Abstract
Abstract The Chinese mantis, Tenodera aridifolia sinensis (Saussure), is a univoltine tritrophic predator of old fields, now widespread after its introduction into North America more than a century ago. In 3 y of study of a population in eastern Virginia, we observed several unusual features in this oldfield insect: >90% of egg cases deposited in shrubs and trees, many at heights >2 m, not on goldenrods and similar herbaceous plants as previously reported. Egg cases were nonrandomly oriented (to the south) but with no significant association between compass orientation and days to hatching of young. Egg cases were randomly dispersed but least dense in patches without woody plants, the opposite of expectation for an oldfield insect. Finally, smaller egg cases yielded fewer and later-hatching young when oriented towards the south. A parsimonious explanation is that some females produce >1 egg case in eastern Virginia, with later egg cases being smaller and with fewer eggs because of reduced food intake. Fur...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
