal trunk, and join into a common duct. Histological and histochemical analyses showed that the secretion of proteins and polysaccharides by the spermatheca takes place before pairing, but increases as females mate and store sperm. Colleterial glands of alates showed non-synchronous secretory activity, but the synthesis of products increased in egg-laying queens, together with the epithelium height. Ultrastructure of the spermatheca and colleterial glands revealed epithelia composed of class III secretory cells. Richness of mitochondria and electron-dense secretion in the spermatheca indicates synthesis and transport of content. Presence and absence of colleterial gland secretion in different individuals may reflect variable maturation stages of the females and secretory cells. Assuming that termites are iteroparous, the development and secretion of the spermatheca and colleterial glands play a crucial role for C. brevis queens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within‐species variation in colour phenotypes is widespread in animals. One mechanism by which such variation can be maintained is plastic background matching, where individuals plastically develop a similar colour to that of their surroundings. A few examples are known from insects that exhibit green–brown colour polyphenisms. But the extent to which plastic colour responses are shaped by other factors, such as genetic variation in plasticity or the interaction of other environmental cues, is poorly understood.Here, we investigate the plasticity of body coloration in the springbok mantis, Miomantis caffra—a species where hatchlings emerge brown in colour and typically change to green but sometimes remain entirely or partly brown through successive moults. We reared 350 mantises from 10 full‐sib families on a green or brown background under a high or low temperature and a high or low humidity using a fully factorial, split‐brood design, and recorded colour phenotypes (all green, all brown or mixed coloration) after 14 weeks of development.We found very strong evidence of developmental plasticity for background matching: The green background induced a higher incidence of the all‐green phenotype, whereas the brown background produced more of the all‐brown and mixed phenotypes. The all‐green phenotype was also universally more common under higher humidity, and under higher temperature when the background was green. However, not all body parts showed the same level of environmental sensitivity: The steepest reaction norms were observed in the mid‐legs and hindlegs, potentially reflecting selection for disruptive coloration of the body outline in browner environments. Using model comparison techniques, we found little evidence of genotype‐level variation in colour plasticity—a pattern likely the result of strong viability selection for camouflage.Our study shows how developmental plasticity in coloration can be triggered directly by the colour of the environment and indirectly by climatic cues associated with habitat coloration. We argue that this high level of developmental plasticity has likely evolved due to the diversity of habitats but sedentary lifestyle of this sit‐and‐wait predator. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a project called "Museums in Miniature" that aims to bring entomology education to South Carolina classrooms. The project involves creating mini-museums filled with preserved insect specimens and educational materials, which are then distributed to schools and libraries across the state. The mini-museums provide students with hands-on learning experiences and help foster an appreciation for insects and biodiversity. The project was funded by the Entomological Society of America's Chrysalis Fund and the South Carolina Entomological Society, and it has been successful in engaging students and promoting science education. [Extracted from the article]

The endemic North American praying mantid, Brunneria borealis Scudder (1896), is obligatorily parthenogenic and wingless. The species is both geographically widespread, distributed over an essentially continuous pericoastal range of more than 2,400 km from eastern Texas to central North Carolina, and abundant in early-stage successional old fields. We used mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) analysis to examine the genetic similarities among specimens of this insect and collected from 7 states along this range of distribution. We found no variations in the mitochondrial COI gene, which suggests that this wide geographic distribution of the species is surprisingly recent. We hypothesize that its obligatory parthenogenic status may be an accident of colonization of North America by a single facultative parthenogenic female, and the subsequent distribution was most likely achieved by inadvertent human transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Tricondylomimus Chopard, 1930 (Mantodea, Gonypetidae) is reported for the first time from India with the species T. coomani Chopard, 1930, based on a female specimen collected from Namdapha National Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. This species was earlier reported only from Vietnam in the Oriental region. This is the third species of the tribe Iridopterigini (Gonypetidae, Iridopteriginae) that occurred in India. The extension in the distribution of the genus points to the high chances of T. coomani being reported from adjacent countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. The geographical distribution of T. coomani and its resemblance with another group of insects is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyneopteran clade of insects is very diverse and has a remarkable fossil history starting in the Late Palaeozoic. Representatives of Dictyoptera comprise roaches, termites and mantids and their stem group relatives like the common Palaeozoic and Mesozoic roachoids, a group well known for its problematic taxonomy. In this study, two new taxa are described based on forewing venation well displaying convexity or concavity of the veins due to preservation in spherosideritic concretions. A new paoliid, Stephanopsis testai sp. nov. (Blattinopsidae), from Moscovian deposits at Mazon Creek (Illinois, U.S.A.), supplements Stephanopsis mirandus found at the same locality, which mainly differs in the branching patterns of MP and anal veins. A new stem dictyopteran, Sosnowiecia dareki gen. nov. et sp. nov. (?Mesorthopteridae), from Langsettian deposits at Sosnowiec-Klimontów (Lower Silesia, Poland) is problematic in terms of taxonomy as it has a mosaic of characters characteristic of Paoliida, Eoblattida and Grylloblattida, but retains affinities with roachoid insects, such as Miroblatta sp. Hence, these two new species increase the diversity of Carboniferous polyneopteran insects, but reveals the problem of depending only on alar characters in taxonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insect industry in Korea is currently undergoing steady