Can praying mantises escape from spider webs?

Sugiura, Shinji; Sakagami, Kota; Harada, Masayuki; Shimada, Naoto

doi:10.1002/ecy.2799

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…I also collected 60 adult mantises (Tenodera sinensis, 10 males, 10 females; Tenodera angustipennis, 7 males, 13 females; Hierodula patellifera, 20 females) from grasslands and forest edges in the Kinki region (Hyogo, Osaka, Japan and Shiga Prefectures) in October 2018, August-October 2019, and September-November 2020 (Sugiura et al, 2019;Sakagami, Funamoto & Sugiura, 2021). In Japan, adult T. sinensis and T. angustipennis are common on grasses and herbs at grasslands and forest edges (Watanabe, Miyamoto & Yano, 2013;Sakagami, Funamoto & Sugiura, 2021) where the bombardier beetle P. jessoensis is also found.…”

Section: Study Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beetle bombing always deters praying mantises

Sugiura¹

2021

PeerJ

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Some animals have evolved chemical weapons to deter predators. Bombardier beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) can eject toxic chemicals at temperatures of 100 °C from the tips of their abdomens, ‘bombing’ the attackers. Although some bombardier beetles can reportedly deter predators, few studies have tested whether bombing is essential for successful defence. Praying mantises (Mantodea) are ambush predators that attack various arthropods. However, it is unclear whether bombardier beetles deter mantises. To test the defensive function of bombing against praying mantises, I observed three mantis species, Tenodera sinensis, Tenodera angustipennis, and Hierodula patellifera (Mantidae), attacking the bombardier beetle Pheropsophus jessoensis (Carabidae: Brachininae: Brachinini) under laboratory conditions. All mantises easily caught the beetles using their raptorial forelegs, but released them immediately after being bombed. All of the counterattacked mantises were observed to groom the body parts sprayed with hot chemicals after releasing the beetles. When treated P. jessoensis that were unable to eject hot chemicals were provided, all mantises successfully caught and devoured the treated beetles. Therefore, bombing is essential for the successful defence of P. jessoensis against praying mantises. Consequently, P. jessoensis can always deter mantises.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Organismsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beetle bombing always deters praying mantises

Sugiura¹

2021

PeerJ

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“…In addition, when adult lacewings are trapped by spider webs, they can cut away the sticky strands entangling their heads, feet and antennae to free themselves (Masters & Eisner 1990). Some praying mantises can also remove the sticky silk from their bodies when they get caught in orb webs constructed by the spider Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli) (Sugiura et al 2019). Some spiders do not construct webs, but directly hunt insects on the ground or on plants (Foelix 2011).…”

Section: Araneaementioning

confidence: 99%

Predators as drivers of insect defenses

Sugiura

2020

Entomological Science

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Insects have evolved various types of antipredator defenses. For example, many insects have evolved crypsis, and exhibit cryptic body colors and shapes for hiding from predators. Other insects produce toxins as a form of chemical defense against predators, and some toxic insects are aposematic, with conspicuous body colors for advertising their toxins. Insects can also develop hairs, spines or hard exoskeletons as morphological defenses to protect themselves from predation. In addition, insects can evolve behavioral defenses, in which insects exhibit autotomy or dropping, or feign death. This study investigated which predator types evoke these types of defenses, through a review of the effectiveness of antipredator defenses in insects against carnivorous animals that are commonly used as model predators in studies. These predators include other insects, spiders, fish, frogs, lizards, birds and mammals. The results provide the first step for clarifying the evolutionary drivers of antipredator defenses in insects. The following aspects should be considered for future studies: multiple predator species and sufficient replication, alternative prey and predator models, and tolerance to predators in insects.

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Can praying mantises escape from spider webs?

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Beetle bombing always deters praying mantises

Beetle bombing always deters praying mantises

Predators as drivers of insect defenses

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