Recent range expansion of the Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa Linnaeus (Mantodeaz Mantidae), in British Columbia

2007·4.8 MB·English

by  Robert A Cannings

J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007 73
Recent range expansion ofthe Praying Mantis,
Mantis religiosa Linnaeus (Mantodea: Mantidae),
in British Columbia
ROBERT A. CANNINGS^
ABSTRACT
The Praying Mantis,Mantis religiosa, was introduced into easternNorth America in the
1890s and is now a common species throughout much ofthe eastern United States and
southern Ontario and Quebec. It was introduced from Ontario into the southern interior
ofBritish Columbia to control grasshoppers in 1937 and 1938. These introductions be-
came established only in the southern Okanagan Valley where populations have per-
sisted from Okanagan Falls south to Osoyoos. Since the late 1990s, the species' range
has expanded from the South Okanagan north at least to Kamloops and east to Nelson.
In addition, in the core ofits traditional British Columbia range, the South Okanagan,
this mantid has become more commonly encountered during the past decade. M. re-
ligiosa has also been collected on Vancouver Island. Specimen, photograph and sight
records that document this change in status are listed and discussed and a distribution
map is included. Characters used to distinguish M. religiosa from the native Ground
Mantis, Litaneutria minor, and the exotic Chinese Mantis, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis,
which is available commercially as abiocontrol agent, are summarized.
INTRODUCTION
The Praying Mantis, Mantis religiosa ligiosa became established only in the
Linnaeus, was introduced into the eastern southern Okanagan Valley. Since the early
United States and Canada from Europe, 1970s, M. religiosa specimens regularly
being first reported in New York State in have been found between Okanagan Falls
1899 and in Prince Edward County, Ontario and Osoyoos (Cannings and Scudder2001);
in 1914 (McLeod 1962). It appeared in both the green and brown colour phases
Quebec by about 1940 (Kevan 1979). It occur there (Cannings 1987). More re-
was introduced from Ontario into the cently, especially since the late 1990s, I
Okanagan and Thompson valleys in the have collected reports from interested natu-
southern interior ofBritish Columbia (BC) ralists and the general public that indicate
to control grasshoppers in 1937 and 1938 that the species' range has expanded in BC.
(Baird 1938, 1939; Buckell 1941; Vickery It also is found in Washington and Idaho,
and Kevan 1983). Mantid oothecae (egg although it is not clear how those popula-
cases) were found in Salmon Arm orchards tions arrived. Although most ofthe BC re-
as late as 1940 (Buckell 1941); however, cords are not museum specimens, the pho-
McLeod (1962) stated: "the insect has not tographs and written sight records are
been observed in recent years and there is largely convincing. This paper documents
no evidence ofits permanent establishment the spread andpresent status ofM. religiosa
in British Columbia". Currently, it is inthe Province.
thought that the initial releases of M. re-
' Royal British ColumbiaMuseum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC V8W 9W2. Tel.: [phone].
E-mail:[email protected]
74 J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data were collected from adult speci- BC (STRONG). The collections ofthe Pa-
mens and oothecae of Mantis religiosa cific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Ser-
from the collections of the Royal British vice, Victoria, BC and the Lyman Entomo-
Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC (RBCM), logical Museum, McGill University, Ste.
the Spencer Entomological Museum, Uni- Anne de Bellevue, QC do not contain any
versity ofBritish Columbia, Vancouver, BC specimens ofM. religiosa fromBC.
(UBCZ) and the Canadian National Collec- Photographs and sight records were
tion of Insects, Agriculture and Agri-Food compiled from personal communications to
Canada, Ottawa, ON (CNCI) and the per- the author from colleagues and the general
sonal collection of Ward Strong, Vernon, public.
