LETTERATURA SCIENTIFICA
October 2018 - Poster
On the presence of Geomantis larvoides in Liguria: new observations after 69 years and preliminary considerations about its biology and distribution.
William Di Pietro - Oscar Maioglio - Rachele Amerini
ABSTRACT
Geomantis larvoides Pantel, 1896 is a small sized mantis with Mediterranean distribution. In this work we present a new and numerous population of G.larvoides from Pompeiana (IM), observed 69 years after the first record of La Greca. Field work was carrying out from March to August 2018, sampling in seven different sites, recording over 300 infdividuals of mantids. High density values have been recorded in the study area, suggesting that low interest has been given to the Italian northern distribution of the species.
January 2019 - Article
The Giant Asian Mantis Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869 spreads in Italy: a new invasive alien species for the European fauna? (Insecta Mantodea).
Roberto Battiston - Fausto Leandri - William di Pietro - Simone Andria
ABSTRACT
The presence of the Giant Asian Mantis, Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869 (Insecta Mantodea), is here reported for the first time in Italy. A well settled and probably wide spread population of this species is here described in detail, evaluating the increase in the number of individuals in the recent years and its adaptability to the European continental climate and to anthropized environments. The synonymy of this species with H. transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 is here discussed and some considerations on the potential impacts on the local ecosystems and its future spreading in Europe as an invasive species are here given.
January 2019 - Article
Mantis, Hierodula e Sphodromantis: aggiornamento su conoscenze e identificazione delle mantidi (Mantodea: Mantinae) native ed aliene presenti in Italia.
Roberto Battiston - Fausto Leandri - William Di Pietro - Simone Andria
ABSTRACT
L’arrivo in Italia negli ultimi anni di nuovi rappresentanti della sottofamiglia Mantinae quali Sphodromantis viridis, Hierodula tenuidentata e Hierodula patellifera, pone una serie di problematiche gestionali nuove che vengono qui presentate, come la velocità di espansione e l’adattabilità ad ambienti con un tessuto urbano ed agricolo pesantemente antropizzato. Una discussione su queste mantidi: sulla loro tassonomia, recentemente aggiornata, sulla distribuzione e sui principali caratteri morfologici utili a distinguerle, viene qui presentata per avviare un monitoraggio partecipativo della loro presenza, in vista di possibili interventi di gestione.
March 2020 - Article
A new alien mantis in Italy: is the Indochina mantis Hierodula patellifera chasing the train for Europe?
Roberto Battiston - Rachele Amerini - William Di Pietro - Luis Alessandro Guariento - Luca Bolognin - Enzo Moretto
ABSTRACT
The presence of the Indochina mantis Hierodula patellifera (Mantidae, Mantinae) as a new alien species in Italy is reported, with the description of the first stable macro-population in Europe. This macro-population shows a wide distribution, comprising several fragmented and reproducing sub-populations in Northern Italy and one in Southern France. Specimens and individuals were collected or observed on trees and ornamentals in urban ecosystems with the help of citizen science. A spatial analysis (Average Nearest Neighbour) was undertaken to characterise the present distribution pattern, evidencing the hot spots of arrival and the local spreading process. The random pattern of presence in the local urban textures and the resistance of this species to the challenging North Italian climate, are here discussed in the perspective of a future expansion to central and Northern Europe, using probably the main railways to arrive at depots and cities, travelling with Asian goods. Identification characters are also presented to separate this alien species from the other species of the subfamily Mantinae, native or introduced, present in Europe.
DOI: 10.3897/BDJ.8.e50779
September 2020 - Article
Where two giants meet: the first records of Sphodromantis viridis in Sicily and Greece and the spread in Europe of Hierodula tenuidentata (Insecta Mantoidea) show new crossroads of mantids in the Mediterranean.
Roberto Battiston - Simone Andria - Domenico Borgese - William Di Pietro - Alberto Manciagli
ABSTRACT
The first presence records of the Giant African Mantis Sphodromantis viridis (Forskål, 1775) (Insecta Mantoidea) are reported for Sicily and Greece, with new evidences on the humanmediated spreading of this species in the Mediterranean area. In Greece, Sphodromantis viridis meets the distribution of the Giant Asian Mantis Hierodula tenuidentata (Saussure, 1869), and these two mantids have been recorded together in the same locality. Some single records from France and Corsica also open the possible expansion of this species in more northern regions. These different spreading dynamics, taking place in the Mediterranean area, in a fast-evolving scenario, are here discussed.
December 2020 - Article
The praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) as indicators for biodiversity and environmental conservation: a case study from the Maltese and Balearic archipelagos.