expansion. Among the various insects kept as pets or for educational purposes, four mantis species, including Hierodula patellifera (Audinet-Serville), Tenodera angustipennis Saussure, Tenodera sinensis Saussure, and Statilia maculata (Thunberg), are becoming increasingly popular, leading to higher demand. As we aimed to raise mantises, we collected oothecae, some of which were found to be parasitized by dermestid beetles. These parasitoids have been unequivocally identified as Thaumaglossa rufocapillata Redtenbacher based on morphological characters. A diagnosis, habitus photographs, and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided to facilitate identification. We also present the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequence of T. rufocapillata for providing fundamental data for research aimed at controlling pests in the insect industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background matching and disruptive coloration are common camouflage strategies in nature, but few studies have accurately measured their protective value in living organisms. Amazon's Bark praying mantises exhibit colour patterns matching whitish and greenish-brown tree trunks. We tested the functional significance of background matching and disruptive coloration of different praying mantis morphospecies (white, grey and green) detected by DNA barcoding. Through image analysis, avian visual models and field experiments using humans as potential predators, we explored whether the background occupation of mantises provides camouflage against predation. Data were obtained for individuals against their occupied tree trunks (whitish or greenish-brown) and microhabitats (lichen or bryophyte patches), compared to non-occupied trunks. White and grey mantises showed lower colour contrasts against occupied trunks at the scale of tree trunk, with no differences in luminance contrasts. Conversely, green mantises showed lower colour and luminance contrasts against microhabitats and also exhibited high edge disruption against greenish-brown trunks. The camouflage of white and green mantis models against colour-matching trunks increased search time and reduced encounter distance of human predators. We highlight the importance of camouflage strategies at different spatial scales to enhance individual survival against predators. Specifically, we present a stunning study system to investigate the relationship of phylogenetically related species that use camouflage in sympatry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fossil species of mantis Litaneutria pilosuspedes sp. nov. (Mantodea: Amelidae) is described and illustrated from the Miocene of Mexico. The type material comprises two amber inclusions from the Estrella de Belén and Simojovel sites in Chiapas, Mexico. It differs from other mantises of the genus Litaneutria Saussure, 1892 (Amelidae: Amelinae) by the unique combination of the following characters: vertex convex; forefemur widened in proximal third with anteroventral spines equal length or decreasing in length distally, and four posteroventral spines; fore tibia with seven to nine posteroventral spines; supracoxal dilatation markedly expanded laterally at first third of pronotum, lateral margins of pronotum smooth; fore tarsomere, middle legs, hindlegs, and cerci with long erect hairs. Litaneutria pilosuspedes sp. nov. is a Miocene tropical record that extends the distribution of the genus Litaneutria to the southernmost part of North America. Zoobank LSID: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correct modelling and estimation of solar cell characteristics are crucial for effective performance simulations of PV panels, necessitating the development of creative approaches to improve solar energy conversion. When handling this complex problem, traditional optimisation algorithms have significant disadvantages, including a predisposition to get trapped in certain local optima. This paper develops the Mantis Search Algorithm (MSA), which draws inspiration from the unique foraging behaviours and sexual cannibalism of praying mantises. The suggested MSA includes three stages of optimisation: prey pursuit, prey assault, and sexual cannibalism. It is created for the R.TC France PV cell and the Ultra 85-P PV panel related to Shell PowerMax for calculating PV parameters and examining six case studies utilising the one-diode model (1DM), two-diode model (1DM), and three-diode model (3DM). Its performance is assessed in contrast to recently developed optimisers of the neural network optimisation algorithm (NNA), dwarf mongoose optimisation (DMO), and zebra optimisation algorithm (ZOA). In light of the adopted MSA approach, simulation findings improve the electrical characteristics of solar power systems. The developed MSA methodology improves the 1DM, 2DM, and 3DM by 12.4%, 44.05%, and 48.88%, 28.96%, 43.19%, and 55.81%, 37.71%, 32.71%, and 60.13% relative to the DMO, NNA, and ZOA approaches, respectively. For the Ultra 85-P PV panel, the designed MSA technique achieves improvements for the 1DM, 2DM, and 3DM of 62.05%, 67.14%, and 84.25%, 49.05%, 53.57%, and 74.95%, 37.03%, 37.4%, and 59.57% compared to the DMO, NNA, and ZOA techniques, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of species in many genera of Neotropical Mantodea is a difficult task because of a lack of revisionary works with keys and illustrations of male genitalia. One of these genera is Pseudomiopteryx Saussure, 1870 , which is known to be composed of 10 species and one subspecies of small (19–25 mm) brownish praying mantises that live in the leaf litter of tropical forests of Central America, the Amazon, and the Andean tropics. The genus is revised and the known valid species are redescribed based mainly on type-material. The results yield 11 valid species, including a new species from Costa Rica: Pseudomiopteryx riverai sp. n. Pseudomiopteryx amazonensis Toledo-Piza, 1968 is a junior synonym of Pseudomiopteryx guyanensis Chopard, 1911 , and the subspecies Pseudomiopteryx bogotensis gorgonae Ariza & Salazar, 2005 was raised to species level. A syntype specimen of Pseudomiopteryx decipiens, Pseudomiopteryx guyanensis , and Pseudomiopteryx infuscata Saussure & Zehntner, 1894 was herein designated as the lectotype. New information on geographical distributions and natural history were given, and descriptions of the female, ootheca, and first instar nymph of Pseudomiopteryx spinifrons were presented. The geographical distributions of some species are extended. A key to males of all species is given, as well as detailed figures of male genitalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mantodea is a predatory insect group, its members occupying a diverse array of widely distributed habitats. Praying mantis species utilize hunting strategies including remarkable mimicry and unique camouflage for hiding from natural enemies while catching their prey. The emergence of a "cyclopean ear" in mantises is thought to be a morphological