Diversity and Morphometric of Oothecae of Mantids in District Mirpurkhas, Sindh

During the present study (May to October, 2018) 319 specimens and 49 oothecae were collected from bushes, grasses, open grounds, crops, on the bark of the trees and the field where there is no tillage by hand picking, insect net and light trap methods. Oothecae of species were reared and processed according to (Ursani et al., 2017). The oothecae were kept at an Average temperature and humidity between 28.2±0.47 to 38.78±0.47oC, 57.6±0.55 to 72.6% and were held in reserve in fish aquarium like glass houses and top of reserve enclosed with fine mesh nylon cloths. These houses were refined bushy and muddy as compared with the natural habitats of praying mantids. Soon after hatching in the same way nymphs were transferred in other glass houses with 2 feet height and width and 4 feet length. For maintaining glass house temperature during day and night a bulb was fixed, in winters bulb was brought closer to glass houses while during hot temperature it was maintained on distant or switched off.

For the present survey 03 families, Empusidae, Eremiaphilidae and Mantidae were collected from ten agricultural sites, The Mantidae is the largest occurring family and Empusidae is least occurring family, and 06 genera and 06 species recorded (Table I and II). Maximum number of specimens was collected of family mantidae. Mantis religiosa religiosa (Linneaus 1758) species was found from almost all the visited localities of District Mirpurkhas. Other collected species were Tenodera attenuata (Stoll 1937), Sphoodromantis trancaucasica (Stoll, 1937), Empusa unicornis (Linnaeus, 1763), Microthespis dmitrievi (werner 1708), Humbetiella indica (Saussure, 1869). Together with specimens 40 Ootheca were also collected and after the assortment and identification the eggs were of three species i-e Mantis religiosa religiosa (Linnaeus 1758), Tenodera attenuata (Stoll 1937) and Humbetiella indica (Saussure, 1869).

Note: (+) sign indicates the presence of species while (-) sign indicates absence of the species. MK, Mataro Khaskheli; GQM, Ghulam Qadir Mari; DL, Dolat Laghari; KS, Khadim Ali Shah; BM, Bair Mori; SA, Shuja Abad; KG, Kot Ghulam Mohammad; JT, Jhudo Taluka; ST, Sindhri Taluka; HT, Hussain Bux Mari Taluka.

The oothecae of species were reared in Zoology laboratory of DNMMGDC Village Sadiq Memon, Tando Allahyar near MirpurKhas and were processed according to (Ursani et al., 2017) and standard entomological methods to take measurement of Oothecae. Specimen’s progression was according to model entomological methods and Egg case or oothecae measured in mm (Table III) and were held in reserve in fish aquarium like glass houses and top of reserve enclosed with fine mesh nylon cloths. These houses were refined bushy and muddy as compared with the natural habitats of praying mantids (Fig. 1). Average temperature and humidity was adjusted between 28.2 ± 0.47 to 38.78 ± 0.47 oC, 57.6 ± 0.55 to 72.6%. 40 number of oothecae was collected out of which 3 species oothecae were sorted out (i.e. Tenodera attenuata, Mantis religiosa, Humbertiella indica). Some of the oothecae were remain unknown due to denatured state of Oothecae or their already hatching. Three healthy Oothecae of Tenodera attenuata species selected to see hatching status of eggs (Table IV).

During survey it was observed that mantid biodiversity and species richness is somewhat stable at natural habitats where no tillage, no pesticides spray were used and also where there is no bi-annual cultivation. While in cultivated areas species richness decreases. The species Tenodera attenuata was reared in the laboratory as is the foremost occurring species throughout Sindh province and grow huge and feed many insect pests in comparison of other species of praying mantids. Reared Tenodera species recorded longevity period in female is 165± days (around 6 months) and in male longevity observed is 134± days (around 4 months). So, females have elongated longevity than males. During rearing it has been observed that the females of Tenodera attenuata species are more pitiless and eager prey feeders, spend more time in hunting and eating anything but adults males lazy and rarely hunting. However, the cannibalistic behavior was not recorded as both partners live freely, attack and feed on other insects rather to eat themselves. Mating takes 2 h to complete and after few days female deposited its eggs within a foamy light brown Oothecae. Females after mating laid 1-3 times oothecae but 1st Ootheca were healthy then 2nd and 3rd.

We are grateful to former Chairperson and Professor Tahira Jabeen Ursani, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh for going through the manuscript and giving valuable suggestions.

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.