A checklist of global distribution of Liturgusidae and Thespidae (Mantodea: Dictyoptera)

Abstract

The praying mantiss are a group of over 2500 predatory insects (Order Mantodea: Superorder Dictyoptera) distributed in tropical and subtropical habitats of the world, from the rainforest to the desert ground. Currently, the order Mantodea comprises over 20 families, out of which the global distribution of 2 families: Liturgusidae and Thespidae is provided in this compilation. The family Liturgusidae includes a broad assemblage of genera distributed on five continents, all members being characterized as ecomorphic specialists on tree trunks or branches. The family consists of 19 genera and 92 species distributed in Neotropical Central and South America, Tropical Africa and Australasia. The family Thespidae is the most speciose (41 genera, 224 species) and ecologically diversified lineage of Neotropical praying mantiss comprising 6 subfamilies: Haaniinae (2 genera, 10 species), Hoplocoryphinae (3 genera, 41 species), Miobantiinae (3 genera, 19 species), Oligonicinae (16 genera, 71 species), Pseudomiopteriginae (7 genera, 28 species) and Thespinae (10 genera, 44 species).