a2275ff2f8e9703d727d80116d5218d73e8c

Biodiversity Data Journal 11: e102637
doi: 10.3897/BDJ.11.e102637
Taxonomy & Inventories
Documenting Mantodea species in South African

museum collections and an updated species list
Bianca Greyvenstein‡, Johnnie van den Berg‡, Hannalene du Plessis‡
‡ North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Corresponding author: Bianca Greyvenstein ([email protected])
Academic editor: Yasen Mutafchiev
Received: 24 Feb 2023 | Accepted: 16 Nov 2023 | Published: 12 Dec 2023
Citation: Greyvenstein B, van den Berg J, du Plessis H (2023) Documenting Mantodea species in South African
museum collections and an updated species list. Biodiversity Data Journal 11: e102637.
https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e102637
Abstract
Background
The previous species list of South African Mantodea, published in 1998, was largely
compiled from the literature and did not incorporate data from the many insect museum
collections available in the country. It is estimated that approximately 120 species of
Mantodea occur in South Africa; however, since no historical museum records were
previously incorporated, the current information is considered to be outdated and not a true
reflection of the Mantodea fauna within this region. A checklist of species is an important
benchmark for any insect group, especially in light of the worldwide declines of insect
diversity reported over the last decade. Checklists that provide accurate information on
insect diversity, especially for groups, such as the Mantodea which could be under threat
and thus could provide important information that can be used in determining the threat
status of species, as well as to aid in their conservation in general.
New information
This paper provides an updated checklist of the praying mantids (Insecta, Mantodea)
species of South Africa. While 120 species were previously reported to occur in South
© Greyvenstein B et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
(CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source
are credited.
2 Greyvenstein B et al
Africa, this paper reports 157 species in 64 genera that represent eight different
superfamilies, 14 families and 22 subfamilies. Additionally, five species are reported for the
first time to occur in South Africa. This species list was generated from the approximately
4000 specimen records of which 3558 records reside within South Africa. The remaining
732 records represent 14 other African countries. Occurrence records from two citizen-
science platforms (iNaturalist and Gbif.org), were also incorporated in this study, adding
1880 species records in South Africa. The low number of specimens in the national
collections indicate that this group of insects is poorly collected and highlights the lack of
knowledge about South Africa’s mantid fauna, as well as a lack of taxonomic expertise as
1532 museum specimens remain unidentified to species level.
Keywords
diversity, mantids, museum, species and South Africa
Introduction
Until recently, the Mantodea Order consisted of approximately 24 families with 2400
species (Wieland and Schutte 2012, McMonigle 2013, Wieland 2013, Green 2014). The
classification system has recently been revised and the Mantode Order now composed of
16 superfamilies, 29 families and 436 different genera (Schwarz and Roy 2019).
Approximately 120 species of Mantodea were reported to occur in South Africa (Schoeman
1985a, Schoeman 1985b), when the previous species list was compiled between 1996 and
1998 (Kaltenbach 1996, Kaltenbach 1998). Kaltenbach (1996) estimated that there were
approximately 131 Mantodea species in South Africa and that 19% of these species were
endemic. Ehrmann (2002) estimated a total of 125 species within the region. Beyond the
abovementioned checklist information, very little is known of South African Mantodea
biology and ecology. A 2023 Scopus (www.scopus.com) internet search of published
scientific papers indicated that between 1927 and 2023, 792 papers were published on
Mantodea worldwide. However, only 15 of these publications were from institutions in
South Africa, seven of which belong to the authors of this paper and two papers were the
previous checklist from Kaltenbach (1996), Kaltenbach (1998). The remaining papers
conducted on Mantodea in South Africa all addressed molecular and genetic aspects and,
in some of these cases, it was actually Blattodea that were investigated. Studies on the
biology and distribution of mantids throughout the world are limited and, in South Africa,
largely absent.
It is possible that many mantid species in the southern African region have not been
documented yet. The only surveys of Mantodea in South Africa were done by Kaltenbach
(1996) and the Mantodea Project which was done in collaboration with the Cleveland
Museum of Natural history in Ohio, USA (Svenson et al. 2012). However, no species list
from the latter survey was published. The latter survey was done during 2005 and only
Documenting Mantodea species in South African museum collections and an ... 3
included three regions within South Africa (Cape floristic region, Richards Bay in KwaZulu-
Natal Province, and the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga Province).
This paper, compiled from museum records and previous checklists by Kaltenbach (1996),
Kaltenbach (1998), contributes to the information on Mantodea in South Africa and
identifies the knowledge gaps with regards to mantids in South Africa.
Materials and methods

