Faunistic study of mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) in central and eastern parts of Semnan Province of Iran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Alireza Salehi ¹

Maryam Ajamhassani ¹

Zohreh Mirzaee ²

¹ Shahrood University of Technology

² Senckenberg German Entomological Institute, Eberswalder Str. 90, 15374 Müncheberg, Germany

10.22067/ijab.2026.98862.1123

Abstract

Mantodea (praying mantises) are important biological control agents of insects and are widely distributed across diverse ecosystems in Iran. In the present study, mantids were sampled from March to December 2025 in orchards, rangelands, and urban green spaces across central and eastern parts of Semnan Province. Oothecae, Nymphs and adults were collected manually or using insect nets. A total of 177 mantids and 38 oothecae were collected. Thirteen species belonging to seven families, ten subfamilies, and eleven genera were identified in Semnan Province, including Blepharopsis mendica, Empusa fasciata, Empusa pennicornis, Holaptilon sp., Hierodula tenuidentata, Mantis religiosa, Ameles persa, Severinia persica., Bolivaria brachyptera, Rivetina sp., Iris oratoria, Iris polystictica, and Eremiaphila sp. All of these species except for E. fasciata and H. tenuidentata are reported for the first time from Semnan Province in northeastern Iran. This research can pave the way for biological and ecological studies of this group of predators

Keywords

Fauna

identification

oothecae

Mantids

new record

northeastern Iran

Subjects

• Taxonomy

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