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What the sources say

European MantisMantis religiosa

Every figure, record and mechanism on the European Mantis profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 50 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Battiston 2016

Battiston (2016). Mantis religiosa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T44793247A44798476.

The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the species Least Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: stats.conservationStatus

Source
02

Montana Field Guide, Montana Natural Heritage Program

European Mantid, Mantis religiosa. Montana Field Guide, Montana Natural Heritage Program.

The page saysAdults range from 4.2 to 8.8 cm long
The source saysAdults range in length from 4.2 to 8.8 cm (1.7 to 3.5 in).
The page saysA Montana field guide calls it a generalist predator, as likely to take beneficial pollinators and small birds as garden pests
The source saysIt is a generalist predator as likely to prey on beneficial pollinators and small birds as garden pests
The page saysThe European mantis is native to Eurasia
The source saysThe species is native to Eurasia and has been accidentally and intentionally introduced to the United States and Canada.
The page saysPeople have carried it to the United States and Canada both by accident and on purpose
The source saysThe species is native to Eurasia and has been accidentally and intentionally introduced to the United States and Canada.
The page saysit is released into gardens to control insects
The source saysAs the species is released into gardens to control insect populations individuals are often encountered in urban and exurban environments.
The page saysnative to Eurasia and introduced to North America
The source saysThe species is native to Eurasia and has been accidentally and intentionally introduced to the United States and Canada.Note: stats.habitat

Source
03

Raut & Gaikwad 2016

Raut & Gaikwad (2016). Observations on the Life cycle, Mating and Cannibalism of Mantis religiosa religiosa Linnaeus, 1758 (Insecta: Mantodea: Mantidae). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies.

The page saysThe species comes in green and brown forms
The source saysHere we observed most of brown or straw colored morphs in summer season (February to June) along with some green colored morphs
The page saysolder studies noticed green mantises on green grass and brown ones on dried, straw-colored grass
The source saysEarlier studies on the morphological changes in M. religiosa religiosa noticed that the green form is always found upon green grass and the brown form found upon dried straw colored grass
The page saysIn a lab rearing of the subspecies Mantis religiosa religiosa
The source saysThe lifecycle study of M. religiosa religiosa was studied under laboratory condition at 25 °C to 35 °C and 60% to 70% RH.
The page saysthe egg case took about 18 days to incubate
The source saysThe incubation duration of ootheca is about 18 days while nymphal duration is about 61 days with six moults.
The page sayslasted about 61 days and included six moults
The source saysThe incubation duration of ootheca is about 18 days while nymphal duration is about 61 days with six moults.
The page saysAdult males then lived 35 to 60 days
The source saysAdult male 35 60 48.9
The page saysadult females 70 to 90
The source saysAdult female 70 90 81.27
The page saysthe first two nymph stages ate only fruit flies
The source saysFirst two instars completely depended on the diet of Drosophila
The page saysolder nymphs and adults fed mainly on grasshoppers and crickets
The source saysLater in stars and adults fed mainly on the diet of nymphs and adults of grasshopper and crickets
The page saysInsects such as grasshoppers, aphids and planthoppers
The source saysM. religiosa religiosa is predatory on grasshoppers, aphids, planthoppers etc.Note: stats.diet
The page saysIn one lab rearing of the subspecies Mantis religiosa religiosa
The source saysThe lifecycle study of M. religiosa religiosa was studied under laboratory condition at 25 °C to 35 °C and 60% to 70% RH.Note: faq
The page saysgrown males lived a mean of about 49 days
The source saysAdult male 35 60 48.9Note: faq
The page saysgrown females about 81
The source saysAdult female 70 90 81.27Note: faq
The page saysabout 18 days in the egg case and about 61 as nymphs
The source saysThe incubation duration of ootheca is about 18 days while nymphal duration is about 61 days with six moults.Note: faq

Source
04

Reitze & Nentwig 1991

Reitze & Nentwig (1991). Comparative investigations into the feeding ecology of six Mantodea species. Oecologia.

The page saysIn feeding tests on six mantis species, this one included, mantids stalked their prey and pounced, grasping it with their forelegs
The source saysSix mantid species (Sphodromantis viridis, Polyspilota aeruginosa, Hierodula unimaculata, Parasphendale agrionia, Mantis religiosa and Empusa pennata) were studied in laboratory feeding experiments. Mantids stalk their prey and pounce on it, grasping it with their forelegs.
The page saysThey took only living prey and noticed only moving prey
The source saysOnly living prey is selected and it is consumed directly after the catch. The predator orients itself optically, and therefore only takes notice of moving prey.
The page saysOn average they ate crickets 50% of their own body weight, while cockroaches could weigh up to 110%
The source saysOn average mantids eat crickets of 50% their own body-weight while cockroaches can weigh up to 110%.
The page saysNot in lab tests
The source saysSix mantid species (Sphodromantis viridis, Polyspilota aeruginosa, Hierodula unimaculata, Parasphendale agrionia, Mantis religiosa and Empusa pennata) were studied in laboratory feeding experiments.Note: faq
The page saysAcross six mantis species, this one among them
The source saysSix mantid species (Sphodromantis viridis, Polyspilota aeruginosa, Hierodula unimaculata, Parasphendale agrionia, Mantis religiosa and Empusa pennata) were studied in laboratory feeding experiments.Note: faq
The page saysmantids picked only live prey and ate it straight after the catch
The source saysOnly living prey is selected and it is consumed directly after the catch. The predator orients itself optically, and therefore only takes notice of moving prey.Note: faq
The page saysThey hunt by sight, so prey registers only when it moves
The source saysOnly living prey is selected and it is consumed directly after the catch. The predator orients itself optically, and therefore only takes notice of moving prey.Note: faq

Source
05

Yager & Hoy 1989

Yager & Hoy (1989). Audition in the praying mantis,Mantis religiosa L.: identification of an interneuron mediating ultrasonic hearing. Journal of Comparative Physiology A.