innovation of the group, and an "arms race" with echolocating bats is one of the hypotheses put forward to account for the emergence of the mantis ear from a coevolutionary perspective. However, this hypothesis has not been rigorously tested because of a lack of robust higher‐level phylogeny and a detailed chronogram of Mantodea. Previous phylogenetic studies found an incongruence between traditional classification and molecular phylogenetics due to the convergent evolution of various ecomorphic strategies of the lineage. Here, we performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Mantodea based on data from 61 mitogenomes. Our analyses showed that the monophyly of Acanthopidae, Haaniidae, Nanomantidae, Miomantidae and Mantidea was supported. The newly updated Gonypetidae were paraphyletic, whereas Eremiaphilidae, Deroplatyidae and Toxoderidae were polyphyletic. Our molecular dating analyses inferred that Spinomantodea originated at ca. 149 Ma (Late Jurassic), whereas the origin of hearing mantises (Cernomantodea) was inferred as Early Cretaceous (119 Ma, 95% CI: 110–129 Ma). The molecular dating results indicated that the hearing organ in mantises did not arise in response to bat predation. Our study provides a robust framework for further evolutionary comparative studies of mantises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the author's observations of female mantids' behavior in their garden, particularly focusing on the Rainbow Mantis. It mentions the author's observations which suggest that some female mantids tend to settle in one favorable place, with one individual observed for 214 days, raising questions about their behavior from nymph to adulthood and prompting the author to consider future updates.

Previous studies on stationary prey have found mixed results for the role of a glossy appearance in predator avoidance—some have found that glossiness can act as warning coloration or improve camouflage, whereas others detected no survival benefit. An alternative untested hypothesis is that glossiness could provide protection in the form of dynamic dazzle. Fast moving animals that are glossy produce flashes of light that increase in frequency at higher speeds, which could make it harder for predators to track and accurately locate prey. We tested this hypothesis by presenting praying mantids with glossy or matte targets moving at slow and fast speed. Mantids were less likely to strike glossy targets, independently of speed. Additionally, mantids were less likely to track glossy targets and more likely to hit the target with one out of the two legs that struck rather than both raptorial legs, but only when targets were moving fast. These results support the hypothesis that a glossy appearance may have a function as an antipredator strategy by reducing the ability of predators to track and accurately target fast moving prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author recounts his observation of a Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio foraging on hay meadows near village of Klimonty in Siedlce district, east-central Poland on August 30, 2020. He discusses the behavior of the bird, the prey items it was catching, and the widespread dispersal of the European Mantis across Europe.

The biology and distribution patterns of the Sahelian mantid species Nilomantis floweri are still insufficiently known. For the first time, records are confirmed of this species from Iran and the distribution map of its native range is updated. Records are compiled from the Sahel zone of North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and Iran. Detailed information on its biology, oothecal characteristics, male genitalia variation, and intraspecific molecular diversity in the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase are provided, and ecological niche modelling was used to gain insight into the overall species distribution and understand its climatic niche limits. Genetic analysis revealed only one haplotype shared between Iran and Oman. The Iranian populations likely represent two distinct clusters, both more related to the diverse Oman haplotypes than to each other. Based on new data, N. floweri appears to be mostly associated with coastal areas in southwestern Asia, with the vast majority of records found along the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Oman Gulf coasts. This distribution contrasts markedly with N. floweri records in the Sahel, where most collections have been reported in the transitional zone between the southern Sahara and arid thorn savannah, far off the coast. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of this still enigmatic mantid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recently reorganized classification of Mantodea has made significant progress in resolving past homoplasy problems, although some relationships among higher taxa remain uncertain. In the present study, we utilized newly sequenced mitogenomes and nuclear gene sequences of 23 mantid species, along with published data of 53 mantises, to perform familial-sampling structural comparisons of mantodean mitogenomes and phylogenomic studies. Our rstructural analysis revealed generally conserved mitogenome organizations, with a few cases of tRNA gene rearrangements, including the detection of trnL2 duplication for the first time. In our phylogenetic analysis, we found a high degree of compositional heterogeneity and lineage-specific evolutionary rates among mantodean mitogenomes, which frequently corresponded to several unexpected groupings in the topologies under site-homogeneous models. In contrast, the topologies obtained using the site-heterogeneous mixture model fit the currently accepted phylogeny of Mantodea better. Topology tests and four-cluster likelihood mapping analyses further determined the preferred topologies. Our phylogenetic results confirm the monophyly of superfamilial groups Schizomantodea, Amerimantodea, Heteromantodea, Promantidea, and Mantidea and recover the early-branching relationships as (Mantoidoidea + (Amerimantodea + (Metallyticoidea + Cernomantodea))). Additionally, the results suggest that the long-unresolved phylogenetic position of Majangidae should be placed within Mantidea, close to Mantoidea, rather than within Epaphroditoidea. Our findings contribute to understanding the compositional and structural diversity in mantodean mitogenomes, underscore the importance of evolutionary model selection in phylogenomic studies, and provide new insights into the high-level phylogeny of Mantodea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthopteroidea is an ecologically diverse group of incompletely transformed insects that includes several insect orders similar in development and structure. Many species from Dermaptera, Orthoptera, Mantodea, and Blattodea are sensitive to anthropogenic influences and are indicators of the external environment. Some species cause damage to agriculture and forestry; others are inhabitants