Praying mantids

Praying mantids (15-20 Photos)

Praying mantids are excellent predatory insects seen in cashew plantations. They feed on wide range of pests including bugs, moths, beetles, weevils, grasshoppers caterpillars, ants, spiders etc.

A total of 16 species of praying mantids, belonging to seven families and ten sub families were recorded in cashew plantations. Among the families, Hymenopodidae and Mantidae members were represented by five species each. Whereas, Iridopterygidae Liturgusidae, Tarachodidae, Empusidae and Toxoderidae were represented by a single species only.

Though nymphs and adults of various mantid species were sporadically noticed from the mid rainy season (July) to summer season (April), mantids were frequent during flushing and flowering periods of cashew. Different niche requirements were witnessed for different praying mantid species.

Among the mantids, Eunatissa pulchra and Ephestiasula pictipes dominate the canopy area, while, Humbertiella similis dominate the trunk region of cashew followed by E. lata. 

Some mantid species can be reared successfully under laboratory conditions using several prey insects including greater wax moth larvae as pray.   High fertility, high fecundity, shorter life cycle, multivoltinism, suitability for captive breeding are the advantageous characteristics for mass culture and inundative releases. These mantids appear to be potential candidates for biological control of insect pests of cashew and can be integrated in future IPM strategies. Nevertheless, strategies are required to ensure establishment and further conservation of mantids in cashew plantations to assess its pest management efficiency.