Egg-hatch phenology and intraguild predation between two mantid species

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Entomology
• Behavioral Ecology

Background:

• Congeneric mantids Tenodera angustipennis and Tenodera sinensis coexist.
• T. angustipennis typically hatches later than T. sinensis, resulting in smaller adult size.
• Intraguild predation is a potential factor influencing mantid population dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally test the role of intraguild predation in the survivorship and development of T. angustipennis.
• To determine if interspecific competition or predation is the primary driver of developmental asynchrony between the two species.

Main Methods:

• Replicated field enclosures were used to manipulate the relative timing of egg hatch between T. angustipennis and T. sinensis.
• Survivorship and development rates of T. angustipennis were monitored under different introduction scenarios.

Main Results:

• Delaying the introduction of T. sinensis significantly reduced mortality rates for T. angustipennis.
• The developmental rate of T. angustipennis was not significantly affected by the introduction timing of T. sinensis.
• Intraguild predation by T. sinensis was identified as a major factor influencing T. angustipennis survival.

Conclusions:

• Intraguild predation by the earlier-hatching T. sinensis is a critical factor in the early life history of T. angustipennis.
• Interspecific competition does not appear to be a significant selective pressure driving developmental asynchrony between these two mantid species.