Diversity of tarsal attachment structures in Mantodea (Insecta) includes two distinct attachment pad...

Area of Science:

• Insect morphology
• Comparative anatomy
• Evolutionary biology

Background:

• Praying mantises (Mantodea) are known for predation, but their tarsal attachment systems are poorly understood.
• Other insect groups show diverse ecomorphological adaptations in attachment systems.
• Previous studies predicted specialized mantis attachment pads based on ecomorphs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the micromorphology of praying mantis tarsal attachment pads.
• To compare attachment systems across 33 Mantodea species, including early diverging lineages.
• To understand the evolutionary adaptations of mantis tarsal morphology.

Main Methods:

• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine tarsal morphology.
• A diverse selection of 33 Mantodea species was studied.
• Phylogenetic and habitat diversity were considered in species selection.

Main Results:

• Two main attachment pad types were found: hairy (split tenent setae) in Chaeteessa and smooth in other Mantodea.
• Ecomorphological adaptations like pad asymmetry and surface microstructures were observed but less pronounced than in other Polyneoptera.
• Early-diverging lineages like Chaeteessa exhibit unique split tenent setae with spatula-shaped tips.

Conclusions:

• Mantodea exhibit functional diversity in tarsal attachment, with basal lineages retaining hairy pads.
• Less pronounced microstructural variation suggests relaxed substrate-specific constraints, possibly linked to predatory behavior.
• Further research is needed to fully understand the functional significance of these tarsal adaptations in praying mantises.