of human dwellings and pests of food supplies. The aim of this study is to describe fauna of some orders of Orthopteroidea in the Republic of Mordovia, in the central part of European Russia. This study was conducted in April–October 1971, 1984, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2004–2023. All possible habitats were studied using a variety of methods (entomological traps, pitfall traps, pan traps, etc.). An acoustic method of species identification was also used. For each observation, the coordinates of location, abundance, and dates were recorded. The dataset contains 4865 occurrences. In total, 16,644 specimens of Orthopteroidea were studied. The dataset contains 71 species including Dermaptera (4), Orthoptera (62), Mantodea (1), and Blattodea (4). Of these, 13 species are identified for the first time in the region; these mainly inhabit steppe areas. The presence of two Orthoptera species has not been confirmed yet during our studies; these species are noted in this paper according an old published paper. The biodiversity of Mordovia includes 73 species from four orders. The biology of numerous species, their seasonal dynamics, and some descriptions of biotopes and number of new species are described. Dataset:  https://doi.org/10.15468/cmr3yy. Dataset License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major lineages of winged insects originated in the Carboniferous and most extant families stemmed 150 Ma later. Until now, no family from the Carboniferous was represented by a living species or by amber fossils, leaving a significant gap in our knowledge of early insects. Here, we report new phyloblattid cockroaches, previously known mainly from the Carboniferous, including an amber fossil with outstanding 3D preservation from around 100 Ma. They represent the longest-lasting cockroach lineage and offer an unprecedented window into the Palaeozoic evolution. Specimens from Cretaceous amber and from Permian sediments represent a new genus, revealing a singular example of persistent morphology among the fast-evolving cockroaches. Together with two new taxa from the intertrappean sediments of Russia, these confirm that this family survived the Permo-Triassic extinction and persisted 213 Ma, longer than any known (Carboniferous) insect family. The new fossils share characters with the two main lineages of living cockroaches, as well as mantises and termites, thus clarifying their divergence from Phyloblattidae or direcly descendant Liberiblattinidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During ontogenetic development, insects can undergo quite drastic changes (metamorphosis) until the adult stage is reached. A substantial part of this development in one group of Insecta, Holometabola, takes place during the pupa stage. Despite the pupa being recognised as an important phase, rather few depictions of pupae exist in the literature. We report here the first find of a fossil pupa of the lacewing group Mantispidae. The specimen represents an exuvia and is enclosed in Ukrainian Rovno amber, Eocene in age (c. 35-40 million years). We review the entire record of extant pupae of Mantispidae depicted in the literature or in online image repositories. With the aid of elliptic Fourier analysis, we compare the outline of the femur of the foreleg (raptorial appendage in the adults) of pupae and adults of Mantispidae. The pupae are all very similar concerning the femur, while the adults show a larger morphological diversity, particularly the extinct forms. Furthermore, our results indicate that the forelegs do not become increasingly complex throughout ontogenetic stages, but instead undergo an indirect development. According to the low variation in morphology seen in the pupa stage in Mantispidae, it is plausible that it represents a phylotypic stage for the group, i.e. a phase characterised by a significantly lower variability than other stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes which body parts have taste function in which insect taxa. Evidence of taste by mouthparts, antennae, and tarsi is widespread. Mouthparts that commonly have taste function are the labium, including the labella and labial palps, the maxillae, including the galeae and maxillary palps, the inner surface of the labrum or clypeolabrum of chewers, and inside the precibarium/cibarium of hemipterans, which have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Tasting with mandibles has not been found, and tasting with the hypopharynx is seldom reported. Use of the antennae appears uncommon among fly species, but common among species of lepidopterans, hymenopterans, beetles, and bugs. Although tasting with legs, especially tarsi, is reported mostly for fly and lepidopteran species, there is also evidence of it for multiple species of beetles, grasshoppers, and hemipterans, and one species of a roach, an ant, and a bee. Ovipositor taste function has been supported for some species of flies, lepidopterans, hymenopterans, orthopterans, and odonates. Taste by wings has been much less studied, but has been documented in a few fly species. Taste remains unstudied for any species or any body parts of Archaeognatha, Dermaptera, Mantodea, Mecoptera, Phasmatodea, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Phthiraptera, Psocoptera, Siphonaptera, as well as Raphidioptera, Strepsiptera, Embioptera, Notoptera, and Zoraptera. Across holometabolous insects, larvae have not often been examined, the exception being some species of lepidopterans, flies, and beetles. Taste studies of antenna and legs are uncommon for even lepidopteran and beetle larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noncopulatory cannibalism, which occurs when females attack and consume males instead of mating with them, could persist if it increases female fecundity more than it exacerbates reproductive failure. However, females that are facultatively parthenogenetic may be able to cannibalize indiscriminately since securing a mate is not necessary for reproduction when parthenogenesis is possible. We used an experimental approach to examine the economics of cannibalism with and without mating for female Miomantis caffra , a facultatively parthenogenetic mantis that shows high rates of noncopulatory cannibalism. If noncopulatory cannibalism is maintained by fecundity enhancement, we predicted that eating a male would boost female fitness regardless of mating status. If noncopulatory cannibalism persists by facilitating total mating avoidance, then we predicted that mating would be costly, and females would perform better via parthenogenesis than via sex. Contrary to our predictions, we found that mating once led to dramatically higher fitness than not mating, and cannibalizing a single male provided no overall fitness benefit to either mated or unmated females. Our results suggest that precopulatory cannibalism persists in M. caffra for reasons other than fecundity enhancement or total mating avoidance. • Females could cannibalize males