The phylogenetic system of Mantodea (Insecta: Dictyoptera)

By F. Wieland. 2013

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For the first time a large morphological dataset, comprising 152 morphological characters for 122 taxa of all recognized families of the group, has been used to reconstruct the phylogeny of the praying mantises (Mantodea). The intraordinal relationships found were only partially similar to the results of earlier molecular studies, in many cases they differed considerably. Only a third of the families (Acanthopidae, Empusidae, Eremiaphilidae, Thespidae, and Toxoderidae) and subfamilies (Amorphoscelinae, Angelinae, Chroicopterinae, Empusinae, Haaniinae, Hymenopodinae, Oxypilinae, Paraoxypilinae, Perlamantinae, Toxoderinae, and Tropidomantinae) studied were recovered monophyletic. The remaining families and subfamilies recognized by traditional taxonomy were found to be para- or polyphyletic. Chaeteessa was recovered to be the sistergroup of all remaining Mantodea. The second dichotomy of the phylogenetic tree was found between Metallyticus and the remaining mantises, followed by Mantoida. These phylogenetic relationships at the base of the phylogenetic tree of Mantodea were previously not found. The present study was able to show that many morphological characters, e.g. the head processes, enlarged lateral lobes of the pronotum, lobes on the legs and on the abdomen, evolved convergently several times during the evolution of the group. This corroborates the findings of the molecular studies which indicate that characteristic ecomorphs evolved independently in Mantodea. Apart from the discussion of the individual morphological characters, several characteristic character complexes were reconsidered and discussed in detail. The metathoracic hearing organ ("cyclopean ear") may have evolved several times. The study of first instar nymphs of Metallyticus led to the finding that discoidal spines are present in this genus and even persist in adult specimens. A detailed study of the raptorial legs of Chaeteessa showed that the tibial spur is not missing primarily but my have been secondarily reduced. Both results contradict doctrines that have been postulated for about 150 years. The study of digging devices of female Mantodea from arid habitats indicated that these structures evolved at least four times independently, most likely as an adaptation to living in desert-like habitats.

Subfields: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Genetics

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/6579a1fc7e6b462a520fec26a97e0c5f33876453

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In Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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