The page saystuned to ultrasound
The source saysMR-501-T3 is tuned broadly to ultrasound with best sensitivity (55-60 dB SPL) between 25 and 45 kHz.Note: tagline
The page saysThe ear is tuned broadly to ultrasound, with its best sensitivity between 25 and 45 kHz
The source saysMR-501-T3 is tuned broadly to ultrasound with best sensitivity (55-60 dB SPL) between 25 and 45 kHz. Its tuning matches closely that of the whole tympanal nerve.
The page saysa pair of nerve cells carrying this hearing
The source saysa mirror-image pair of interneurons (MR-501-T3) in the metathoracic ganglion that mediates ultrasonic hearing
The page saysThe researchers who traced it argue that a pair of nerve cells carrying this hearing is part of a warning and escape system, which may defend the mantis against bats hunting at night
The source saysWe present arguments based on our physiological results and existing behavioral data that MR-501-T3 is part of an ultrasonic warning/escape system in the mantis. As in moths, lacewings, and crickets, this system may provide a defense against nocturnally foraging bats.
The page saysIn the midline of its underside, on the rear part of its thorax
The source saysThe praying mantis possesses a single ear located in the ventral midline of the metathorax.Note: faq
The page saysIts ear picks up ultrasound best between 25 and 45 kHz
The source saysMR-501-T3 is tuned broadly to ultrasound with best sensitivity (55-60 dB SPL) between 25 and 45 kHz.Note: faq
The page saystuned broadly to ultrasound and most sensitive between 25 and 45 kHz
The source saysMR-501-T3 is tuned broadly to ultrasound with best sensitivity (55-60 dB SPL) between 25 and 45 kHz.Note: vibe.reason

Source
06

Yager & Hoy 1987

Yager & Hoy (1987). The midline metathoracic ear of the praying mantis, Mantis religiosa. Cell and Tissue Research.

The page saysA mantis that hears with a single ear on its underside
The source saysThe praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, is unique in possessing a single, tympanal auditory organ located in the ventral midline of its bodyNote: tagline
The page saysA single ear on its underside, tuned to ultrasound
The source saysThe praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, is unique in possessing a single, tympanal auditory organ located in the ventral midline of its bodyNote: stats.superpower
The page sayshears with a single ear in the middle of its underside
The source saysThe praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, is unique in possessing a single, tympanal auditory organ located in the ventral midline of its body
The page saysThe ear sits in a deep groove and is built from two eardrums that face each other, backed by large air sacs
The source saysThe ear is in a deep groove and consists of two tympana facing each other and backed by large air sacs.
The page saysThe European mantis hears with a single ear on its underside
The source saysThe praying mantis, Mantis religiosa, is unique in possessing a single, tympanal auditory organ located in the ventral midline of its bodyNote: vibe.reason

Source
07

Linn & Griebeler 2016

Linn & Griebeler (2016). Habitat Preference of GermanMantis religiosaPopulations (Mantodea: Mantidae) and Implications for Conservation. Environmental Entomology.

The page saysa 2016 study called it endangered in Germany
The source saysIn Germany, the thermophilic European mantid (Mantis religiosa L.) is endangered.

Source
08

Liana 2007

Liana (2007). Distribution of Mantis religiosa (L.) and its changes in Poland. Fragmenta Faunistica.

The page saysIt was introduced from Europe to New York state in 1899
The source saysThe praying mantis was introduced from Europe to the state of New York in 1899 and then expanded to most states in north-western part of the USA and to the state of Ontario in Canada.
The page saysIt loves heat
The source saysMantis religiosa is a highly thermophilous insect
The page saysIn Poland, over 70% of recent sites were near a forest edge or partly open
The source saysecotonal sites (usually a few or several dozen metres from a wall of forest) or partially open sites constitute over 70% of all sites recorded during recent research
The page saysmainly fallow land and wasteland with dry sandy grassland
The source saysThere are mainly new, unstable biotopes (fallow lands and wastelands) with dry sandy grassland.
The page saysThese are often old fields that were farmed several years earlier or more recently
The source saysThey are often situated in the areas which are defined as agricultural land because several years ago or even more recently they were really cultivated.
The page saysWarm, open sites such as dry sandy grassland and fallow land
The source saysThere are mainly new, unstable biotopes (fallow lands and wastelands) with dry sandy grassland.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysWarm, open sites such as dry sandy grassland and fallow land
The source saysMantis religiosa is a highly thermophilous insectNote: stats.habitat
The page saysNo. It was brought from Europe to New York state in 1899, and it later spread as far as Ontario in Canada
The source saysThe praying mantis was introduced from Europe to the state of New York in 1899 and then expanded to most states in north-western part of the USA and to the state of Ontario in Canada.Note: faq

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.