without mating to increase fecundity. • But if parthenogenesis is possible, females might cannibalize to avoid mating. • In a facultatively parthenogenetic mantis, we found no evidence for either. • Lifetime fitness for females did not improve under cannibalism or parthenogenesis. • Cannibalism in this species is not selected to boost fecundity or prevent mating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mating with more than one male often provides direct or indirect benefits to female fitness but can also increase the chance of injury and death. Costs of mating are expected to increase linearly with increasing mating number. But how such costs interact with benefits to determine the net payoff of mating multiply is not well understood. Using the highly cannibalistic Springbok mantis, Miomantis caffra, a species where females are stabbed in the abdomen by males during violent premating struggles that males initiate to avoid being cannibalized, we took an experimental approach to assess the economics of polyandry under the risk of external, male‐inflicted injury. We predicted that females that mate multiply would be more likely to show abdominal injuries, have higher prereproductive mortality, produce fewer offspring and be more likely to engage in pre‐mating cannibalism to avoid unwanted matings. In line with our predictions, we found that the likelihood of abdominal injury was highest among females that mated at least once, and prereproductive death was highest among females that mated twice or three times. Virgin females completely avoided these costs and produced some offspring parthenogenetically but not enough to provide a net benefit. Although mating was better than not mating, there was no singularly optimal mating number: females that mated once and three times produced similarly high numbers of offspring from the first ootheca, which resulted in an intermediate trough in offspring production at two matings. We also found little evidence that cannibalism was deployed as a mate‐avoidance strategy: females consistently attacked and consumed males regardless of how many times they mated or how long they were housed with males. Our results suggest the possibility of two distinct mating strategies in M. caffra, where females either mate at a lower frequency to minimize costs or at a higher frequency to maximize benefits. We discuss possible explanations for this bimodal pattern in offspring production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article compares repetition in Zhuangzi and Jacques Lacan from three perspectives: repetition as a mechanism, a revelation, and a solution. First, repetition enables us to detect underlying structures. Zhuangzi loses himself in observing the intricate animal relationships (the mantis, cicada, magpie) without any knowledge of being watched over by a garden-keeper. Lacan rewrites these positions into three stages of human development. Repetition also serves as a revelation. The four repetitions of the magus' diagnoses reveal the shift from the transparent subject to the opaque subject. Lacan absorbs this mysterious Daoist concept and rewrites repetition as "an encounter with the real." Finally, to restore the symbiotic coexistence with things, Zhuangzi resorts to repetition. Like Zhuangzi, Lacan acknowledges the capacity for repetition to enable our encounter with the Real; unlike Zhuangzi, Lacan holds that the primary function of repetition is to "haul" the subject from collapsing into the Real. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The praying mantis Ameles spallanzania (Rossi, 1792) is reported for the first time from Bulgaria, as well as for the Black Sea Region. New data on the current distribution in Bulgaria of an alien mantis species, Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869, is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Chinese praying mantis, Tenodera sinensis (Saussure), is a carnivorous insect that preys on a variety of arthropods and small vertebrates, including pest species. Several studies have been conducted to understand its behavior and physiology. However, there is limited knowledge about the genetic information underlying its genome evolution, digestive demands, and predatory behaviors. Findings Here we have assembled the chromosome-level genome of T. sinensis , representing the first sequenced genome of the family Mantidae, with a genome size of 2.54 Gb and scaffold N50 of 174.78 Mb. Our analyses revealed that 98.6% of BUSCO genes are present, resulting in a well-annotated assembly compared to other insect genomes, containing 25,022 genes. The reconstructed phylogenetic analysis showed the expected topology placing the praying mantis in an appropriate position. Analysis of transposon elements suggested the Gypsy/Dirs family, which belongs to long terminal repeat (LTR) transposons, may be a key factor resulting in the larger genome size. The genome shows expansions in several digestion and detoxification associated gene families, including trypsin and glycosyl hydrolase (GH) genes, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter, and carboxylesterase (CarE), reflecting the possible genomic basis of digestive demands. Furthermore, we have found 1 ultraviolet-sensitive opsin and 2 long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsins, emphasizing the core role of LWS opsins in regulating predatory behaviors. Conclusions The high-quality genome assembly of the praying mantis provides a valuable repository for studying the evolutionary patterns of the mantis genomes and the gene expression profiles of insect predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-two species of Laboulbeniales are reported for the first time from Ukraine. They include Cantharomyces orientalis, Corethromyces laminifer, Dioicomyces anthici, Diphymyces niger, Eucantharomyces stammeri, Laboulbenia benjaminii, L. calathi, L. fasciculata, L. leisti, L. nana, L. notiophili, L. polystichi, L. slackensis, Peyritschiella hybrida, P. subinaequilatera, Rhachomyces insolitus, R. tenenbaumii, Rickia wasmannii, Smeringomyces anomalus, Stichomyces conosomatis, Stigmatomyces athyroglossae, S. cf. crassicollis, S. ephydrae, S. hydrelliae, S. limosinae, S. mantis, S. papuanus, S. parydrae, S. purpureus, S. rugosus, S. scaptomyzae, Zeugandromyces orientalis. The genera Corethromyces, Dioicomyces, Diphymyces, Eucantharomyces, Peyritschiella, Smeringomyces, Stichomyces, and Zeugandromyces are reported from Ukraine for the first time as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Praying mantids (class Insecta, order Mantodea) are a group of predatory insects comprising approximately 2500 described species, that occur across all continents except Antarctica, with the greatest species diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Mantids predominantly prey on other invertebrates but are known to feed on small vertebrates. During April and May 2021, we observed mantid feeding events in Manujan County, Kerman