The Egg Content and Nymphal Production and Emergence in Oothecae of Two Introduced Species of Asiatic Mantids (Orthoptera: Mantidae)

Abstract

During the winter and spring of 1938 the writer kept under observation four lots of egg-masses, or oothecae, three belonging to a species of mantid, Tenodera sinensis Saussure, introduced into this country about 1896 from eastern Asia, the fourth to another species of Asiatic origin, T. angustipennis Saussure, first recorded in America from Delaware in 1933 (6)[1][1] and now known to occur abundantly also in southern New Jersey. The main object in view was to collect data of a quantitative nature on the biotic potentials (3) of these mantids which have increased enormously since their introduction. For this purpose data were recorded for each ootheca on (a) the number of eggs deposited, (b) the number of nymphs produced, and (c) the number of the latter which emerged as living young. By the biotic potential of a species the writer understands its innate capacity for reproduction and survival. As contributing to these ends must obviously be counted the factors mentioned. [1]: #fn-1