All of the National insect collections and museums throughout South Africa were visited
during this study. The following seven institutions constitutes the national insect collections
in the country: Ditsong Museum of Natural History (Pretoria) (DNMNH), Agricultural
Research Council (Biosystematics Division, Pretoria) (ARC), National Museum
(Bloemfontein) (NMB), Albany Museum (Makhanda) (AMG), Rhodes University
(Makhanda) (RU), Durban Natural Science Museum (DNSM), Iziko South African Museum
(Cape Town) (Iziko) and KwaZulu-Natal Museum (Pietermaritzburg) (NMSA). Specimens in
these collections where mostly identified by visiting taxonomists during previous visits to
these institutions. Many of the museum specimens were also previously identified by
taxonomists at the departments of Dr. Max Beier at the Vienna museum in Germany, Dr.
James Rehn at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, USA, Dr. Alfred Peter
Kaltenbach at the Natural History Museums in Wien, Austria and Dr. Roger Roy at the
Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in France (Fig. 1).
Figure 1.
An example of Mantodea museum specimens in a collection which were identified (including
genitalia plates if applicable per species) by various taxonomists. These specimens were
amongst those used to compile the species list in this paper.
Furthermore, a small subset of South African Mantodea were identified by Nicolas Moulin,
Honorary Associate at Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in France, during 2019.
Unidentified specimens that were encountered in the abovementioned museums were
identified by means of the literature and through assistance from a taxonomist who
specializes in African Mantodea (Nicolas Moulin). Many Mantodea specimens in South
African collections have only been identified to genus level. These "ignota specimens"
(approximately 1600) were, therefore, not included in this checklist. However, they are
included in the database itself (available in Suppl. material 1).
In order to compile this database, all of the Mantodea specimens and distribution labels
were photographed and the label information documented. This database contains the
following information for each specimen record: genus and species name, collector’s
details, collection date, if available, and locality. The website mantodeaspeciesfile.org (Otte
et al. (2022) as well as other literature on specific species, such as those by Ehrmann
(2002), Roy (2004), Roy (2006), Roy (2009), Roy (2010), Roy (2013), Roy (2018), Roy
(2022) were used to determine the current nomenclature. The reclassification of the Order
Mantodea by Schwarz and Roy (2019) was also applied during the updating of this
checklist. The updated species list was compared to that provided in publications by
Kaltenbach (1996), Kaltenbach (1998) after which similarities and differences were
highlighted.
To our knowledge, this paper provides the most comprehensive list of Mantodea in South
African collections. Since only a limited number of Mantodea specimens of 14 other African
countries were present in South African museum collections, these records were not
included in this paper. The scope of this study, did however not allow for vistits to museums
residing outside of South Africa, which is required when the latter information is used to
compile comprehensive Mantodea species lists for these African countries. However, to
increase the comprehensiveness of this checklist, various European and American
museum collections were contacted and provided information on South African Mantodea
in their collections. These museums were: The Natural History Museum, (Italy);
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (USA), Museum für Naturkunde
(Germany), Natural History Museum (UK), Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde (Germany),
Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Belguim) and the Muséum national d’Histoire
naturelle (France). Data from Mantodea specimens in a private collection in Germany
(Christian Schwarz), as well as records relevant Gbif.org records within South Africa were
also included in this study.
This species list includes information on the taxonomists who identified the species in the
South African museum collections and is indicated for each species by the “ID” tag, as well
as the year in which the specimen was identified (if available). Furthermore, the hosting
museum collection of each specimen is also included in brackets (). A list of abbreviations
for the various institutions and collections are provided in Table 1. Specimens that are not
held locally, or for which only literature records exist, are indicated under the ID tag column
in the checklist as with the abbreviation "Lit" with the reference to the relevant publications.
The number of records in the various collections in South Africa, as well as the number of
Research Grade observation records of the species listed on the two citizen-science
platforms, are provided in Suppl. material 1. It should be noted that no details of the
persons who provided identifications of species listed on the citizen-science platforms are
listed in the checklist. This will be addressed in the Discussion section of the paper.
Table 1.
List of abbreviations for the museums and collections in which the Mantodea specimen are hosted.
Institution/ Museum collection Abbreviation
Agricultural Research Council Roodeplaat, Pretoria, SA ARC
Albany Museum, Makhanda (Grahamstown), SA AMG
Barcode of life data system, availible online BOLD
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio, USA CMNH
Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria, SA DNMNH
Durban Natural Science Museum, Durban, SA DNSM
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Tartu, EMÜ
Estonia
Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town, SA IZIKO
KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, SA NMSA
Lund University Biological Museum, Lund, Sweden MZLU
Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France MNHN
National Museum, Bloemfontein, SA NMB
Natural History Museum, London, UK NHMUK
Personal collection of Christian Schwarz, Germany PC_CS
Personal collection of Johnnie van den Berg, SA PC_JB
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe, Germany. SMNK
Student Collection, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown), SA RU
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden NRM
The geographical distribution of species beyond South Africa, is based on information

provided by Roy (1967), Kaltenbach (1996), Kaltenbach (1998), Ehrmann (2002), Roy
(2004), Roy (2006), Roy (2009), Roy (2010), Roy (2013), Roy (2018), Roy (2022) as well
as museum records indicated below, after the tag "Distribution". The abbreviations used for
the different countries are listed in Table 2. It should be noted that all the species listed
below are present in South Africa and, thus, this country is not listed under the distribution.
Where there is no “Distribution” tag associated with a species, the species has only been
reported from South Africa. The specimen type, i.e., Holotype, Paratype or DNA barcode,
sex, and museums in which they are kept, is provided in the Suppl. material 1.
Table 2.
Abbreviations of country names listed in the section describing the distribution of different
Mantodea species recorded in South Africa.
Abbreviation Country Abbreviation Country Abbreviation Country
[AL] Algeria [GN] Guinea [NG] Nigeria
[AG] Angola [IN] India [RNI] Rennell Island
[AZ] Australia [IS] Israel [RI] Reunion Island
[BA] Bismarck Archipelago [IC] Ivory Coast [RW] Rwanda
[BOT] Botswana [JP] Japan [SG] Senegal
[BF] Burkina Faso [JV] Java [SY] Seychelles
[BR] Burundi [KN] Kenya [SL] Sierra Leone
[CAM] Cameroon [LS] Lesotho [SM] Somalia
[CA] Canada [LB] Liberia [SD] Sudan
[CV] Cape Verde [LI] Libya [TZ] Tanzania
[CAR] Central African Republic [MDG] Madagascar [TH] Thailand
[CD] Chad [MAL] Malawi [TG] Togo
[CH] China [MP] Malayan Peninsula [TC] Tschad
[DRC] Dem. Rep. Congo [MA] Mali [TU] Tunisia
[EG] Egypt [MN] Mauritania [UG] Uganda
[EW] Eswatini [MT] Mauritius [UK] United Kingdom
[ET] Ethiopia [MOZ] Mozambique [ZAM] Zambia
[GB] Gabon [NAM] Namibia [ZB] Zanzibar
[GH] Ghana [NU] New Guinea [ZIM] Zimbabwe
[GU] Guam [NZ] New Zealand
Results
This updated checklist includes information on species of the Mantodea that were not
previously listed in South African checklists. The known species richness has increased
from approximately 120 species in 1998 to 157 species (this report). The South African
Mantodean fauna have eight superfamilies, 14 families, 22 subfamilies, 19 tribes, 14
subtribes and 15 genera (Suppl. material 2). A summation of the number of records and
species within these 14 families is presented in Fig. 2.
Figure 2.
Summary of the number of species and number of records per Mantodea family recorded in
South Africa.
This checklist encompasses 157 Mantodea species that occur, or are reported to occur in
South Africa, including the first report of five species within the region (indicated with two
asterisks ** in the notes section of each species). However, some anomalies were
recorded (indicated by # in the notes section of each species). These anomalies are
addressed in the Discussion section of this paper.
Updated checklist of Mantodea of South Africa
Superfamily Chroicopteroidea Giglio-Tos, 1915
Family Chroicopteridae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Subfamily Chroicopterinae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Tribe Bolbellini Schwarz & Roy 2019
Dystactula grisea Giglio-Tos, 1915
Native status: Suspected to be endemic to southern Africa (Kaltenbach 1996)
Distribution: MOZ
Notes: ID: N. Moulin 2018. (DNMNH)
Dystactula natalensis Kaltenbach, 1996
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996, Ehrmann 2002)
Tribe Chroicopterini Giglio-Tos, 1915
Subtribe Bisanthina Giglio-Tos, 1917
Bisanthe lagrecai Kaltenbach, 1996
Distribution: ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1989. (DNMNH)
Bisanthe pulchripennis (Stål ,1876)
Distribution: NAM, BOT
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1992;1989. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Subtribe Bolbellini Schwarz & Roy 2019
Bolbella affinis Kaltenbach, 1996
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996, Ehrmann 2002
Bolbella brevis Beier, 1953
Notes: ID: Unspesified. (DNMNH)
Bolbella punctigera (Stl, 1871)
Distribution: CA, LS
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925 & A. Kaltenbach 1982. (BOLD, DNMNH, IZIKO)
Bolbella rhodesiaca Beier, 1930
Distribution: ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. H.D. Brown 1963, M. Beier 1963. (ARC, DNMNH)
Subtribe Chroicopterina Giglio-Tos, 1915
Carvilia gracilis Kaltenbach, 1996
Chroicoptera saussurei (Giglio-Tos, 1915)
Distribution: LS
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1989 & A.J. Hesse. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Chroicoptera vidua (Stål, 1856)
Distribution: NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925. (DNMNH)
Chroicoptera longa Giglio-Tos, 1915
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996)
Entella (Entella) delalandi (Saussure, 1870)
Distribution: NAM, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dept. A. Kaltenbach 1989, M. Beier 1925, R. Erhmann & F. Werner.
(DNMNH, NRM, SMNK)
Entella (Entella) exilis Giglio-Tos, 1915
Notes: ID: Lit (Ehrmann 2002)
Entella (Entella) natalica Beier, 1955
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1953. (MZLU)
Entella (Entella) nebulosa (Audinet-Serville, 1839)
Notes: ID: Dep. A.J. Hesse. (IZIKO, NRM).
Entella (Entella) orientalis Giglio-Tos, 1915
Distribution: MOZ, TZ
Entella (Entella) pusilla subsp. cruciata Beier, 1953
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952. (DNMNH)
Entella (Entella) pusilla subsp. pusilla Beier, 1953
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952. (DNMNH).
Entella (Entella) rudebecki Beier, 1955
Distribution: LS
Entella (Entella) taborana (Giglio-Tos, 1915)
Distribution: TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952. (DNMNH) **