Province in southern Iran. Two distinct feeding events were observed where female European Mantids (Mantis religiosa) preyed on Purple Sunbird (Cinnyris asiaticus) and Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) nestlings. In addition, we collated information from online searches of mantids feeding on nestlings elsewhere in the world, revealing two more observations. In Taiwan, a Giant Asian Mantid (Hierodula patellifera) was recorded preying on a nestling Warbling White‐eye (Zosterops japonicus) and in Brazil, a mantid (Stagmatoptera sp.) was recorded feeding on a nestling White‐throated Seedeater (Sporophila albogularis). To date, the only existing scientific evidence of praying mantids feeding on passerine nestlings was recorded in 1922. We propose two potential explanations for the observed trophic interactions between mantids and passerine nestlings: (1) during egg production female mantids, especially those in poor physical condition, may opportunistically feed on nestlings in order to increase fecundity via nutrient gain and (2) mantids may initially be attracted toward the nest by parasitic or coprophagous insects, as a result of poor nest sanitation, and subsequently prey on nestlings after detecting movements. Our unusual observations represent the first records of praying mantids feeding on nestling passerines in nearly 100 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atmospheres of ultra hot Jupiters (UHJs) are prime targets for the detection of molecules and atoms at both low and high spectral resolution. We study the atmospheres of the UHJs WASP-121b and WASP-189b by performing 3D general circulation models (GCMs) of these planets using high temperature correlated-k opacity schemes with ultra-violet (UV) absorbing species included. The GCM results are then post-processed at low and high spectral resolutions and compared to available data. The high resolution results are cross-correlated with molecular and atomic templates to produce mock molecular detections. Our GCM models produce similar temperature-pressure (T-p) structure trends to previous 1D radiative-convective equilibrium models of UHJs. Furthermore, the inclusion of UV opacities greatly shapes the thermal and dynamical properties of the high-altitude, low-pressure regions of the UHJ atmospheres, with sharp T-p inversions due to the absorption of UV light. This suggests that optical wavelength, high-resolution observations probe a dynamically distinct upper atmospheric region, rather than the deeper jet forming layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic distribution of the European mantis, Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in Europe covers mostly southern and central Europe, but this species has recently shown a significant northward spread. First reports of M. religiosa in Lithuania were in 2008 and now these insects are distributed throughout this country. Information on the spread of M. religiosa in Lithuania between 2015 and 2020 are analysed in this paper. The spread of this insect in Lithuania and neighbouring countries can be related to changes in climate, in particular, the increase in average annual temperature and milder winters. Possible routes along which M. religiosa spread northwards based on an analysis of mtDNA sequences are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution models (SDMs) have conventionally been used for evaluating the distribution of individual species, but they can also be used, through comparing different SDMs, to evaluate the geographic similarity between taxa. In this study, we used a parasite and host system to infer the geographic overlaps between species with tight biological interaction, for example, parasites and their obligate host. Specifically, we used the horsehair worm Chordodes formosanus and its three mantis hosts to study the extent of niche overlap. We retrieved presence points for the host species and the parasite, and then we built SDMs with MaxEnt implemented in ENMeval using selected bioclim variables (based on variance inflation factor values) at 30s scale. The models showed that the hosts and parasite do not occur in the high elevation areas in Taiwan, which is expected based on their biology. Interestingly, the predicted parasite distribution included areas without collection records, implying local extinction or sampling bias. We subsequently evaluated niche overlap between hosts and the parasite according to five similarity indices (Schoener's D, I statistic, relative rank, Pearson correlation coefficient, and the rank correlation coefficient rho). Our models showed a high similarity of SDM predictions between hosts and the parasite. There were differences among metrics for which host shared the highest similarity with the parasite, but the majority of the results indicated that the Japanese boxing mantis had the highest niche similarity with the horsehair worm. The choice of the niche overlap metric to use can uncover information on the parasite's ecology, which can be important for endangered species. SDMs are reliable tools for host and parasite conservation management and could help improve our understanding of parasite biology and ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identified an alien praying mantis found in Japan as the giant Asian mantis Hierodula chinensis by observing the characteristics of male genitalia. Nymphs hatched from oothecae collected in Nara Prefecture, Japan, were reared in a breeding room and compared with nymphs of the native Japanese species H. patellifera. Different from H. patellifera, the H. chinensis individuals passed through 5–7 nymphal instars before emerging as adults. The body color of the H. chinensis nymphs was brownish gray in the first instar, whereas the second and later instars were green. Unlike H. chinensis, H. patellifera had mottled patterns all over its body during the first to third instar. The first to third instar nymphs of H. chinensis had mottled patterns on the femurs of their forelegs, which is a diagnostic characteristic that no native praying mantis species has. From the fourth instar, 7–10 dorsal spines were observed on the foreleg coxa of H. chinensis, whereas only 3 or 4 spines were observed in H. patellifera. These findings show that H. chinensis and H. patellifera can be distinguished in all nymphal instars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic distribution of the European mantis, Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) in Europe covers mostly southern and central Europe, but this species has recently shown a signifi cant northward spread. First reports of M. religiosa in Lithuania were in 2008 and now these insects are distributed throughout this country. Information on the spread of M. religiosa in Lithuania between 2015 and 2020 are analysed in this paper. The spread of this insect in Lithuania and neighbouring countries can be related to changes in climate, in particular, the increase in average annual temperature and milder