ABSTRACT
Mantodea includes “praying mantids,” a large group of predatory insects found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. These insects display fascinating behavioural traits, including camouflage, mimicry, and cannibalism. Mantids are strictly carnivorous, primarily preying on other arthropods and small vertebrates, thereby playing a crucial ecological role in controlling herbivorous insect populations, including significant agricultural pests. Despite their ecological significance, research on praying mantids has been largely overlooked, particularly in the context of West Bengal. This communication focuses on the diversity of praying mantises within the forested and urban landscapes of West Bengal, as well as their expanding distribution. The study identified a total of eight (8) mantid species across eight (8) genera, belonging to three (3) families and five (5) subfamilies. Notably, Amantis reticulata (Haan) is recorded for the first time from the state, and all eight (8) species are documented for the first time from the forests of Alipurduar district and the urban landscapes of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Among these, the Asian Jumping Mantis, Statilia maculata (Thunberg), emerges as the most prevalent, abundant, and dominant species throughout the study area, with the highest sampling occurring during the post-monsoon season. The fauna, though primarily consists of Oriental elements, includes 75% Palaearctic species. This survey enhances the existing knowledge of mantis diversity in the region and will contribute to conservation management strategies, utilizing mantis as indicators of biodiversity.
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