Entella (Entella) transvaalica Beier, 1955
Distribution: ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1985 & R. Ehrmann. (DNMNH, SMNK)
Entelloptera rogenhoferi subsp. rogenhoferi Saussure, 1872
Distribution: NAM, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1984;1991 & M. Beier 1952. (ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO)
Entelloptera rogenhoferi subsp. maesta Rehn, 1927
Geothespis australis Giglio-Tos, 1916
Distribution: AZ, NAM
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996)
Ligaria affinis Kaltenbach, 1996
Distribution: BOT, MOZ, ZAM, ZIM
Ligaria brevicollis Stål, 1877
Distribution: MOZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, A. Kaltenbach 1985 & N. Moulin 2018. (DNMNH, NRM)
Ligaria quadrinotata Chopard, 1914
Distribution: NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach. (NRM)

Ligariella gracilis Karny, 1908
Ligariella trigonalis Saussure, 1899
Distribution: BOT, NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1985. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Namamantis cruciata Beier, 1953
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996, Ehrmann 2002) & (PC_CS)
Namamantis nigropunctata Kaltenbach, 1996
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996, Ehrmann 2002) & (PC_CS)
Subtribe Dystactina Giglio-Tos, 1915
Dystacta alticeps (Schaum, 1852)
Distribution: AG, BOT, DRC, MAL, MOZ, NAM, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1977, A. Kaltenbach 1984,
R. Erhmann & N. Moulin 2018. (ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, SMNK, PC_CS)
Subfamily Tarachininae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Gonypetella atrocephala Beier, 1930

Tribe Gonypetellini Schwarz & Roy, 2019
Gonypetella deletrix Rehn, 1927
Distribution: AG, NAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1989, A.J. Hesse, C. Schwarz & R.
Erhmann. (DNMNH, IZIKO, SMNK, PC_CS)
Gonypetella punctata Giglio-Tos, 1915
Distribution: CAM, KN, DRC, UG
Notes: ID: Undefined. (NRM)
Tribe Tarachinini Giglio-Tos, 1915
Tarachina schultzei Karny, 1908
Distribution: NAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Tarachina transvaalensis Beier, 1953
Distribution: ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, A. Kaltenbach 1989, R. Ehrmann 1991 & A. Kaltenbach
1992 (ARC, DNMNH)
Superfamily Eremiaphiloidea Saussure, 1869
Family Eremiaphilidae Saussure, 1869
Subfamily Iridinae Westwood, 1889
Tribe Iridini Westwood, 1889
Episcopomantis chalybea Burmeister, 1838
Distribution: AG, BOT, NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy 1977, A. Kaltenbach 1984, A.J. Hesse, M.B.D. Stiewe 2003 &
R. Ehrmann. (ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, SMNK)
Subfamily Tarachodinae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Tribe Oxyelaeini Schwarz & Roy 2019
Oxyelaea elegans Giglio-Tos, 1917
Distribution: DRC, TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. M.B.D. Stiewe & N. Moulin 2018. (ARC, NMSA, NMB) **
Tribe Tarachodini Giglio-Tos, 1915
Subtribe Antistiina Schwarz & Roy 2019
Antistia maculipennis Stål, 1876
Distribution: BOT, NAM, TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1962, A. Kaltenbach 1984 & F. Werner. (ARC,
DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Antistia parva Beier, 1953
Distribution: NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1989. (DNMNH)

Antistia robusta Kaltenbach, 1996
Distribution: TZ
Antistia vicina Kaltenbach, 1996
Distribution: NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1989 (DNMNH, PC_CS)
Ariusia conspersa Stål, 1877
Notes: ID: N. Moulin 2018. (NMB)
Subtribe Tarachodina Giglio-Tos, 1915
Pyrgomantis fasciata Giglio-Tos, 1917
Notes: ID: Undefined. (DNMNH).
Pyrgomantis nasuta Thunberg, 1784
Distribution: AG, CAM, KN, NAM, SM, TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1984, R. Ehrmann 1991 & A.
Kaltenbach 1992. (ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM).
Pyrgomantis rhodesica Giglio-Tos, 1917
Distribution: BOT, NAM, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1984; 1992. (ARC, DNMNH)
Pyrgomantis simillima subsp. simillima Beier, 1954
Distribution: ZIM