Specimens examined (all specimens are Haynes Point Prov. Park, 20.viii.l977, C.
single adults unless otherwise noted): Denbigh (RBCM, ENT991-014758, -
Duncan, Maple Bay, 6139 Denali Place, 014759, 2 specimens); Osoyoos, Road #22,
nearQuamichan Lake, 31.x.1999, L. Taylor 10.vii.l986, R.A. Cannings (RBCM,
(RBCM, ENTOO1-011034); Naramata, ENT988-001350, ootheca); South
27.viii.1998, R.C.H. Cannings (RBCM, Okanagan Valley, vii-viii.1984, S.R. Can-
ENTOOO-000416, ootheca and hatchlings in nings (UBCZ); Pend d'Oreille Valley, east
ethanol); Okanagan Falls, 22.V.1986, S. of Waneta, IIU 463978 5432563, 700m
Orchard (RBCM, ENT991-014761, - asl, 26.iv.2004, J. Dulisse (RBCM,
014762, -014763, 3 oothecae); Okanagan ENT007-002472, ootheca); Summerland,
Falls, White Lake, 49"17'58.8"N x 19.viii.2005, D. Chan (UBCZ); Vaseux
119°37'21.1"W, 29.V.2006, R.A. Cannings Lake, Hack's Ponds, 19.V.1980, R.A. Can-
(RBCM, ENT006-004184, ootheca); nings (RBCM, ENT991-014433, ootheca);
Oliver, ix.l975, B. Francis (CNCI, in etha- Vernon, Kalamalka Seed Orchards,
nol); Oliver, ix.l990, S. Orchard (RBCM, 10.V.2004, W. Strong (STRONG); Vernon
ENT991-066770); Oliver, 10 miles south, (50°17.909'N X 119°16.463'W),
Artemisia-Purshia habitat, 1.x.1963, W.B. 24.viii.2007, G. French (RBCM, ENT007-
Preston (UBCZ); Oliver, UBC Geology 001057, ootheca); Vernon, 4.ix.2007, B.
Camp, 3.ix.l982, S.G. Cannings (UBCZ, 5 Corbett (RBCM, ENT007-002457);
specimens); Osoyoos, 14.V.1972, no collec- Vernon, Middleton Mtn., 10.ix.2007, M.
tor stated (CNCI, ootheca collected and Fowler(RBCM, ENT007-002458); Vernon,
reared to adult, in ethanol); Osoyoos, Kalamalka Seed Orchard #307, 18.ix.2007,
29.viii.1976, no collector stated (RBCM, D. Hopkins (RBCM, ENT007-002459,
ENT991-014757); Osoyoos, at light, ootheca); Vernon, lO.x.2007, W. Strong
23.viii.1982, J.A. Garland (RBCM, (RBCM, in ethanol, ENT007-002460).
ENT991-014756); Osoyoos, Deadman Photographs:
Lake, 6.ix.l980, L. Vasington (UBCZ, 2 Armstrong, near Tolko Lumber Mill,
specimens in copula); Osoyoos, Haynes Hwy 97, south oftown, 23.viii.2007, Karen
Ecological Reserve, 3.ix.l983, R.A. Can- Meggait (brown adult found on
nings (RBCM, ENT991-017647); Osoyoos, 18.viii.2007); Castlegar, side of house,
Haynes Ecological Reserve, pitfall trap, 23.ix.2002, Lynn Westcott (green adult);
6.vii.-17.viii.2000, G.G.E. Scudder Castlegar, in ornamental cedar tree,
(UBCZ); Osoyoos, Haynes Ecological Re- 27.ix.2002, Lynn Westcott (brown adult);
serve, pitfall trap, 25.vi.-22.vii.2003 Castlegar, 25.V.2005, Genevieve Lachance
(UBCZ); Osoyoos, Osoyoos Desert Soci- (ootheca with hatchlings); Kamloops,
ety, 20.viii.l998, P. Liu (UBCZ); Osoyoos, Knutsford, grassland and Ponderosa Pine
J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007 75
habitat, on garage door, 12.X.2006, Richard photo:
Suttie (green adult); Lake Country, back- Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake (IIU
yard near grassland, 7.viii.l998, Steve Kidd 425791 5474447 NAD 83), 14.vi.2004,
(brown adult); Lake Country, 21.vii.l998, Jakob Dulisse (ootheca); Kelowna, on
Steve Kidd (yellowish adult); Okanagan house, about 25.ix.2000, fide Tanis Stoltz
Falls, White Lake, l.ix.2006, V. Skilton (adult); Keremeos, road to Keremeos Col-
(brown adult); Oliver, 22.iii.2006, Werner umns, sagebrush grassland, early vii.2001,
Eigelsreiter (ootheca); Oliver, 23.ix.2006, Malcolm Martin (green immature and
Werner Eigelsreiter (green adult); Oliver, oothecae); Oyama, on house, 30.ix.2000,
24.ix.2006, Werner Eigelsreiter (brown Tanis Stoltz (adult); Osoyoos, East Bench,
adult); Osoyoos, Haynes Point Prov. Park, 28.viii.2007, G.G.E. Scudder (adult male);
vii.1974, Sydney Cannings (brown adult); Osoyoos, East Bench, 29.viii.2007, G.G.E.
