Fauna of Mantodea (Insecta) of Dasht-e Moghan in Ardabil province, Iran

Subject Areas :

Received: 2013-02-05 Accepted : 2013-06-11 Published : 2014-02-20

Keywords: Iran, Taxonomy, Morphology, fauna, Mantodea, Dasht-e Moghan,

Abstract :

To investigate the fauna of mantids (Hexapoda: Mantodea) in Dasht-e Moghan and Parsabad in Ardebil province (northwest of Iran), a comprehensive research was conducted in 2012. Different biotopes of pastures, highlands and lowlands were visited to locate several collecting sites. Using standard insect sweeping net and other techniques, more than 187 specimens were collected. Full GPS and biotope information recorded for the entire material collected. The specimens were identified through valuable taxonomic identification keys by examining taxonomic characters such as color, shape and size of different body parts. Consequently, the yielded named list was confirmed via comparing the result with the type material preserved in Hayek Mirzayans Insect Museum (HMIM, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Tehran). As a result, eight species belonging to seven genera out of three families, four subfamilies and 5 tribes were identified as below. The herewith mantids are totally newly recorded for the study area. The entire material is kept permanently in HMIM. EMPUSIDAE: Empusinae (Empusini) Empusa pennata (Thunberg5); MANTIDAE: Mantinae (Mantini) Mantis religiosa (L.); (Paramantini) Sphodromantis viridis Forskal; Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl; Amelinae (Amelini) Ameles decolor Charpentier; Pseudoyersinia paui Bolivar. TARACHODIDAE: Tarachodinae (Tarachodini) Iris oratoria L.; I. polystictica Fischer-Waldheim.

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