Galepsus (Lygdamia) lenticularis (Saussure, 1872)
Distribution: ET, BOT
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, A. Kaltenbach 1989, A.J. Hesse, N. Moulin 2018 & R.
Ehrmann. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM, SMNK)
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) angolensis Werner, 1907
Distribution: AG, MOZ
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) capensis Beier, 1930
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) capitatus (Saussure, 1869)
Distribution: ET, KN, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1984;1991. (ARC, DNMNH)
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) centralis Beier, 1957
Distribution: DRC, TZ
Notes: ID: N. Moulin 2018. ##
Galepsus ( Onychogalepsus) damaranus subsp. damaranus Giglio-Tos,

1911
Distribution: AG, DRC, NAM
Galepsus ( Onychogalepsus) damaranus subsp. orientalis Kaltenbach,

1996

Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) femoratus Giglio-Tos, 1911
Native status: Suspected to be endemic to southern Africa (Kaltenbach, 1996)
Notes: ID: Dep. A.J. Hesse. (IZIKO)
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) intermedius Werner, 1907
Distribution: KN, MOZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1991, R. Erhmann 1991, H.D.
Brown. (ARC, DNMNH, SMNK)
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) letabaensis Kaltenbach, 1996
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) meridionalis (Saussure, 1872)
Distribution: DRC, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1991, A.J. Hesse, B.P. Uvarov, R. Ehrmann & F. Werner.
(DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, SMNK, NRM)
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) pentheri Giglio-Tos, 1911
Distribution: CAM, DRC, NAM (possibly)
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1984; 1991 & C. Schwarz. (ARC, DNMNH, PC_CS)
Galepsus (Onychogalepsus) transvaalensis Beier, 1954
Distribution: DRC
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1984; 1989; 1992. (DNMNH)

Galepsus (Syngalepsus) beieri Kaltenbach, 1996
Galepsus (Syngalepsus) bipunctatus Beier, 1931
Distribution: MOZ
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1991 & R. Erhmann. (DNMNH, SMNK)
Nothogalepsus planivertex Beier, 1969
Distribution: MAL, MOZ, NAM, ZIM
Tarachodes (Chiropus) dives Saussure, 1869
Distribution: AG, NAM, SD
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1992. (DNMNH) **
Tarachodes (Tarachodes) beieri Kaltenbach, 1996
Distribution: ZIM
Tarachodes (Tarachodes) insidiator Wood-Mason, 1882
Distribution: AG, DRC, KN, MAL, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1989 & B.P. Uvarov. (DNMNH,
IZIKO, NMSA)
Tarachodes (Tarachodes) lucubrans Burchell, 1822
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1977 & A. Kaltenbach 1989. (ARC, DNMNH,
IZIKO, NMSA)
Tarachodes (Tarachodes) maurus Stål, 1856
Distribution: CAM, MAL, MOZ, NAM, TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & F. Werner. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Tarachodes (Tarachodes) sanctus subsp. sanctus Saussure 1871
Distribution: DRC, MOZ, SM, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1992. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Tarachodes (Tarachodina) natalensis Kaltenbach, 1996
Family Rivetinidae Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Subfamily Rivetininae Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Tribe Ischnomantini Giglio-Tos, 1916
Ischnomantis fatiloqua Stål, 1856
Distribution: AG, DRC, NAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, R. Roy 1976, R. Ehrmann 1991 & N. Moulin 2018.
(ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Family Toxoderidae Saussure, 1869
Subfamily Compsothespinae Giglio-Tos, 1913
Compsothespis anomala Saussure, 1872
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, H.D. Brown 1963, A.J Hesse & R. Erhmann. (ARC,
DNMNH, IZIKO, SMNK)
Compsothespis cinnabarina Beier, 1955

Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1953. (MZLU)
Compsothespis kilwana Giglio-Tos, 1913
Compsothespis natalica Westwood, 1889
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925 & H.D. Brown 1953. (ARC, DNMNH)
Subfamily Heterochaetinae Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Heterochaeta occidentalis Beier, 1963
Distribution: BOT, KN, NAM
Notes: ID: Dept. R. Roy 1976 & A.J.Hesse. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NMB)
Subfamily Toxoderinae Saussure, 1869
Tribe Calamothespini Giglio-Tos, 1914
Subtribe Calamothespina Giglio-Tos, 1914
Calamothespis oxyops Rehn, 1927
Superfamily Galinthiadoidea Giglio-Tos, 1915
Family Galinthiadidae Giglio-Tos 1919
Galinthias amoena (Saussure, 1871)
Distribution: AG, DRC, MAL, TZ, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy 1976, A.J.Hesse, C. Schwarz & R. Erhmann. (DNMNH, IZIKO,
SMNK, PC_CS)
Harpagomantis tricolor (Linné, 1758)
Distribution: BOT, LS, NAM, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, R. Roy 1977, A. Kaltenbach 1984, R. Erhmann
1991, C. Schwarz & B.P. Uvarov. (AMG, ARC, CMNH, DNMNH, IZIKO, PC_CS)
Superfamily Hoplocoryphoidea Giglio-Tos, 1916
Family Hoplocoryphidae Giglio-Tos, 1916
Hoplocorypha bicornis Deelemann-Reinhold, 1957
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Gain. (NMB)
Hoplocorypha brevicollis Beier, 1931
Hoplocorypha fumosa Giglio-Tos, 1916
Distribution: MAL, MOZ, ZIM
Hoplocorypha galeata Saussure, 1870
Distribution: ET, KN, TZ, ZB
Hoplocorypha macra Stål, 1856
Distribution: AG, KN, NAM, TZ, UG, ZAM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952, A. Kaltenbach 1985 & A.J. Hesse.
(NRM, IZIKO, DNMNH, ARC)
Hoplocorypha nana Sjostedt, 1909
Distribution: KN, NAM, NG, TZ, UG