Taghum (west ofNelson), ix.2004, Rachel Scudder (adult male and female); Peach-
Holtfide Jakob Dulisse (green adult); Trail, land, 6412 Renfrew Road, 25.viii.1998, Bill
Oasis Wetland, 26.viii.2007, Bruce Enns Fleming (green and brown adults); Port
(green adult) (Fig. 1); Vernon (50°17.909'N Albemi, Sproat River, Seaton Park, on tent,
X I19°16.463'W), 25.V.2007, Lea Gelling vii-viii.1991, Dee Cullon (green adult);
(ootheca, collected 24.viii.2007, RBCM, Vernon, garden on north side ofMiddleton
ENT007-1057);Vernon, 50°17.909'N x Mountain, summer 1999 or 2000,fide Mal-
119°16.463'W, 15.viii.2007, Gord French colmMartin (green adult).
(green adult). Figures 2 and 3 map the records docu-
Other records without specimen or mented above.
Figure 1. Mantis religiosa: Trail, 26 August 2007. Photo: Bruce Enns. This green adult is feed-
ingon afemale dragonfly, Sympetrum obtrusum (Hagen) andrepresents one ofthe more easterly
records ofthe species in BC. The black-ringed white spot on the inner base ofthe procoxa is
diagnostic ofM. religiosa.
76 J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007
Figure 2. Map ofsouthern British Columbia and northwestern United States showing selected
distribution records of Mantis religiosa. Symbols: • specimen records, including oothecae;
photographic records; sight records. Open symbols represent records before 1998. The dates
represent the first records for the localities and illustrate the general geographical and temporal
trendofrange expansion. Rectangle shows areaofFig. 3.
DISCUSSION
In 1937, 491 oothecae and 161 adult tions might succeed: "The finding of two
Mantis religiosa from Europe and Ontario fi-esh egg masses laid in apple boxes in the
were released in the Okanagan Valley and orchards at Salmon Arm [in 1940] shows
the Kamloops-Shuswap region (Baird that it is still present and may yet become
1938). The next year, at Salmon Arm and thoroughly established." But Vickery and
Vernon, 175 oothecae and 175 adults were Kevan (1983) point out that even though
introduced (Baird 1939). Buckell (1941), this generalist predator favours Orthoptera
who was interested in grasshopper control, prey in many situations, the slow rate of
at first expressed hope that the introduc- mantid reproduction makes it an unsuitable
J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007 77
Figure 3. Map ofthe Okanagan Valley and part ofthe Thompson River drainage to the north
showing some distributional details not given in Fig. 2. Symbols: • specimen records, including
oothecae; photographic records; sight records. Open symbols represent records before
1998. The dates represent the first records for the localities and illustrate the general geographi-
cal andtemporal trendofrangeexpansion.
biological control agent. known to me was from 10 miles south of
However, although no mantids were Oliver in 1963. By the end ofthe 1970s, if
ever reported from most ofthe areas where one looked specifically for mantids, they
these releases were made, by about 1962 could be found in small numbers in the
periodic specimen sightings and collections Oliver-Osoyoos area, although few speci-
were being made in the extreme southern mens were collected. Without evidence to
part of the region. The first specimen support other origins for this population, it
78 J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007
has always been assumed that it derived this population has expanded almost 200
fromthe releases of1937-38. km, toboththenorthand east, in fewerthan
As far as I am aware, since 1940, no tenyears.