winters. Possible routes along which M. religiosa spread northwards based on an analysis of mtDNA sequences are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: There are many more wild cockroaches than household species, but they mostly live a similar life to the latter, feeding on dead and inactive organic material, and hiding in confined spaces. Most of the fossil cockroaches are similar to modern ones in their general appearance, so the lifestyle of the fossil species is probably similar to that of modern cockroaches. Years ago, a unique fossil cockroach, Manipulator modificaputis Vršanský and Bechly, 2015, was discovered from Cretaceous Myanmar amber. This species somewhat resembles mantises and was speculated to be a predator. However, this hypothesis is debatable. In the present study, we redescribe Manipulator modificaputis based on new material, and describe a closely related new species, Manipulatoides obscura gen. & sp. nov. We discuss the feeding habit of these species, and consider that they tend to live around and feed on flowers (as occasionally do some modern cockroaches), instead of hunting for prey. So far, no cockroaches specialized in predation have been affirmed. Manipulator modificaputis Vršanský and Bechly, 2015 (Manipulatoridae, Corydioidea) is a purported predatory cockroach from Cretaceous Myanmar amber, based on a single male. It is distinctive by the nimble head, elongate pronotum and legs, and particularly by the extraordinarily long maxillary palpi. In the present study, we redescribe Manipulator modificaputis based on six new fossils including males and females, and comment on the original description. The closely related Manipulatoides obscura gen. & sp. nov. is proposed on the basis of five fossils, including males and females. It differs from Manipulator in weaker spination of the legs, including the type-C forefemoral spination instead of the type-A of Manipulator. Some undetermined adults and nymphs are also described. We discuss the ethology of Manipulatoridae and speculate that they might feed on flowers. They are unlikely to be specialized predators since they lack necessary weaponry for capturing prey; in contrast, their unique morphotype appears to be suitable for efficient foraging and locomotion amid flowering twigs. The possibility of being kleptoparasites of the spider-web is also discussed. In addition, regenerated four-segmented tarsi are found from the new species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Rampant morphological homoplasy in Mantodea has confused systematists for a long time. The leaf-like pronotum was long thought to be one of the key characteristics of Rhombodera in Hierodulinae. In this study, we describe a new species of Rhombodera and discuss the phylogeny as well as complex convergent evolution of leaf-like pronotum in Hierodulinae based on the combination of morphological and mitogenome data. The results reveal the unnatural grouping of the current classification in Hierodula and Rhombodera, rendering the well-developed lateral expansion invalid as the diagnosis of Rhombodera. Mapping the pronotal-foliaceous trait onto our phylogenetic tree show that the origin in multiple lineages of this trait in Hierodulinae may have adaptive significance. The congruent results of the group division between mitochondrial phylogenomics and morphology of male genitalia also highlight the capacity of the use of mitogenomes in resolving the derived mantodean phylogenetic relationship. Hierodulinae is a species-rich mantid subfamily, with some species bearing a notable leaf-like pronotum. However, the evolutionary pattern and taxonomic significance of the leaf-like pronotum are largely unknown. Here, we present a phylogenomic analysis of the Hierodulinae genera Rhombodera Burmeister, 1838, and Hierodula Burmeister, 1838 based on mitochondrial genomes. We also describe a new species, namely Rhombodera hyalina sp. nov. from Guangxi, China. Our phylogenetic result, together with the evidence from male genitalia, suggests the division of the Oriental Hierodula and Rhombodera complex into three clades. We find a complex pattern on the evolution of the leaf-like pronotum, which is present in at least five lineages, respectively, of the above three clades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Pliacanthopus Giglio-Tos previously included two subgenera and five species, among which one species P. (Malayamantis) bimaculatus (Wang, 1993) is distributed in south-western China, and the other four are distributed in south-eastern Asia. Here, the identification of this genus is reviewed, P. (M.) bimaculatus is redescribed in detail, and one new species, P. (M.) tricolor Wu and Liu sp. nov., is described from the Himalayas. A key to the species of Pliacanthopus, necessary illustrations and life images of Pliacanthopus species are presented. The updated distribution of the genus Pliacanthopus is mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical defense is a widespread anti-predator strategy exhibited by organisms, with individuals either synthesizing or extrinsically acquiring defensive chemicals. In some species, such defences can also be transferred among conspecifics. Here, we tested the effects of pharmacophagy on the defense capability of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae, which can acquire neo-clerodane diterpenoids (clerodanoids) via pharmacophagy when having access to the plant Ajuga reptans. We show that clerodanoid access mediates protection against predation by mantids for the sawflies, both in a no-choice feeding assay and a microcosm setup. Even indirect access to clerodanoids, via nibbling on conspecifics that had access to the plant, resulted in protection against predation albeit to a lower degree than direct access. Furthermore, sawflies that had no direct access to clerodanoids were consumed less frequently by mantids when they were grouped with conspecifics that had direct access. Most, but not all, of such initially undefended sawflies could acquire clerodanoids from conspecifics that had direct access to the plant, although in low quantities. Together our results demonstrate that clerodanoids serve as a chemical defense that can also be transferred by interactions among conspecifics. Moreover, the presence of chemically defended individuals in a group can confer protection onto conspecifics that had no direct access to clerodanoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Mantodea is regarded as an excellent material to study the gene rearrangements and large non-coding regions (LNCRs) in mitochondrial genomes. Meanwhile, as a result of the convergent evolution and parallelism, the gene rearrangements and LNCRs are specific to some taxonomic groups within Mantodea, which play an important role in phylogenetic relationship research. Nine mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from four newly established families of praying mantises are obtained and annotated. Eight types of gene