An observation on the ecology and behaviour of Metallyticus splendidus on a dead dipterocarp tree in Sabah Malaysia (Mantodea Metallyticidae)

Byng James W., . and Hovius Sofie A., . and Schilthuizen Menno, . and Lubbers Maarten, . and Chai Rayzigerson R., . An observation on the ecology and behaviour of Metallyticus splendidus on a dead dipterocarp tree in Sabah Malaysia (Mantodea Metallyticidae). pp. 165-170. ISSN 2550-1909

Metallyticus is a genus of rare mantids occurring mostly in SouthEast Asia. Five species have been described. However their ecology and behaviour remain virtually unknown. In this study we describe a small population of Metallyticus splendidus Westwood 1889 on a dead dipterocarp tree standing in disturbed tropical rainforest around Danau Girang Field Centre Sabah Malaysia. At dawn in the afternoon and at night four individuals two adults and two nymphs were monitored. Our findings confirm earlier behavioural observations: they hold their bodies flat when running. We did not observe any lurking behaviour: the mantids were walking fast across the tree stem and in tree holes. M. splendidus was found at dawn in the afternoon and at night only on this single dead tree in a plot of 50 X 50 m. This suggests that M. splendidus is day and night-active and that its habitat is restricted to dead standing trees. We failed to find other individuals on other dead as well as living trees. Our findings show that the habitat of M. splendidus could be restricted to large dead trees giving novel insights into the ecology of Metallyticidae.

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Abstract

Metallyticus is a genus of rare mantids occurring mostly in SouthEast Asia. Five species have been described. However their ecology and behaviour remain virtually unknown. In this study we describe a small population of Metallyticus splendidus Westwood 1889 on a dead dipterocarp tree standing in disturbed tropical rainforest around Danau Girang Field Centre Sabah Malaysia. At dawn in the afternoon and at night four individuals two adults and two nymphs were monitored. Our findings confirm earlier behavioural observations: they hold their bodies flat when running. We did not observe any lurking behaviour: the mantids were walking fast across the tree stem and in tree holes. M. splendidus was found at dawn in the afternoon and at night only on this single dead tree in a plot of 50 X 50 m. This suggests that M. splendidus is day and night-active and that its habitat is restricted to dead standing trees. We failed to find other individuals on other dead as well as living trees. Our findings show that the habitat of M. splendidus could be restricted to large dead trees giving novel insights into the ecology of Metallyticidae.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Mantids
AGROVOC Term:	Mantodea
AGROVOC Term:	Surveys
AGROVOC Term:	Animal behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	Dipterocarps
AGROVOC Term:	Rain forests
AGROVOC Term:	Ecology
AGROVOC Term:	Habitats
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:55
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/9580

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