Mantis specimens were collected and no Although few specimen collections have
observations were reported from the been made and the evidence is anecdotal,
Thompson/Shuswap region or the this range expansion has occurred at the
Okanagan Valley north of Okanagan Falls same time that residents of the South
until 1998 when specimens were recorded Okanagan have observed an increase in
in Naramata, Peachland and Lake Country mantid abundance from Osoyoos north to
My
(=Winfield, north of Kelowna). In 2000, the Penticton region. brothers and I
mantids were first reported from Kelowna were raised in the Penticton-Summerland
and Oyama; to the north in Vernon, the first area and since the 1950s we roved all over
sightings were made about the same time. the countryside looking for animals and
Jim Corrigan (pers. comm.) notes that he plants. Never once before the mid-1990s
saw several mantids around the BC Minis- did we see a mantid anywhere north of
try ofForests Kalamalka Seed Orchards at Okanagan Falls, and south of there, they
the southern edge of Vernon in 2006 and wereuncommon. My brotherRichard (pers.
that staffthere have seen specimens around comm.), who now lives in Naramata,
Vernon for several years. The first Vernon writes: "They are common in late summer
specimen was collected in 2004 (Ward and fall -you see them often while walking
Strong, pers. comm.), and several speci- along the Kettle Valley Railway trail or
mens were taken at Vernon in 2007. There similar trails in late August and early Sep-
is also a photographic record from Arm- tember and I often find egg cases. I can't
strong in 2007. The only recent record in say I've noticed an increase since we moved
the Thompson/Shuswap was from Knuts- here in 1995 - Ijust remember that shortly
ford near Kamloops in 2006. This sequence after we arrived I realized that I was seeing
of dates moves more or less from south to them regularly". Geoff Scudder (pers.
north (Fig. 3), suggesting that the mantid comm.) says he frequently sees adults,
population expanded in this direction, the mostly gravid green females, around
northern specimens descending from the Osoyoos. He has observed them in the na-
long-standing South Okanagan population tive steppe vegetation and in his garden,
rather than resulting from recent independ- where he finds oothecae and two to three
ent introductions. This would also seem to adults each year.
be the most parsimonious explanation. The There are no coastal mainlandrecords of
same goes for the numerous mantids now M. religiosa in BC, but there are two from
seen in the West Kootenays (Figs. 2), espe- Vancouver Island - an early sight record
cially in the Castlegar region. The first two from the Port Albemi area in 1991 and a
reports were from Castlegar in 2002; the specimen from Duncan in 1999 (Fig. 2).
next ones were all in 2004 - northwest in Presumably these are the result of long-
Deer Park, northeast in Taghum and south distance, human-aided dispersal orpurpose-
near Waneta. Figure 1 illustrates an adult ful release ofadults from the BC interior or
from Trail in 2007. This expansion well elsewhere. The Duncan specimen was the
north and east of the South Okanagan is only one that was observed in 1999 and one
probably the result ofboth natural dispersal more was seen in 2000 (no date). None has
and, more importantly, movement aided by been seen there since. Laurie Taylor (pers.
human activity. Mantid adults are not comm.), who made these observations in
strong wanderers but oothecae are laid on her garden, believes that the mantids origi-
all sorts ofsolid substrates andcanbe trans- nated from plants she bought at a local
ported long distances on trailers and other nursery.
vehicles. It is unclear why, after decades of There are also populations in Idaho and
stability in the southern Okanagan Valley, Washington State, including coastal ones,
79
that may be potential sources of additional coming established here. Possibly, the de-
introductions. Antonelli and Glass (2004) velopment of T. a. sinensis requires more
report specimens ofintroducedmantids (not accumulated degree-days than are available
necessarily Mantis religiosa) from western on the BC coast (David Blades, pers.
Washington counties such as Clark, comm.).
Cowlitz, Pierce and King as well as from In Canada, this Asian species is an ex-
east of the Cascade Mountains; all speci- otic resident of extreme southern Ontario
mens observed by colleagues in Washing- (the shores oflakes Erie and Ontario) and is
ton seem to be M. religiosa. Kelly recorded from, but not established in,
McAllister (pers. comm.) states thatpopula- southern Quebec (Vickery and Kevan
tions ofM. religiosa in the prairies ofsouth 1983). It is also known from California.
