Mantids
Systematic position: Mantidae belong to the order Mantodea. These insects are well-known predators. In agricultural settings, they are classified as beneficial insects rather than pests, as their feeding habits focus exclusively on other arthropods.
What the section contains
Ameles
Ameles
Ameles decolor
Ameles decolor
Australian wood mantis
Tenodera australasiae
Carolina mantis
Stagmomantis carolina
Chinese mantis
Tenodera augustipennis
Chinese mantis
Tenodera sinensis
European mantis
Mantis religiosa
European mantis
Mantis
Green Burmeister Mantis
Orthodera burmeisteri
Iris fly
Iris
Iris oratoria
Iris oratoria
Orthodera
Orthodera
Panurgica
Panurgica
Panurgica compressicollis
Panurgica compressicollis
Spallanzani mantis
Ameles spallanzania
Stagmomantis mantis
Stagmomantis
Tenodera
Tenodera
Mantids
Crops affected: Mantids do not feed on crops or plants. They do not cause mechanical damage to leaves, stems, or fruits. Their presence in an agricultural field is incidental, as they use various plants merely as perches to ambush their prey.
Biology and life cycle: The life cycle involves incomplete metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs are laid in a structure called an ootheca, which protects the offspring during winter. Nymphs emerge and begin hunting immediately, growing through multiple molts until they reach adulthood.
Damage and pest status: They are not considered pests in any capacity. They do not damage crops; instead, they serve as biological control agents by consuming various agricultural pests, including grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars, effectively reducing the need for chemical insecticides.
Control measures: No control measures are necessary, as they provide valuable ecosystem services. Integrated pest management strategies encourage the preservation of mantid habitats, such as hedgerows and unsprayed field margins, to maintain high levels of natural predation in crops.