Concomitancy of Entomophilous and Soil Transmitted Nematodes in Selected Insects

Aim: To determine the occurrence of entomophilous and soil transmitted nematodes of three insect species; Zonocerus variegatus, Gryllotalpa orientalis and Mantis religiosa in Obio Akpor, Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: The insect samples were collected with entomological sweep net as described by Colwell [1] and pitfall traps as described by Davies [2]. Insect samples were dissected using Stubbins’ method [3] while nematodes in the insects were isolated and identified according to Cheesborough, (2005). Results: Two hundred and forty-eight (248) insect specimens comprising; Z. variegatus 193 (77.8%), G. orientalis 42(16.9%) and Mantis religiosa 13(5.2%) were collected from designated ecological settings based on availability and trapping efficiency. Out of the 248 insects sampled; 145 (58.5%) were infected with three genera of nematodes comprising; Ascaris lumbricoides; 17 (7.5%), Mermis Spp., 148 (65.5%) and Trilabiatus lignicolus 61(27.0%). Mermis Spp., an entomophilous nematode occurred in Z. variegatus and Mantis religiosa due to host specific factors. Nematode occurrence in the host did not indicate sex relationship (P>0.05) however, hosts age influenced parasite occurrence as older insects harbored more parasites (P<0.05). Trilabiatus lignicolus; a free-living soil nematode and A. lumbricoides; a soil transmitted helminthes found in the guts of Z. variegatus and G orientalis was attributed to the feeding habits of the insects. Conclusion: The study indicated that Z. variegatus and G. orientalis as veritable vectors of soil transmitted nematodes while Z. variegatus and Mantis religiose are suitable host of the entomophilous nematode Mermis Spp.

The praying mantises of the Maltese Islands: distribution and ecology (Mantodea)

This study presents a species account of the mantises of the Maltese Islands, including notes on the ecology and distribution of each species. A total of three species are known to exist locally; Ameles spallanzania (Rossi, 1792), Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758) and Rivetina baetica Rambur, 1839. The presence of Ameles decolor (Charpentier, 1825) cannot be confirmed by any recently collected material, but the species is not excluded from the Maltese entomofauna. Two doubtful records are also discussed. All species present in the archipelago are typically found in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin.

Effects of projected climate change on the distribution of <i>Mantis religiosa</i> suggest expansion followed by contraction

Climate change influences the global and regional distribution of many species. For thermophilic insects, range expansions towards the north and to higher elevations are expected in the course of climatic warming across the Northern Hemisphere. The distribution of the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) has recently expanded from Mediterranean regions in France to Hesse in central Germany. This is interpreted as a response to rising mean temperatures, and further northward expansion is expected to occur with increasing climate warming. In this study, potential changes in the regional distribution across Hesse were modeled for Mantis religiosa using the present distribution and climate across Europe as the baseline. We estimated potential changes in the regional distribution for two time periods until 2080 based on two climate change scenarios. The results showed that the current range of M. religiosa in Hesse is smaller than expected based on its climatic niche, i.e., the distribution is not in equilibrium with the present climate. With climate warming the model predicts an expansion of the potential distribution for the period 2041–2060. For the period 2061–2080, our model predicts, however, a range contraction in spite of continued warming. This unexpected result warrants further investigation in order to elucidate whether the ongoing climate change may have negative consequences for thermophilic species such as M. religiosa.

Création de nouvelles prairies dans le réseau écologique « La Frontière » VD et effets sur les orthoptères (Insecta: Orthoptera)

Le réseau écologique Paysage « La Frontière » situé à l’ouest du canton de Vaud est composé de près de 700 surfaces de promotion de la biodiversité (SPB) totalisant plus de 500 ha. Dans ce cadre, plus de 150 ha de nouvelles prairies naturelles, pour la plupart plantées de haies et d’arbres, forment la pièce centrale de l’infrastructure écologique de ce réseau. Elles remplacent des grandes cultures (terres assolées) et ont été mises en place par la méthode de l’enherbement direct (fleurs de foin). Les orthoptères et la mante religieuse (Mantis religiosa) ont été choisis comme bio-indicateurs pour évaluer la richesse spécifique et la vitesse de colonisation de ces nouvelles surfaces. Les relevés orthoptériques ont été effectués, entre 2014 et 2018, sur 33 nouvelles prairies et ont été comparés à 13 prairies naturelles anciennes extensives. En moyenne, le nombre d’espèces par prairie était de 9.3 (dont 1.7 sur la Liste rouge) dans les nouvelles prairies et de 11.5 (2.6) dans les prairies anciennes. Statistiquement, il n’y a aucune différence significative entre les deux types de prairies. Aucune corrélation entre le nombre d’années après la mise en place des nouvelles prairies et le nombre d’espèces recensées par prairie n’a été détectée, indiquant une colonisation rapide des nouvelles prairies. Parmi les espèces d’orthoptères cibles du réseau écologique cantonal, figurant également sur la Liste rouge, six sont présentes dans les prairies anciennes comme dans les nouvelles. Parmi ces dernières, Metrioptera bicolor et Euchorthippus declivus étaient présentes dans près de 60% des prairies. Les résultats montrent l’importance d’une répartition dense de prairies à la fois de bonne qualité (enherbement direct) et exploitée extensivement avec des zones refuges. Ils soulignent également l’importance des prairies anciennes et des aires naturelles protégées comme réservoirs pour la restauration de la biodiversité dans les paysages agricoles.

A new species of Reticulolaelaps Costa (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) from the Iberian Peninsula, with a key to world species

A new species, Reticulolaelaps caditanus n. sp., is described based on adult females found in an oothecal cell of Mantis religiosa. The species has several morphological characteristics, including the presence of presternal shields, endopodal III-IV widely connected with sternal shield, 50 pairs of dorsal setae and at least 11 setae x, curly and barbed, and thin and smooth ventral setae including six pairs of setae on the genitoventral shield. A revised diagnosis of the genus with the addition of new characters and a key to the world species of the genus are provided.

Un puente entre sujeto y objeto. El humor en la poesía de José Watanabe

RESUMEN: Este artículo es un análisis de tres poemas por José Watanabe: «La mantis religiosa», «Fábula» y «Camello». El enfoque está en examinar la relación entre sujeto y objeto dentro de los poemas, partiendo del tema del humor según los planteamientos de Simon Critchley. Esto conduce a una refl exión sobre la condición del ser humano y su relación con las leyes de la naturaleza.ABSTRACT: This article is an analysis of three poems by José Watanabe: “La mantis religiosa”, “Fábula”, and “Camello”. The main point is to examine the relationship between subject and object within the poems, taking into consideration humor as a central theme. The concept and understanding of humor are based on the ideas of philosopher Simon Critchley. The analysis is conducive to a refl ection on the condition of being human and his/her relations to the laws of nature.