Puget Sound are large: "I'veheardthatthere Adults are larger than those of Mantis
mm
are literally thousands that fly about when {Tenodera: 83-104 long; Mantis: 47-56
Scot's Broom \sic'\ is being mowed at Scat- mm long (Vickery and Kevan 1986)); the
ter Creek Wildlife Area in late summer. I middle and hind femora have an apical
think the Nature Conservancy folks who spine lacking inM. religiosa; andtheblack-
mow Scot's Broom at places like McChord ringed white spot on the inner base of the
Air Force Base and Fort Lewis would procoxa characteristic of M. religiosa is
probably attest to the widespread distribu- absent (Vickery andKevan 1986).
tion and general abundance on prairie areas The Ground Mantis, Litaneutria minor
at least. It's my sense that they are very (Scudder), Canada's only native mantid,
firmly established in appropriate habitat in also occurs in the southern Okanagan Val-
M
the south Puget lowlands." Probably, ley where, in some habitats, such as ante-
religiosa could rather readily spread from lope-brush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) de
northwestern Washingtoninto coastal BC. Candolle) and big sagebrush {Artemisia
Tenodera aridifolia Stoll ssp. sinensis tridentata Nuttall) grasslands it is sympatric
Saussure (Chinese Mantid) is an unre- with Mantis religiosa (Cannings 1987).
stricted and commercially produced species However, it is easily distinguished from the
of mantid available as a biological control latter; Cannings (1987) gives characters to
agent and in the pet trade in BC (David separate the two species. Briefly, Litaneu-
Blades, pers. comm.). It is released in gar- tria adults are grey to dark brown and less
mm
dens in attempts to control pests, although than 35 long while those ofMantis are
Don Elliott of Applied Bio-nomics (pers. green or pale brown and much longer than
comm.) considers it ineffective as it often 35 mm. Females of the former have short,
feeds on other beneficial insects. Undoubt- non-ftmctional wings, one-third or less the
edly, releases of T. a. sinensis into green- length of the abdomen, while males are
houses and gardens have occurred many usually frilly winged with a dark spot on the
times over the years in BC but no estab- hindwing. Both sexes of M. religiosa are
lished populations are known. Experiments winged and have a black-ringed white spot
on the survival ability ofthe species in vari- on the inner base of the procoxa. Vickery
ous locations in BC are required to deter- and Kevan (1986) key the three species that
mine whether this species is capable ofbe- occurin Canada.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I amgratefril to the following colleagues Entomological Museum, McGill Univer-
for specimen data and/or information from sity, Montreal, QC), Jim Troubridge
the collections under their care: Karen (Canadian National Collection of Insects,
Needham (Spencer Entomological Mu- Ottawa, ON), Jane Seed (Pacific Forestry
seum, University of BC, Vancouver, BC), Centre, Victoria, BC). Others, especially
Terry Wheeler and Julia Mlynarek (Lyman Richard Cannings (Naramata, BC), Claudia
80 J.Entomol. Soc.Brit.Columbia 104,December2007
Copley (Royal BC Museum, Victoria, BC), try ofForests, Vernon, BC) andLaurie Tay-
Jim Corrigan (BC Ministry of Forests, lor (Duncan, BC) supplied specimens, re-
Vernon, BC), Jakob Dulisse (Nelson, BC), cords and information. I thank those pho-
Don Elliott (Applied Bio-nomics Ltd., Sid- tographers and observers listed in the Mate-
ney, BC), Gord French (Vernon, BC), Den- rials and Methods section; Bruce Enns sup-
nis Paulson (Seattle, WA), KellyMcAllister pHed the photograph in Fig. 1. Richard
(Olympia, WA), James Miskelly (Victoria, Cannings, Jim Corrigan, David Blades,
BC), Geoff Scudder (University of BC, Jakob Dulisse and Malcolm Martin com-
Vancouver, BC), Ward Strong (BC Minis- mented onvarious drafts ofthe manuscript.
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