Additional Records of Mantodea and Phasmida from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The Zoological Survey of India undertook surveys in the islands of Andaman and Nicobar in 2013-14 and 2016 for the mantids and phasmids. During these surveys, 6 species of mantids belonging to 5 genera were collected of which 2 genera and 3 species are new record. The phasmids collected during the surveys belonged to 3 genera and 4 species of which 1 genus, 1 subgenus and 2 species are new record from the islands. All new records are marked by*. All the specimens are present at the Orthoptera Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata. Mantids are predatory insects and are easily recognized by their elongated body equipped with raptorial fore legs, power to camouflage and diurnal foraging activity. According to Mukherjee et al., (2014), 71 genera and 169 species are known from India including 60 endemic species. According to Ehrmann (2002), the world record of mantids was 2300 species belonging to 434 genera. According to Sureshan et al., (2004) Acromantis montana Giglio-Tos, 1915 Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784) were new to the islands. According to Mukherjee et al., (2014), so far 5 genera and 8 species of mantids are reported from the islands. These are: Acromantis montana Giglio-Tos, 1915, Acromantis nicobarica Mukherjee, 1995, Tenodera superstitiosa superstitiosa (Fabricius, 1781), Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869, Hierodula nicobarica Mukherjee, 1995, Mesopteryx robusta WoodMason, 1882, Statilia apicalis (Saussure, 1871) and Statilia maculata (Thunberg, 1784). Phasmids are very timid, slow walking, nocturnal, herbivorous stick-like insects. They have great power to mimic and perfectly blend with the environment to avoid predation. The knowledge on Indian phasmids is scanty and fragmentary. Otte et al., (2003) published the first complete catalog of the world’s stick and leaf insects. The authors listed 523 genera and 2822 species throughout the world. Shishodia (1998) mentioned that there are 146 species known to India. A preliminary study (unpublished) reveals that the number of Indian stick insects is 140 species belonging to 42 genera. The number is an approximation only because of incomplete information and doubtful locality. According to literatures (Redtenbacher, 1906; WoodMason, 1876; Wood-Mason, 1873 and Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893), 6 genera and 6 species of stick insects are known from these islands. They are Abrosoma virescens Redtenbacher, 1906 (doubtful as per Phasmid Species File Online), Lonchodes verrucifer Wood-Mason, 1876, Ramulus westwoodii (Wood-Mason, 1873), Sceptrophasma hispidulum Wood-Mason, 1873, Trachythorax atrosignatus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1893) and Phyllium (Phyllium) westwoodii Wood-Mason, 1875. Abstract