Notes: ID: Dept. M. Beier 1952 & A Kaltenbach 1985; 1991. (ARC, DNMNH)
Hoplocorypha saussurii Giglio-Tos, 1916
Distribution: KN, NAM, TZ, ZAM
Notes: ID: Dept. M. Beier 1952 & R. Roy 1977. (DNMNH)
Hoplocorypha striata Beier, 1930
Distribution: NAM
Notes: ID: Dept. A Kaltenbach 1991. (DNMNH)
Hoplocoryphella grandis Brancsik, 1895
Distribution: MDG, MAL, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925 & A. Kaltenbach 1989. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Superfamily Hymenopoidea Giglio-Tos, 1915
Family Empusidae Burmeister, 1838
Subfamily Empusinae Burmeister, 1838
Tribe Empusini Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Subtribe Empusina Burmeister, 1838
Empusa binotata Audinet-Serville, 1839
Distribution: AL, AG, BF, CAM, ET, KN, LI, MDG, NAM, SM, TZ, CD, TU, IN
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy 1977, A. Kaltenbach 1998, M.B.D. Stiewe, R. Erhmann, C.
Schwarz, A.J Hesse, H.D. Brown. (ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMB, SMNK, PC_CS)
Subtribe Idolomorphina Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Hemiempusa capensis (Burmeister, 1838)
Distribution: AG, GH, KN, DRC, RW, TZ, UG, ZIM

Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1916, R. Roy 1977, B.P. Uvarov & A.J. Hesse. (AMG,
DNMNH, DNSM, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM)
Idolomorpha dentifrons Zehntner & Saussure, 1895
Distribution: ET, KN, MOZ, SM, SD, TZ, UG, ZB
Subfamily Oxypilinae Saussure, 1871
Tribe Oxypilini Saussure, 1871
Junodia amoena Schulthess-Rechberg, 1899
Distribution: ET, KN, MOZ, TZ
Notes: ID: Undefined. (MNHN).
Junodia strigipennis Westwood, 1889
Distribution: ET, MOZ, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925 & R. Roy 1976. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Junodia vansoni Roy, 2009
Distribution: TZ, MAL, ZAM
Notes: ID: Lit (Roy 2009)
Oxypilus (Anoxypilus) capensis (Saussure, 1871)
Distribution: AG, NAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1966; 1976, A. Kaltenbach 1984 & B.P. Uvarov.
(ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA)
Oxypilus (Anoxypilus) transvalensis (Giglio-Tos, 1915)
Distribution: AG, BOT, ES, NAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1966 & A. Kaltenbach 1984.
(DNMNH, IZIKO)
Family Hymenopodidae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Subfamily Acromantinae Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Tribe Otomantini Giglio-Tos, 1915
Otomantis rendalli Kirby, 1899
Distribution: ZAM
Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996, Ehrmann 2002
Otomantis scutigera Bolivar, 1890
Distribution: MAL, MOZ, TZ
Oxypiloidea (Oxypiloidea) tridens Saussure, 1872
Distribution: AG, CD, DRC, MOZ, NAM, TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. R.Roy 1988. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Oxypiloidea (Oxypiloidea) namibiana Roy, 2013
Distribution: BOT, ZIM, NAM
Subfamily Hymenopodinae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Tribe Hymenopodini Giglio-Tos, 1915
Subtribe Pseudocreobotrina Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi Stål, 1871
Distribution: AG, DRC, ET, KN, MAL, MOZ, TN, ZB, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925 & A. Kaltenbach 1998. (ARC, AMG, DNMNH, IZIKO,
NRM)
Subfamily Phyllocraniinae Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Phyllocrania paradoxa Burmeister, 1838
Distribution: AG, CAM, DRC, ET, GH, GU, KN, MDG, MOZ, NAM, SM, SU, TZ, TG,
UG, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1977, A. Kaltenbach 1985;
1988 & B.P. Uvarov. (AMG, ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM)
Subfamily Sibyllinae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Sibylla pretiosa Stål, 1856
Distribution: DRC, ET, ES, KN, MAL, NAM, SM, TZ, UG, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1977, M.B.D. Stiewe & B.P.
Uvarov. (ARC, DNMNH, NMSA, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM)
Superfamily Mantoidea Latreille, 1802
Family Dactylopterygidae Giglio-Tos, 1915
Zouza radiosa Giglio-Tos, 1907
Distribution: BOT, NAM, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dept. Kaltenbach 1988. (DNMNH)
Family Deroplatyidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Popinae Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Popa spurca Stål, 1856
Distribution: AG, CAM, DRC, GH, GN, MOZ, NAM, TG, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, R. Roy 1977, B.P. Uvarov, & F. Werner. (AMG,
DNMNH, IZIKO, EMÜ, NMSA, NMB, NRM)
Agrionopsis distanti (Kirby, 1899)
Distribution: DRC, KN, UG, ZAM, ZIM

Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1923, H.D. Brown 1963, A. Kaltenbach 1991 & M. Beier.
(ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO)
Danuria (Danuria) thunbergi Stål, 1856
Distribution: DRC, ET, MOZ, NAM, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. Rehn 1926, A. Kaltenbach 1992, G.A.K. Marshall, A.J. Hesse, B.P.
Uvarov, R. Erhmann & R. Roy. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM, SMNK)
Family Mantidae Latreille, 1802
Subfamily Mantinae Latreille, 1802
Mantis religiosa subsp. eichleri Bazyluk, 1960
Distribution: Afro-Eurasia
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1985 & N. Moulin 2018. (ARC,
BOLD, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMB, NHMUK)
Subfamily Omomantinae Giglio-Tos, 1916
Omomantis zebrata Charpentier, 1843
Distribution: KN, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1985, M.B.D. Stiewe & B.P. Uvarov.
(ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, DNSM, NMSA, NRM)
Subfamily Tenoderinae Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Tribe Paramantini Roy, 1973
Subtribe Paramantina Roy, 1973
Paramantis natalensis (Stål, 1856)
Distribution: AG, CAM, DRC, ET, KN, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy 1966 & A. Kaltenbach 1984. (DNMNH, NRM)
Paramantis sacra Thunberg, 1815
Distribution: CAM, UG
Notes: ID: Dep. R.Roy & A. Kaltenbach 1991. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Paramantis prasina (Audinet-Serville, 1839)
Distribution: AG, GH, GN, KN, CAM, BG, TZ, TG
Notes: ID: Lit (Roy 1967, Ehrmann 2002)
Sphodromantis gastrica Stål, 1858
Distribution: ET, MOZ, NAM, SM, TZ, UG, ZB, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1984; 1988, N. Moulin 2018 & B.P. Uvarov. (ARC, AMG,
DNMNH, NMSA, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM)
Sphodromantis gracilis Lombardo, 1992
Sphodromantis rudolfae Rehn, 1901
Distribution: ET, KN, SM, TZ, ZB
Tribe Tenoderini Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Subtribe Polyspilotina Giglio-Tos, 1917
Polyspilota aeruginosa subsp. aeruginosa (Goeze, 1778)
Distribution: AG, CAM, CV, DRC, ET, GB, GN, KN, LB, MDG, NAM, SY, TZ, UG, ZB,
ZIM
Notes: ID: J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952, R. Roy 1977, Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1985;
1988, M.B.D. Stiewe & B.P. Uvarov. (ARC, BOLD, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM)
Polyspilota caffra Westwood, 1889

