Tarachodidae
bark mantises
Genus Guides
1- Iris(mantis)
Tarachodidae is a of mantises commonly known as bark mantises, found in Africa and Asia. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former Caliridinae and Tarachodinae now reassigned to other families. The Galepsus, a primary representative of this family, has been studied for its distribution across Southern Africa and its traits. Research on Galepsus has revealed distinctive reproductive strategies, including extended female longevity and extended intervals between production to reduce sibling competition.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Tarachodidae: //ˌtærəˈkoʊdɪdiː//
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Identification
Formerly distinguished as bark mantises with cryptic coloration matching tree bark. Members of the Galepsus exhibit : females possess reduced wing buds and six abdominal segments, while males have eight abdominal segments and fully developed wings. Diagnostic characters for the subgenus Syngalepsus include a straight or slightly arched vertex without bump or incision near the , a right phallomere with rounded and toothless region, and a bearing two circular black spots. -level identification relies heavily on male genitalia .
Images
Habitat
Grassland biomes of Southern Africa; agricultural rangeland and crop fields in Highveld Grassland Biome; green spaces within urban areas in Grassland biome; Savanna biome of Southern Africa. Specific records from Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic.
Distribution
Africa and Asia. Southern Africa including Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. Sub-Saharan distribution stretching from north of Congo Basin to South Africa. Additional records from Central African Republic, Malawi, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, India, Fiji, and Comoros islands.
Diet
Live aphids (Brevicoryne spp.) for first and second instar nymphs; live crickets (Acheta sp.) from third instar onwards.
Life Cycle
approximately 20.25 days. Nymphal stages of similar mean duration for males and females. Nymphs reared separately after second instar to prevent . female longevity approximately 91 days, three times longer than adult male longevity of approximately 26 days. Total longevity: males approximately 167 days, females approximately 253 days. Mean interval between oviposition approximately 20 days.
Behavior
prevention observed in captivity: males removed after copulation to prevent female ; ample food provisioned before male introduction to reduce cannibalism risk; nymphs separated after second instar. Females appear to invest fewer resources in unfertilized , which are significantly shorter and contain fewer . Extended intervals between ootheca production and pronounced female longevity suggest a survival strategy to reduce competition between siblings.
Human Relevance
Studied as agents in agricultural settings. Captive breeding conducted for research purposes. No significant documented economic or medical importance.
Similar Taxa
- HaaniidaeFormer Caliridinae (Caliris) moved to this ; previously classified within Tarachodidae
- LeptomantellidaeFormer Caliridinae (Leptomantella) moved to this ; previously classified within Tarachodidae
- EremiaphilidaeFormer Tarachodinae moved to this ; previously classified within Tarachodidae
Misconceptions
The Tarachodidae is now taxonomically obsolete; former have been reassigned to distinct families (Haaniidae, Leptomantellidae, ). Some sources may still use this classification, but current has superseded it.
More Details
Taxonomic status
This is now obsolete. The former Caliridinae and Tarachodinae have been elevated or reassigned to separate families based on phylogenetic revision.
Research limitations
data derived from captive breeding conditions at 27±1°C and 68%±5% humidity with 48 individuals (30 males, 18 females). Distribution records primarily from South African museum collections, with 20% of specimens identified to level by Afro-tropical Mantodea taxonomic expertise.