Mantid Fauna of Kerala, India/M.C. Vyjayandi. Kolkata, Zoological Survey of India, 2007, x, 186 p., figs., plates, (pbk). ISBN 81-8171-153-3. [Records of the Zoological Survey of India : Occasional Paper No. 267].

    From the Introduction: "Praying Mantids can easily be recognized by their large size, ranging from 10 to 120 millimeters in body length and their characteristic way of standing with forelegs held together. The common name "Praying Mantis" has come from their habit of holding their forelegs up in in a "praying attitude' while waiting for their prey. 

    Mantids play both positive and negative roles in ecosystem. They are predators of insects which include both beneficial and harmful ones. However, the beneficial aspects as predators of insects far outweigh their harmful effects as destroyers of beneficial or non injurious insects. Hence the study of Mantids is economically very important. Unfortunately, the Mantid fauna is very poorly known in India especially from Kerala. The present investigation was undertaken with a view to document the diversity of Mantids as it occurs in the Kerala State, India.

    Till date, in scientific literature 15 species of Mantids have been recorded from Kerala. The present study has yielded information on 25 species in addition from Kerala state. Dealing with 40 species, the present work forms the first consolidated document on the Mantid Fauna of Kerala." 

Return to Zoological Survey of India Catalogue

Return to Entomology Catalogue