Distribution: ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, R.Roy 1977 & C. Schwarz. (AMG, DNMNH,
PC_CS)
Polyspilota magna Giglio-Tos, 1911
Subtribe Tenoderina Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Epitenodera capitata (Saussure, 1869)
Distribution: AG, DRC, ET, KN, MAL, MOZ, UG, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1992. (ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO)
Tenodera superstitiosa subsp. superstitiosa (Fabricius, 1781)
Distribution: AG, AZ, CAM, DRC, ET, GB, GH, GN, IN, JV, KN, LB, MAL, MOZ, NAM,
NG, SG, SM, SD, TZ, TG, UG, ZAM, ZB
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1985. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Superfamily Miomantoidae Westwood, 1889
Family Miomantidae Westwood, 1889
Subfamily Miomantinae Westwood, 1889
Cilnia chopardi Werner, 1927
Distribution: BOT, MOZ, NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952. (DNMNH)
Cilnia humeralis (Saussure, 1871)
Distribution: AG, DRC, MAL, MOZ, TZ, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1985, A.J. Hesse, J.A.G. J.A.G. Gain, R.
Ehrmann, B.P. Uvarov & R. Roy. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, NMB, SMNK, PC_CS)
Miomantis aequalis Rehn, 1904
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G Rehn 1925. (DNMNH)
Miomantis binotata Giglio-Tos, 1911
Distribution: KN, MAL, RW, TZ, TG
Miomantis brachyptera Saussure, 1899
Miomantis brevipennis Saussure, 1872
Distribution: CAR, ET, KN, DRC, TZ, ZB
Miomantis caffra Saussure, 1871
Distribution: EW, NZ
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1992, R. Roy & C. Schwarz.
(DNMNH, PC_CS)**
Miomantis coxalis Saussure, 1898
Distribution: AG, LS, MOZ, NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1988. (DNMNH,
IZIKO)
Miomantis exilis Giglio-Tos, 1911
Distribution: AG, BOT, ET, SM, NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1988. (DNMNH,
IZIKO)
Miomantis fenestrata Fabricius, 1781
Distribution: DRC, LS, MOZ, NAM, SM, UG
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925, A. Kaltenbach 1988 & B.P. Uvarov. (ARC, DNMNH,
IZIKO, NMSA, NMB, NRM)
Miomantis helenae Giglio-Tos, 1914
Distribution: MAL, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925 & A. Kaltenbach 1988. (DNMNH)
Miomantis kibweziana Giglio-Tos, 1911
Distribution: KN, TZ, UG
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy. (NRM)
Miomantis lacualis Giglio-Tos, 1911
Distribution: ET, KN, MAL,MOZ,SM,TZ,UG
Miomantis minuta Giglio-Tos, 1911
Notes: ID: Unspecified. (NRM)
Miomantis misana (Giglio-Tos, 1911)
Distribution: AG, CAM, DRC, GN, TG
Miomantis monacha Fabricius, 1787
Distribution: MOZ
Miomantis natalica Beier, 1930

Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1988; 1992. (AMG, DNMNH)
Miomantis paykullii Stål, 1871
Distribution: EG, BF, GH, CAM, KN, MOZ, NG, SG, TG, TC, UG, ZIM
Miomantis prasina Burmeister, 1838
Distribution: AG, DRC, MOZ
Miomantis preussi Karsch, 1892
Distribution: CAM
Notes: ID: F. Werner. (NRM)
Miomantis quadripunctata Saussure, 1898
Distribution: DRC, MOZ, NAM, TZ, UG, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach 1988; 1992, R. Ehrmann 1991, B.P. Uvarov & F. Werner.
(ARC, DNMNH, IZIKO, NMSA, NRM)
Miomantis saussurei Schulthess-Rechberg, 1899
Distribution: MOZ, SM
Notes: ID: Dep. J.A.G. Rehn 1925. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Miomantis semialata Saussure, 1872
Distribution: EW, NAM, TZ, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952 & A. Kaltenbach 1988; 1992. (DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Neocilnia gracilis Beier, 1930

Notes: ID: N. Moulin 2018. (DNMNH)
Parasphendale costalis Kirby, 1904
Distribution: ET, KN, SM, TZ, UG, ZIM
Taumantis globiceps Beier 1969
Distribution: MAL, ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Ehrmann 1991. (ARC)
Subfamily Solygiinae Giglio-Tos, 1919
Solygia sulcatifrons Audinet-Serville, 1839
Distribution: BF, CAM, GN, SN, TG
Notes: ID: Dep. B.P. Uvarov. (NMSA, ARC)
Superfamily Nanomantoidea Brunner de Wattenwyl, 1893
Family Amorphoscelidae Stål, 1877
Subfamily Amorphoscelinae Stål, 1877
Amorphoscelis austrogermanica Roy, 1963
Distribution: East Africa, NAM
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy 1967 & & R. Erhmann. (DNMNH, SMNK)
Amorphoscelis tuberculata Werner, 1923
Distribution: MOZ, NAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. R. Roy 1962 & R. Erhmann. (DNMNH, SMNK)

Subfamily Hapalomantinae Beier, 1962
Tribe Hapalomantini Beier, 1962
Hapalogymnes gymnes Rehn, 1927
Distribution: ZIM
Bolbena (Bolboda) minutissima (Karny, 1908)
Distribution: ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1952. (DNMNH, IZIKO)
Hapalomantis (Bolbira) minima (Werner, 1906)
Distribution: AG, ZIM
Hapalomantis (Hapalomantis) orba (Stål, 1856)
Distribution: KN, MOZ, TZ
Notes: ID: Dep. M. Beier 1953 & A.J. Hesse. (BOLD, DNMNH, IZIKO, NRM)
Tribe Nilomantini Ehrmann & Roy, 2002
Chloromantis rhombica Giglio-Tos, 1915
Distribution: ZIM
Negromantis gracillima Kaltenbach, 1996
Distribution: ZAM, ZIM
Notes: ID: Dep. A. Kaltenbach. (IZIKO)**

