Occurrence of Ootheca of Mantids and Their Natural Enemies in Citrus Orchards in Sohag, Egypt

Abstract

The giant African mantis, Sphodromantis viridis Forsskål, 1775 (Mantodea: Mantidae) was the most observed species of praying mantis in citrus orchards at Sohag Governorate, Egypt during 2017 and 2018 years. Besides, the Egyptian praying mantis, Miomantis paykulii (Stal, 1871) and the European mantis, Mantis religiosa, were observed in rare numbers. About 530 and 575 oothecae of mantis were collected in 2017 and 2018 respectively from about 46 hectares of citrus. The incubation of these oothecae resulted in complex fauna consisting of four hymenopteran parasitoids, Podagrion sp. (Torymidae: Hymenoptera), formicidae & Eupelmidae (Hymenoptera) and other hymenopteran specie, also four spider predators and Scolothrips sp. were found. Among the collected oothecae, totals of 28 and 25 oothecae hatched to mantis nymphs producing totals of 1536 and 1318 nymph/year for 2017 and 2018 years respectively. Podagrion sp. was the most common parasitic specie and the highest mean number of parasitoids/ootheca was in November with an average of 88 and 116 parasitoid/ootheca for 2107 and 2018 years respectively. Spiders were the most frequent among the oothecae fauna, as the spiders have emerged from the oothecae in the juvenile phase or adult. Incomplete parasitism was calculated after dissection of oothecae, the highest parasitism rate of oothecae was in May and March for 2017 and 2018 years, while the lowest rate was recorded in September for both years.