Predation by a Mediterranean House Gecko, <i>Hemidactylus turcicus</i> (Linnaeus, 1758) on a European Dwarf Mantis, <i>Ameles spallanzania</i> (Rossi, 1792) with an Emphasis on the Gecko’s Diet

Abstract

The Mediterranean House Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758) is a small lizard (SVL 5 – 6 cm) belonging to the family Gekkonidae, rarely reaching 13 cm in total length. This species is widely distributed in the Mediterranean regions of Europe and neighbouring islands. The diet of H. turcicus is still relatively unknown in its natural habitat due to its nocturnal lifestyle, as is the case for its precise wild distribution. Previous sources have documented that the diet of the gecko includes mainly invertebrates, but also a large variety of arthropods, including chilopods, malacostracans, arachnids, entognaths, and insects, which make up the majority of its diet. We present here a literature review of H. turcicus‘s diet, of all its range (including introductions), with the first documented observation of predation on the European dwarf mantis (Ameles spallanzania).