Analysis
This checklist was compiled from a database that has been generated after recording all
the available details of specimens (approximately 4000 records over 170 years) in eight
South African museum collections. An additional 1945 Mantodea records from private
collections, several museums outside of South Africa, and two citizen-science platforms
were included. Although all specimens were identified to family level, a large number
(1600) were only identified to genus level. All records within the database could, therefore,
be used to generate distribution maps for the 14 Mantodea families (Fig. 3). Despite only a
few distribution records being available for specimens of some of the families, distribution
patterns indicate that all families occur in the hotspots indicated in this study. These
hotspots are the north-eastern parts of the Savannah biome (towards the Kruger National
Park), along the eastern coast in the Indian Ocean coastal belt (KwaZulu-Natal province),
southern coastal region in the thicket biome (Eastern Cape – Gqeberha), and fynbos
biome in the south-western Cape region. The families with the lowest species richness and
the lowest number of records were Amorphoscelidae, Dactylopterygidae, Nanomantidae,
Rivetinidae and Toxoderidae (Fig. 3). The three most species-rich families were Mantidae,
Miomantidae and Eremiaphilidae (Fig. 3), which were also the families with the highest
numbers of specimen records. The latter three families made up 50.2% of the total number
of specimens in the surveyed collections, with those in the Eremiaphilidae having the
highest representation (853 specimens). The distribution maps do, however, elude that
some areas of the country have either been under-represented or the abundance of
mantids in these regions, for example the Northern Cape Region, is very low. Interestingly,
the distribution of Empusidae, which is only represented by seven species, indicates a
region-wide distribution and more than 200 records of this family were recorded during this
study.
Discussion
This paper illustrates the value of museum data, although it was only after the
documentation thereof, that these data allowed us to update the Mantodea species list of
South Africa. Historic data encompasses many years of collected specimens and, as
suggested by Hill et al. (2012), it remains as data that are invaluable and irreplaceable.
Although the more modern methods of observational data collection through citizen-
science platforms are easily accessible (Moulin 2020), it remains problematic as the
identification of these specimens are difficult, especially for groups such as arthropods.
This is due to the vast numbers of insect species and because, in many cases,
identification requires microscopic investigation of the genitalia and wing venation. Due to
these difficulties, as well as data only at genus level, records sourced from the citizen-
science platforms were only used to compile the distribution maps and they were not
included in the supplementary information. Although citizen-science platforms may provide
valuable information (Moulin 2020), care should be taken when data are used. For
example, 11 Miomantis species were recorded from the museum collections during this
study, while nine other species are also suggested to occur in South Africa (Kaltenbach
1996, Kaltenbach 1998). However, all 467 Miomantis observations from iNaturalist and
GBIF.org were listed as Miomantis caffra Saussure, 1871. Since no other Miomantis
species has been recorded on the latter platforms, it is highly likely that some of the
Miomantis species level identifications were incorrect. Despite this type of error, the data
recorded on citizen-science platforms can be helpful to determine distribution patterns.
These platforms are becoming increasingly important, but there is no substitution for
taxonomic expertise and investigation of specimens, especially for the many species of
Mantodea that have not yet been added to publicly accessible DNA databases. For
example, of the 157 species listed in this checklist, only 50 are represented on DNA
databases such as GenBank, NCBI and BOLD.
Figure 3.
Distribution maps of the Mantodea families that occur within South Africa. The number of
specimen records per family is provided in brackets.
Another example which illustrates the value of data from citizen-science platforms (Gbif.org
in this case), as well as the caution needed in interpreting such data, is that of
Pseudocreobotra ocellata. This species, according to literature, is native to North Africa
and does not occur in South Africa (Ehrmann 2002). However, a DNA barcode of the latter
species was found on the BOLD database (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2007) during this
study which, according to the locality of the specimen used for the DNA analysis, it was
collected in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa (Suppl. material 1). The sequence provided on
BOLD is 99.23% similar to that of an unpublished DNA sequence of Pseudocreobotra
wahlbergi that is available on GenBank. The latter sequence has never been published
and should, thus, be treated with caution. The specimens identified as P. occellata on the
BOLD system could either be new distribution records or be due to a lack of reliable P.
wahlbergi sequences.
One of the species, Galepsus centralis, which has not previously been reported from South
Africa, was collected in the Grassland biome in the north-western region of South Africa
and identified by a mantid taxonomist (Nicolas Moulin) during this study. This species was
previously reported to occur only in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It
could also be possible that this species has always occurred in southern Africa, but was
not detected or it has expanded its range to southern Africa, similar to what has been
reported for other mantid species in recent years (Schwarz and Ehrmann 2018).
Interestingly, Kaltenbach (1996) listed some species that may be endemic to southern
Africa, including Miomantis caffra. The latter species has expanded its range to New
Zealand and Australia (Ramsay 1984, Connors et al. 2022).
This species list indicates that the diversity of Mantodea in South Africa is high and that
approximately 6% of the known Mantodea species worldwide occurs in this region. A few
areas within South Africa seem to be “hotspots” or regions with high diversity and should
be investigated further. These areas may be related to the biomes within the country since
insect communities tend to be closely correlated to plant communities (Schaffers et al.
2008). It is, therefore, suggested that the “hotspot” areas identified in this study be priority
areas for future research. The conglomeration of distribution records on the maps in areas
such as Pretoria may be due to the ease of access (Grytnes and Romdal 2008) of this
museum as it resides within a large city with a large surrounding human population.
The current state of knowledge suggests that South Africa could have a high level of
Mantodea endemicity, i.e. 38% of the species from this study are suggested by Kaltenbach
(1996) to be endemic to southern Africa. Furthermore, "priority species" (for example, the
24 species of which only one record exists) were identified and should be investigated first
to address the severe lack of knowledge regarding these species. For example,
Calamothespis oxyops has a single distribution record (Baberton 1910), i.e. the Holotype
specimen in the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History. One other record of this
species was recorded on iNaturalist (which could indicate that it only occurs in South
Africa). This citizen-science record has, however, not been verified (not Research Grade)
and was, thus, not included in the Suppl. material 1. Lastly, the aim of this paper was not
only to update the Mantodea checklist of South Africa, but also to develop a dataset that
can guide future research on Mantodea diversity within the region. The absence of
taxonomic expertise to identify Mantodea in South Africa provided a challenge during the
compilation of this checklist. This was addressed through collaboration with the
international Mantodea scientist community who assisted with identifications, provided
taxonomic keys and shared old literature regarding the Mantodea of the region.
Acknowledgements
Dr. Nicolas Moulin, Entomologist in Montérolier in France (honorary associate to MNHN),
Dr. Frank Wieland from the Pfalzmuseum für Naturkunde in Germany, Dr. Martin Stiewe
from The Natural History Museum, London and Dr. Christian J. Schwarz from the Faculty
of Biology and Biotechnology, Conservation Biology Unit, Ruhr University Bochum in
Germany and all other researchers in the Mantodea community whom provided invaluable
assistance with identifications and other insights.
We would like to thank the following people at each of these institutions for allowing us to
access the collections: Audrey Ndaba and Tharina Bird at Ditsong museum of Natural
History (Pretoria), Vivienne Uys at the Agricultural Research Council (Biosystematic
Division in Pretoria), Ashley Kirk-Spriggs and Burgert Muller at the National Museum
(Bloemfontein), Helen James and Musa Mlambo at the Albany Museum (Makhanda),
Martin Hill and Thabisa Mdlangu at Rhodes University (Grahamstown), Kirstin Williams at
the Durban Natural Science Museum, Tricia Pillay at KwaZulu Natal Museum
(Pietermaritzburg), Simon van Noort and Aisha Mayekiso, as well as the persons of
communication at Iziko South African Museum (Cape Town). We also thank Simon van
Noort at Iziko Museums of South Africa, Entomology Specify6.
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Supplementary materials
Suppl. material 1: Database of all Mantodea records within South Africa
Authors: B Greyvenstein, H Du Plessis, J van den Berg

