Adult, female praying mantids, Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.), were presented with seventy, flat black rectangles which moved toward the mantids (in the horizontal plane) against a white background. The lengths of the lures'' edges parallel to their direction of movement, l(1), were 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 54, 72, or 114 mm; the edge lengths perpendicular to movement direction, l(2), were 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 mm. Mantids emitted the most predatory behaviors to square lures (l[1]=l[2]) for which l(1, 2)=3–12 mm, and to ''worm'' lures (l[1]>l[2]) for which l(2) = 1.5–6 mm. ''Anti-worm'' lures (l[1]<l[2]) were poor releasers of predatory behavior. These results reconcile seemingly discrepant findings between studies that have presented mantids with various types of oscillating, rotating and/or three-dimensional lures. Further, the results indicate that like other terrestrial predators, such as toads, prey recognition by S. lineola is approximate and based on the spatiotemporal relationships between the features of moving objects (i.e. worm versus anti-worm). These findings are congruent with data on mantid prey selection in the wild.

Keywords:
Configural prey recognition, Praying mantis, Prey selection, Sphodromantis lineola, Visual discrimination
This content is only available via PDF.
© 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel
1992
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.