Behavioral response of mantid Tenodera aridifolia (Mantodea: Mantidae) to windy conditions as a cryptic approach strategy for approaching prey

Abstract

Crypsis can be either defensive or aggressive in function, and the first evidence that crypsis reduces the probability of being detected by a predator was collected almost a century ago. Crypsis in mantids may reduce the probability that a mantid will be detected by its prey, but no experiments have been carried out to test this idea. We tested the hypothesis that the approach strategy of the mantid Tenodera aridifolia (Stoll) toward prey when the wind is blowing is adaptive. Significantly less time elapsed between the discovery of the prey by the predator and capture action under windy conditions than under windless conditions. Approach behaviors (walking and body swaying) were observed more frequently under windy than under windless conditions. When the wind stopped, mantids became still, and they changed their behavior in response to alternately changing wind conditions. Moreover, the discovery rate of the predator mantids by conspecific prey mantids was significantly lower on swaying leaves than on fixed leaves. The capturing rate of the prey by the mantid was significantly higher under windy conditions than under windless conditions. We suggest that the strategy of approaching prey quickly when the wind blowing is adaptive for reducing the risk of discovery and escape by the prey.

Interpreting animal behaviors – A cautionary note about swaying in phasmids

“…To uncover the adaptive function of swaying, further investigations are necessary to examine the circumstances in which individuals within species do and do not sway. We presented several offensive and defensive functions of swaying, which need not be mutually exclusive (Jackson, 1985;Watanabe and Yano, 2009, 2012, 2013Bian et al, 2016;Tan and Elgar, 2021). We dispute Kelty-Stephen's (2018) conclusion following reanalysis of the data presented in Bian et al (2016) and the following assertions, as the reanalysis was based on flawed assumptions -contrary to both the diagrams presented in Bian et al (2016), and natural history observations, the species hangs rather than perches on the vegetation.…”

“…Vine snakes Oxybelis aeneus oscillate forward and backward, presumably to mimic vegetation movement (Fleishman, 1985). In mantids, swaying can reduce detection by predators, cannibalistic conspecifics and prey (Watanabe and Yano, 2009, 2012, 2013. Several species of phasmids are reported to sway (Rupprecht, 1971;Bian et al, 2016;Pohl et al, 2022), with recent research on phasmids consistent with the view that phasmids adopt swaying to reduce detection (Bian et al, 2016;Pohl et al, 2022).…”

Species delimitation in the crypsis‐defended and polymorphic stick insects of the genusLibethra(Phasmatodea, Diapheromeridae)

“…Camouflage results in the behavioural restriction of movement to avoid detection (Hall et al . ; Watanabe & Yano ) promoting the specialization of morphs to respective ecotypes, and use of the same plant as a resource to hide, feed and mate (Crespi & Sandoval ; Nosil et al . ), with subsequent fragmentation of the polymorphic population (Jaenike & Holt ).…”

“Double-Trick” Visual and Chemical Mimicry by the Juvenile Orchid MantisHymenopus coronatusused in Predation of the Oriental HoneybeeApis cerana

“…In general, prey-capture by praying mantes is helped by their acute sense of vision, and their use of various kinds of visual camouflage to conceal themselves (Edmund, 1972;Evans and Schmidt, 1990;Stoddard, 2012;Wickler, 1968;Owen, 1980). Their way of walking and swaying movements are also effective in preventing them being noticed by prey animals, especially in the wind (Watanabe and Yano, 2013). While the effects of such visual stimuli on their foraging have been well studied, there are few reports on chemical tactics of the praying mantis, except for intraspecific sexual communication (Hurd et al, 2004;Maxwell et al, 2010;Perez, 2005).…”