Roberto Battiston - William Di Pietro - Rachele Amerini - Arnold Sciberras
ABSTRACT
The use of mantids as indicators for biodiversity and environmental conservation has been studied on different islands of the Mediterranean Basin, specifically the Maltese and Balearic archipelago. The study focused on three model species: a generalist and cosmopolitan species (Mantis religiosa); a species that is uncommon but widespread in the Mediterranean area, adapted to maquis and garrigue environments (Ameles spallanzania); and a rare species linked to dry and semi-desertic biotopes (Rivetina baetica). Their presence and distribution have been found to be significantly correlated with the species richness of Orthoptera, already known to be sound indicators of biodiversity, as well as other elements of their complementary network. All three species preferred both natural and well-preserved habitats over areas subject to human impacts on the land, such as medium to intensive agriculture or habitat degradation. This therefore qualifies them as sound bioindicators for habitat conservation, and their role as such is discussed within both local and global contexts.
November 2021 - Article
A social beauty: distribution, ecology and conservation of Iris oratoria in the Central Mediterranean Region (Insecta: Mantodea).
Roberto Battiston - Elvira Castiglione - William Di Pietro - Stefano Lazzaretti - Francesco Manti - Arnold Sciberras
ABSTRACT
The distribution and knowledge on the Mediterranean mantid Iris oratoria (Linnaeus, 1785) is here updated. Despite is beautiful appearance and presence in the social media, the scientific knowledge on its real distribution is poor and incomplete and this may affect its conservation at local scales. Citizen science records have been here compared with traditional science records, here updated with many new and original localities: this species is reported for the first time for Libya, Malta, Calabria and many Mediterranean islands and islets. The ecological preferences have been investigated in a retrodunal transect to investigate the preferred vegetation patterns for this species. The general value of citizen science records in evaluating the real distribution of a species have been tested here, using Iris oratoria as a case study for further investigations.
May 2022 - Article
HIERODULA TENUIDENTATA SAUSSURE, 1869: UNA NUOVA MANTIDE ALIENA PER IL VENETO
William Di Pietro - Roberto Battiston
ABSTRACT
The Giant Asian Mantis (Hierodula tenuidentata) is reported for the first time in the Veneto region and the survival of adult individuals in Northern Italy till winter is confirmed. Despite the already well documented ability of this alien species to survive the harsh winters of Northern Italy, new data on its ecology in these areas allows one to better understand the potential of this species to spread in Europe. This species was able to remain viable in persistent minimum temperatures below 0°C and with extremes
of -5 °C. The current distribution dynamics suggest Veneto as a possible meeting point between the westward expanding Balkan populations and those of the lower Po Valley already known for some years.
Studi e Ricerche – Associazione Amici del Museo – Museo Civico “G. Zannato”, Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza), 28 (2021): 57-60.
May 2022
The pet mantis market: a first overview on the praying mantis international trade (Insecta, Mantodea)
Roberto Battiston - William Di Pietro - Kris Anderson
ABSTRACT
Praying mantises have recently gained popularity as domestic pets. Moreover, they are increasingly being bred and sold in fairs and pet markets or collected in the wild and reared by amateurs or professional marketers for the hobbyist community. This market is not well known, and its implications on the biology and conservation of these insects are complex and difficult to predict. For this study, a comprehensive survey was submitted to various hobbyists within this community to evaluate their knowledge of these insects and to assess their preferences for certain species characteristics (such as shape, color, behaviors, dimensions, ease of breeding, and rarity) over others. The aggregation of this data allowed for the generation of a formula that is herein proposed to predict targets and developments within the market in order to help identify conservation issues for vulnerable species. Both problems and opportunities of the pet mantis market are discussed, such as the absence of specific regulations or the potential for a stronger collaboration between the market community and scientists.
December 2022
SEGNALAZIONI FAUNISTICHE ITALIANE 631 - Saga pedo Pallas, 1771 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). Prima segnalazione per la Lombardia dopo 141 anni dal primo ed unico ritrovamento di questa specie sibirico-europea già nota per altre regioni italiane.
William Di Pietro - Oscar Maioglio - Giulia Farris
ABSTRACT
Dopo 141 anni dalla prima segnalazione per la Lombardia, la Stregona dentellata (Saga pedo Pallas, 1771) è stata ritrovata nella Regione in una località inedita.
BOLL. SOC. ENTOMOL. ITAL., 154 (3): 137-143 ISSN 0373-3491
May 2023
On alien mantids in Piedmont: first reports of Hierodula (Mantodea: Mantidae) in the region.
William Di Pietro - Oscar Maioglio - Rachele Amerini
ABSTRACT
The genus Hierodula Burmeister, 1838 is reported for the first time in Piedmont. Data come from the citizen science project iNaturalist. The quality of the photographs made it possible to determine the mantis genus and in some cases the species, Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869. With this contribution, the genus Hierodula, alien mantids in Italy, extends its known range and reaches the most north-western point of the Italian Peninsula.
Rivista piemontese di Storia naturale, 44, 2023: 81-86.