Internal state effects on behavioral shifts in freely behaving praying mantises (Tenodera sinensis)

How we interact with our environment largely depends on both the external cues presented by our surroundings and the internal state from within. Internal states are the ever-changing physiological conditions that communicate the immediate survival needs and motivate the animal to behaviorally fulfill them. Satiety level constitutes such a state, and therefore has a dynamic influence on the output behaviors of an animal. In predatory insects like the praying mantis, hunting tactics, grooming, and mating have been shown to change hierarchical organization of behaviors depending on satiety. Here, we analyze behavior sequences of freely hunting praying mantises (Tenodera sinensis) to explore potential differences in sequential patterning of behavior as a correlate of satiety. First, our data supports previous work that showed starved praying mantises were not just more often attentive to prey, but also more often attentive to further prey. This was indicated by the increased time fraction spent in attentive bouts such as prey monitoring, head turns (to track prey), translations (closing the distance to the prey), and more strike attempts. With increasing satiety, praying mantises showed reduced time in these behaviors and exhibited them primarily towards close-proximity prey. Furthermore, our data demonstrates that during states of starvation, the praying mantis exhibits a stereotyped pattern of behavior that is highly motivated by prey capture. As satiety increased, the sequenced behaviors became more variable, indicating a shift away from the necessity of prey capture to more fluid presentations of behavior assembly.

Beetle bombing always deters praying mantises

Some animals have evolved chemical weapons to deter predators. Bombardier beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) can eject toxic chemicals at temperatures of 100 °C from the tips of their abdomens, ‘bombing’ the attackers. Although some bombardier beetles can reportedly deter predators, few studies have tested whether bombing is essential for successful defence. Praying mantises (Mantodea) are ambush predators that attack various arthropods. However, it is unclear whether bombardier beetles deter mantises. To test the defensive function of bombing against praying mantises, I observed three mantis species, Tenodera sinensis, Tenodera angustipennis, and Hierodula patellifera (Mantidae), attacking the bombardier beetle Pheropsophus jessoensis (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) under laboratory conditions. All mantises easily caught the beetles using their raptorial forelegs, but released them immediately after being bombed. All of the counterattacked mantises were observed to groom the body parts sprayed with hot chemicals after releasing the beetles. When treated P. jessoensis that were unable to eject hot chemicals were provided, all mantises successfully caught and devoured the treated beetles. Therefore, bombing is essential for the successful defence of P. jessoensis against praying mantises. Consequently, P. jessoensis can always deter mantises.

Data Terbaru Jenis-Jenis Belalang Sembah (Mantodea) di Desa Serdang Menang

Data belalang sembah (Mantodea) di Desa Serdang Menang pada tahun 2018 menunjukkan hanya terdapat 1 spesies yang ditemukan. Jumlah ini dinilai terlalu sendikit dan perkirakan masih ada spesies belalang sembah lainnya yang belum ditemukan pada penelitian sebelumnya, untuk itu diperlukan penelitan lanjutan mengenai jenis-jenis belalang sembah di Desa Serdang Menang dalam upaya melengkapi data penelitian sebelumnya. Hasil penelitian terbaru ditemukan 3 spesies belalang sembah yaitu Hierodula patellifera, Statilia maculata dan Tenodera sinensis yang termasuk dalam famili mantidae. Total 3 spesies yang didapat lebih mudah untuk ditemukan pada kawasan persawahan serta Hierodula patellifera dan Statilia maculata diperkiran populasinya lebih banyak dibanding Tenodera sinensis. Keberadaan belalang sembah di Desa Serdang Menang di harapkan dapat membantu dalam mengontrol populasi serangga yang bersifat merugikan.

Data Terbaru Jenis-Jenis Belalang Sembah (Mantodea) di Desa Serdang Menang

Data belalang sembah (Mantodea) di Desa Serdang Menang pada tahun 2018 menunjukkan hanya terdapat 1 spesies yang ditemukan. Jumlah ini dinilai terlalu sendikit dan perkirakan masih ada spesies belalang sembah lainnya yang belum ditemukan pada penelitian sebelumnya, untuk itu diperlukan penelitan lanjutan mengenai jenis-jenis belalang sembah di Desa Serdang Menang dalam upaya melengkapi data penelitian sebelumnya. Hasil penelitian terbaru ditemukan 3 spesies belalang sembah yaitu Hierodula patellifera, Statilia maculata dan Tenodera sinensis yang termasuk dalam famili mantidae. Total 3 spesies yang didapat lebih mudah untuk ditemukan pada kawasan persawahan serta Hierodula patellifera dan Statilia maculata diperkiran populasinya lebih banyak dibanding Tenodera sinensis. Keberadaan belalang sembah di Desa Serdang Menang di harapkan dapat membantu dalam mengontrol populasi serangga yang bersifat merugikan.