rearrangements, including four novel types of gene rearrangements in Mantodea, are detected, which can be explained by the tandem replication-random loss (TDRL) model. Moreover, one conserved motif between trnI-trnQ is detected in Toxoderidae. This study shed light on the formation mechanisms of these gene rearrangements and LNCRs in four newly established families of praying mantises. Long non-coding regions (NCRs) and gene rearrangements are commonly seen in mitochondrial genomes of Mantodea and are primarily focused on three regions: CR-I-Q-M-ND2, COX2-K-D-ATP8, and ND3-A-R-N-S-E-F-ND5. In this study, eight complete and one nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of praying mantises were acquired for the purpose of discussing mitochondrial gene rearrangements and phylogenetic relationships within Mantodea, primarily in the newly established families Haaniidae and Gonypetidae. Except for Heterochaeta sp. JZ-2017, novel mitochondrial gene arrangements were detected in Cheddikulama straminea, Sinomiopteryx graham, Pseudovates chlorophaea, Spilomantis occipitalis. Of note is the fact that one type of novel arrangement was detected for the first time in the Cyt b-S2-ND1 region. This could be reliably explained by the tandem replication-random loss (TDRL) model. The long NCR between trnT and trnP was generally found in Iridopteryginae and was similar to the ND4L or ND6 gene. Combined with gene rearrangements and intergenic regions, the monophyly of Haaniidae was supported, whereas the paraphyly of Gonypetidae was recovered. Furthermore, several synapomorphies unique to some clades were detected that conserved block sequences between trnI and trnQ and gaps between trnT and trnP in Toxoderidae and Iridopteryginae, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation In the past few years, researchers have proposed numerous indexing schemes for searching large datasets of raw sequencing experiments. Most of these proposed indexes are approximate (i.e. with one-sided errors) in order to save space. Recently, researchers have published exact indexes—Mantis, VariMerge and Bifrost—that can serve as colored de Bruijn graph representations in addition to serving as k -mer indexes. This new type of index is promising because it has the potential to support more complex analyses than simple searches. However, in order to be useful as indexes for large and growing repositories of raw sequencing data, they must scale to thousands of experiments and support efficient insertion of new data. Results In this paper, we show how to build a scalable and updatable exact raw sequence-search index. Specifically, we extend Mantis using the Bentley–Saxe transformation to support efficient updates, called Dynamic Mantis. We demonstrate Dynamic Mantis's scalability by constructing an index of ≈ 40 K samples from SRA by adding samples one at a time to an initial index of 10K samples. Compared to VariMerge and Bifrost, Dynamic Mantis is more efficient in terms of index-construction time and memory, query time and memory and index size. In our benchmarks, VariMerge and Bifrost scaled to only 5K and 80 samples, respectively, while Dynamic Mantis scaled to more than 39K samples. Queries were over 24 × faster in Mantis than in Bifrost (VariMerge does not immediately support general search queries we require). Dynamic Mantis indexes were about 2.5 × smaller than Bifrost's indexes and about half as big as VariMerge's indexes. Availability and implementation Dynamic Mantis implementation is available at https://github.com/splatlab/mantis/tree/mergeMSTs. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a simple model which can account for the stereoscopic sensitivity of praying mantis predatory strikes. The model consists of a single "disparity sensor": a binocular neuron sensitive to stereoscopic disparity and thus to distance from the animal. The model is based closely on the known behavioural and neurophysiological properties of mantis stereopsis. The monocular inputs to the neuron reflect temporal change and are insensitive to contrast sign, making the sensor insensitive to interocular correlation. The monocular receptive fields have a excitatory centre and inhibitory surround, making them tuned to size. The disparity sensor combines inputs from the two eyes linearly, applies a threshold and then an exponent output nonlinearity. The activity of the sensor represents the model mantis's instantaneous probability of striking. We integrate this over the stimulus duration to obtain the expected number of strikes in response to moving targets with different stereoscopic disparity, size and vertical disparity. We optimised the parameters of the model so as to bring its predictions into agreement with our empirical data on mean strike rate as a function of stimulus size and disparity. The model proves capable of reproducing the relatively broad tuning to size and narrow tuning to stereoscopic disparity seen in mantis striking behaviour. Although the model has only a single centre-surround receptive field in each eye, it displays qualitatively the same interaction between size and disparity as we observed in real mantids: the preferred size increases as perceived prey distance increases beyond the preferred distance. We show that this occurs because of a stereoscopic "false match" between the leading edge of the stimulus in one eye and its trailing edge in the other; further work will be required to find whether such false matches occur in real mantises. Importantly, the model also displays realistic responses to stimuli with vertical disparity and to pairs of identical stimuli offering a "ghost match", despite not being fitted to these data. This is the first image-computable model of insect stereopsis, and reproduces key features of both neurophysiology and striking behaviour. Author summary: The praying mantis is the only insect so far known to compute depth using stereoscopic (3D) vision. Mantis stereopsis appears to be simpler than human stereopsis and most machine sterovision algorithms. A computational model of mantis stereopsis may therefore be beneficial to the field of robotics, particularly where computational power is limited. Using a combination of behavioural observations and neurophysiological data, we propose a very simple model structure to describe the prey capture response in the praying mantis. We used the limited available data on the mantis' size and distance preferences for its prey to train our model parameters. Our simple model is able to qualitatively reproduce previously unexplained characteristics of our training data, and predicts key observations in additional empirical data that was not included in the model training. Whilst we believe our model to be only a partial and heavily simplified account of mantis stereopsis, our results are supportive of our model structure as an approximation of the size and disparity sensors used by the mantis when catching its prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]