An introduction to the fauna of mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) of northern slopes of Elburz Mountains within Mazandaran province, Iran
Subject Areas :
Keywords: Iran, Morphology, fauna, Mazandaran, Mantodea,
Abstract :
To investigate the fauna of mantids (Hexapoda: Mantodea) as a prologue to the biodiversity of them in northern slopes of Elburz Mountains within Mazandaran province (Iran), a comprehensive research was conducted during 2011—2013. Different biotopes of pastures, highlands and lowlands were visited weekly to locate several collecting sites. Using standard insect sweeping net and other techniques, more than 260 specimens were collected. Full GPS and biotope information were recorded for the entire sites visited. The specimens were identified through taxonomic identification keys by examining morphological characters such as color, shape and size of different body parts. Consequently the yielded list was confirmed via comparing the result with identified material preserved in Hayek Mirzayans Insect Museum (HMIM, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran). As a result, six species belonging to five genera out of three families, three subfamilies and four tribes were identified as below. A comprehensive identification key is made for the mantids of the study area. Two of the down-mentioned mantids, namely Iris polystictica and Empusa pennata are newly recorded for the study area. The entire material will be kept permanently in HMIM. The precise identification of the double-asterisk one was not possible due to the lack of adult specimen or inadequate sampling. Family MANTIDAE: Subfamily Mantinae (tribe Mantini) Mantis religiosa (Linnaeus, 1758); (tribe Paramantini) Sphodromantis viridis Forskål, 1775; Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878; Family TARACHODIDAE: Subfamily Tarachodinae (tribe Tarachodini) **Iris near-oratoria Linnaeus, 1758; *I. polystictica Fischer-Waldheim, Iris sp.; Family EMPUSIDAE: Subfamily Empusinae (tribe Empusini) *Empusa pennata (Thunberg, 1815).