IMPACT DE LA PREDATION DE MANTODEA EN MILIEUX NATURELS ET CULTIVEES DE LA CUVETTE D’OUARGLA (SAHARA SEPTENTRIONAL EST-ALGERIEN)

Abstract

A census of the species of praying is done in the bowl Ouargla (northern Sahara) and a study of their feeding behavior. Nine species belonging to three distinct families are collected. The feeding activity of Mantodea is achieved by the excreta examination. In the field, the availability of potential prey is studied. Comparison of the diets of eight species of mantids shows their strong entomophagous. For Mantis religiosa, Diptera and Orthoptera frequent 35,7%, respectively, are the most ingested (H’ between 0 and 1,84 bit). As for Iris oratoria, 58,6% of its diet is composed by Orthoptera of which 63,6% are Acrididae. Diptera (20,6%) including Cyclorrhapha (17,1%) are also ingested (H’ fluctuates between 0,81 to 1,83 bit). Menu of Sphodromantis viridis indicates that Diptera, Orthoptera, Homoptera and Hymenoptera are consumed in equal parts (H = 2 bits). However, Elaea marchali pallida feeds Hymenoptera (66,7%), mainly Formicidae (55,6%) (H '= 0,81 to 1,76 bit). In addition, Amblythespis granulata eats mostly Hymenoptera (60%) (H '= 1,37 bit). By cons, it is mainly Orthoptera (66,7%) and Coleoptera (22,2%) that are consumed by Amblythespis lemoroi (H '= 1,58 to 2 bits). In addition, Empusa guttula swallows all of Heteroptera (50%) than Hymenoptera (50%). The diversity index of Shannon-Weaver is an estimated to 1 bit. In the menu of Blepharopsis mendica, Diptera (45,4%) are better represented, accompanied by Orthoptera (18,1%) and Hymenoptera (18,1%) (H '= 0,92 to 1,5 bit). In terms of eating behavior, the species studied are generalists.