Data type: occurrences, taxonomic
Brief description: This file contains the 5945 records of Mantodea that have been recorded to
occur in South Africa – Each record has locality, taxonomic, collectors etc. data. This database is
a compilation of records collected during visits to museums, as well as online records such as
Gbif.org and iNaturalist. Prominent European and American museums were also contacted to
provide information on the South African Mantodea fauna in their collections.
Download file (861.08 kb)
Suppl. material 2: Number of species and records per taxonomical hierarchy of

Mantodea in South Africa
Authors: B Greyvenstein, H Du Plessis, J van den Berg

Data type: Species data
Brief description: This spreadsheet contains a summation of the number of records per
superfamily, family, subfamily etc. of Mantodea that were recorded during this study from various
institutions and collections. It also includes the number of species per taxonomic level and the
numbers of different specimen types, for example Holotype or Paratype, that were recorded
during this study.
Download file (15.44 kb)

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Biodiversity Data Journal 11: e102637

Taxonomy & Inventories

Documenting Mantodea species in South African

Corresponding author: Bianca Greyvenstein ([email protected])

Academic editor: Yasen Mutafchiev

Received: 24 Feb 2023 | Accepted: 16 Nov 2023 | Published: 12 Dec 2023

Materials and methods

Institution/ Museum collection Abbreviation

Agricultural Research Council Roodeplaat, Pretoria, SA ARC

Albany Museum, Makhanda (Grahamstown), SA AMG

Barcode of life data system, availible online BOLD

Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Ohio, USA CMNH

Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, Pretoria, SA DNMNH

Durban Natural Science Museum, Durban, SA DNSM

Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town, SA IZIKO

KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg, SA NMSA

Lund University Biological Museum, Lund, Sweden MZLU

Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France MNHN

National Museum, Bloemfontein, SA NMB

Natural History Museum, London, UK NHMUK

Personal collection of Christian Schwarz, Germany PC_CS

Personal collection of Johnnie van den Berg, SA PC_JB

Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe, Germany. SMNK

Student Collection, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Grahamstown), SA RU

Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden NRM

The geographical distribution of species beyond South Africa, is based on information

Abbreviation Country Abbreviation Country Abbreviation Country

[AL] Algeria [GN] Guinea [NG] Nigeria

[AG] Angola [IN] India [RNI] Rennell Island

[AZ] Australia [IS] Israel [RI] Reunion Island

[BA] Bismarck Archipelago [IC] Ivory Coast [RW] Rwanda

[BOT] Botswana [JP] Japan [SG] Senegal

[BF] Burkina Faso [JV] Java [SY] Seychelles

[BR] Burundi [KN] Kenya [SL] Sierra Leone

[CAM] Cameroon [LS] Lesotho [SM] Somalia

[CA] Canada [LB] Liberia [SD] Sudan

[CV] Cape Verde [LI] Libya [TZ] Tanzania

[CAR] Central African Republic [MDG] Madagascar [TH] Thailand

[CD] Chad [MAL] Malawi [TG] Togo

[CH] China [MP] Malayan Peninsula [TC] Tschad

[DRC] Dem. Rep. Congo [MA] Mali [TU] Tunisia

[EG] Egypt [MN] Mauritania [UG] Uganda

[EW] Eswatini [MT] Mauritius [UK] United Kingdom

[ET] Ethiopia [MOZ] Mozambique [ZAM] Zambia

[GB] Gabon [NAM] Namibia [ZB] Zanzibar

[GH] Ghana [NU] New Guinea [ZIM] Zimbabwe

[GU] Guam [NZ] New Zealand

Updated checklist of Mantodea of South Africa

Superfamily Chroicopteroidea Giglio-Tos, 1915

Family Chroicopteridae Giglio-Tos, 1915

Subfamily Chroicopterinae Giglio-Tos, 1915

Tribe Bolbellini Schwarz & Roy 2019

Dystactula grisea Giglio-Tos, 1915

Native status: Suspected to be endemic to southern Africa (Kaltenbach 1996)

Notes: ID: N. Moulin 2018. (DNMNH)

Dystactula natalensis Kaltenbach, 1996

Native status: Suspected to be endemic to southern Africa (Kaltenbach 1996)

Notes: ID: Lit (Kaltenbach 1996, Ehrmann 2002)

Tribe Chroicopterini Giglio-Tos, 1915

Subtribe Bisanthina Giglio-Tos, 1917