Mantodea

Rivera, Julio, Hausherr, Nicolas & Lanna, Leonardo Moutinho, 2025, Discovery and formal description of the female of Microphotina Beier, 1935 (Mantodea: Photinaidae), with an updated key to species and remarks on the role of Citizen Science in advancing Mantodea biodiversity studies, Zootaxa 5621 (2), pp. 231-248 : 243-244

Citizen Science and Mantodea Biodiversity Research

The elusive nature of praying mantises presents many challenges in studying their biodiversity.One primary limitation is obtaining sufficient specimens for accurate taxonomic characterization, understanding geographical distribution, and uncovering biological patterns ( Rivera 2010b). This scarcity is compounded by sex biases in collections and the rarity of certain lineages found in difficult-to-survey habitats. Additionally, academic researchers face increasingly complex regulations and bureaucratic hurdles that restrict access to and movement of specimens for study (Welch et al. 2019). Extended fieldwork utilizing various trapping methods can alleviate some of these challenges (e.g., Schwarz et al. 2020; Lanna et al. 2023), but time and resource constraints often make this impractical for individual researchers in the long run. Despite the dedicated efforts of a handful of scattered specialists worldwide, a persistent shortage of expertise hampers research into Mantodea biodiversity , necessitating complementary approaches to expedite the global inventory of praying mantis diversity amid the current biodiversity crisis.

Citizen science, a collaborative research approach involving public participation, significantly enhances scientific knowledge through collective data contributions that extend beyond the capabilities of professional researchers ( Silvertown 2009; Bonney et al. 2016; Sun et al. 2021). Data gathered by the public can be accessed by researchers, validated, and integrated into various projects to enhance our understanding of nature and its processes. Citizen Science-driven research has helped map threatened species ( Zapponi et al. 2017; Wilson et al. 2017), monitor invasive and pestiferous organisms ( Vendetti et al. 2018; Schade et al. 2019; Streito et al. 2021), discover new species or uncharted populations (Kasalo et al. 2020; Mesaglio et al. 2021), and track population range expansion ( Jones et al. 2019). Citizen science has proven instrumental in advancing our understanding of biodiversity and conservation and highlighted the importance of charismatic species as focal points for public awareness and action ( Ducarme et al. 2013; Albert et al. 2018; Castillo-Huitrón et al. 2020). The charismatic appeal of praying mantises could potentially be harnessed to engage the public in advancing the study of their biodiversity through Citizen Science initiatives.

In the context of Mantodea biodiversity studies, at least two strategies can be employed depending on the level of public involvement in the scientific processes and the desired outcome (adapted from Shirk et al. 2012):

a) Participatory (or Contributory) Citizen Science (PCS) involves research projects led by professional scientists, with the public typically restricted to quantitative or qualitative data collection with minimal to no input into research design or data analysis. Tasks are usually simple, requiring little time, logistics, and resource investment, facilitating broad public participation. PCS projects are also ideal for accompanying research initiatives that aim to raise awareness or educate the public on focal topics such as environmental issues or conservation needs.

b) Collaborative Citizen Science (CCS) encourages active collaboration with engaged citizen scientists to set research goals, refine methodological approaches, and interpret findings, while professional scientists maintain leadership in research design and data analysis. Tasks are typically designed to foster stronger engagement and leverage available expertise and capabilities, leading to a deeper understanding of the scientific process. CCS projects require a greater investment in time and resources from engaged citizens, as well as training and coordination; as a result, CCS typically involves fewer participants.

PCS as a method in praying mantis biodiversity studies has gained traction in recent years. This trend is greatly facilitated by citizen science platforms like iNaturalist, which use artificial intelligence-powered computer vision models to help users identify organisms. Citizen scientists enabled the initial application of iNaturalist to Mantodea studies to detect and track invasive species. The global trade in praying mantises as popular arthropod pets, combined with their egg cases’ natural dispersal abilities, has led to many species spreading far beyond their native ranges ( Schwarz & Ehrmann 2018; Battiston et al. 2022). iNaturalist has proven invaluable for the detection of these invaders, especially in Europe (e.g., Cianferoni et al. 2018; Fearn 2018; Moulin 2020; Battiston et al. 2020; Pintilioaie et al. 2021; van der Heyden & Schwarz 2021; Fasano & De Martino 2023). Additionally, georeferenced records from iNaturalist have significantly contributed to our understanding of species distribution, habitats, ecological preferences, phenology and community composition in different regions ( de la Fuente 2023; Connors 2023; Connors et al. 2022; Connors et al. 2023; Greyvenstein et al. 2023; Mirzaee et al. 2024; Luna et al. 2024). The use of iNaturalist in Mantodea studies is still in its nascent stages, and we anticipate numerous additional applications. For example, taxonomy could also greatly benefit from PCS projects supported by this platform. iNaturalist records can inform taxonomy by revealing undocumented sexually dimorphic traits, discovering new species, and filling gaps in our knowledge of species’ geographic distribution, thereby providing insights into the geographic boundaries between species and species groups. Additionally, iNaturalist records may uncover taxonomically informative color traits observable only in live specimens, further shedding light on how chromatic patterns and morphological traits are integrated into specific habitats for cryptic purposes. Virtual surveys of type localities via iNaturalist can also offer valuable insights into the traits of a given species when physical examination of primary type (or topotypical) specimens is not possible. Similarly, data retrieved from iNaturalist can further be used to identify ecological trends across different scales, including impacts of climate change, niche modeling, and biogeographic patterns, all aspects rarely explored in Mantodea studies due to data limitations, but otherwise requiring urgent attention. Overall, PCS projects are ideal for gathering data encompassing broad geographic areas and temporal scales, valuable for circumscribing species, and understanding biodiversity patterns and ecological dynamics in Mantodea .

CCS projects in Mantodea studies have received less emphasis compared to PCS initiatives. CCS projects are particularly suited for focused efforts requiring accurate and detailed data. Unlike PCS, CCS projects foster scientific collaboration and capacity-building within communities and organizations. Examples include monitoring target species or populations, conducting surveys to map species distribution, tracking seasonal shifts in local species abundance, or long-term observation of biological trends. These initiatives benefit from direct partnerships with individuals and organizations actively engaged in fieldwork in accessible praying mantis habitats. The present study, resulting from the active engagement of the Association d’Étude des Mantes de Guyane ( AEMG), illustrates how CCS projects can enhance praying mantis biodiversity research.

Based in FG, AEMG was founded by Citizen Scientist Nicolas Hausherr (a co-author) and Emma Loeb with the goal of expanding our knowledge of the local praying mantis fauna through structured surveys and scientific observation of breeding colonies of local species. Since its beginnings in 2017, AEMG has made significant progress in species identification and data validation thanks to the support of local entomologists and praying mantis taxonomists. For instance, AEMG has documented the complete life cycles of 10 species and discovered the egg cases of 25 species in FG, including regionally rare species like Paratithrone royi and M. viridescens . The association obtained legal status in 2022 and now conducts praying mantis inventories in two reserves, including the Trésor Regional Nature Reserve where work on M. viridescens and other species has been conducted ( Hausherr et al. 2024). AEMG also promotes public outreach by fostering a network of naturalists in FG. The collaboration between AEMG, mantis specialists and the local naturalist network exemplifies the critical role that CCS projects and engaged local individuals and organizations can play in advancing Mantodea biodiversity studies in the Guianian region and supporting local conservation initiatives.