Mantids found in Peru

[guapoalto049]

Here's some shots of the mantids I found in Peru. I saw around a dozen Liturgusa spp., mostly presubs and subs. Some had 4 and some had 5 external femoral spines, though I'm not exactly sure how to differentiate the Peruvian species. Other than that I only found a single mantid, seen below. I also spotted 5 ooths (3 Liturgusa and 2 others).

Though the Amazon basin is rich in general biodiversity, I'm not sure how mantid-rich the region is. I spent 10 hours per day for 7 days hiking at the Tambopata Reserve. Perhaps my 'mind's eye' wasn't in tune with the region, but my searches in the US are more fruitful than those in the Amazon.

I searched in the forest itself and on the edges. The highest concentration of Orthopterans was nearly always in areas of high light intensity, like on the edge of a clearing for a building or river.

If anyone is thinking about heading to the Amazon, here's my advice: Head for the cloud forests. These are high-elevation areas where the forest has climbed the Eastern slopes of the Andes. From what I hear, there seems to be very rich Orthopteran life there. In my experience, the Serengeti of Tanzania was more dense in mantids than the Amazon basin.

Any ideas on who deposited this beauty?

Or this...

 

[guapoalto049]

Forgot to mention, my best guess for the green one is Pseudoxyops perpulchra.

 

[wuwu]

she's a beaut! did you take the ooths?

 

[kunturman]

guapoalto049, nice finds. That particular ootheca is an enigma. Peru has over 90 recognized mantid species. You need to plan another trip to the north western departamentos like Amazonas, Loreto, and San Martin. Many more wonders need to be classified. Did you call yourself guapoalto in Peru?

 

[guapoalto049]

@ wuwu: No, I was very very very tempted to take that unidentified ooth, but I was strong. I told myself I would stop raising mantids in school so I could focus my efforts.

@amamantodea: I didn't have much flexibility in my trip. Honestly if I had my choice, the Eastern slopes of Ecuador, north to Colombia I bet are absolute hot beds. And no, fortunately it did not follow me to Peru. I had no clue what to make as my username on here so I chose my 6th grade AIM screen name

 

[psyconiko]

Nice pictures.I am not sure this is a mantis ooth though....

 

[hibiscusmile]

That ooth is amazing looking, almost like it has scales... to protect it maybe?

 

[ScienceGirl]

Gorgeous! I love the green mantis wearing her cape of leaves. (Metaphorically, of course. )

 

[guapoalto049]

@ Nikko: Thanks man. I wasn't positive either, but it had the same consistency and feel as any other ooth.

@Rebecca: Thanks! Yeah it was a really neat find on the underside of a leaf. Hope all is well!

@Science girl: Thank you, maybe you could start dabbling in mantid poetry!

 

[Precarious]

You've got some strength. I would have been all over those ooths.

 

[brancsikia339]

You've got some strength. I would have been all over those ooths.

Same for me. I would've been at that macromantis ooth in a second!

 

[guapoalto049]

I'm pretty sure the mystery ootheca is a Lantern bug/Peanut Head bug egg case

 

[MantisMatt14]

No I actually think those were oothecae, the Lantern bug egg case has much more pointed protrusions.