VOL. 54, NO. 1, JANUARY 1978 
17 
A similar situation is possibly threatening the existence of Anthicus 
antiochensis Werner, which is restricted to the small sand dune area 
near Antioch, California. The dune area, including the type locality, 
has been severely reduced by the construction of a large industrial 
plant. The type series of antiochensis was collected prior to the con¬ 
struction of the plant in 1952-1953. Only recently was a small series 
collected, despite repeated attempts to collect the species during 
the intervening years. 
Literature Cited 4 
Werner, F. G. 1964. A revision of the North American species of Anthicus, s. str. 
(Coleoptera: Anthicidae). Misc. Publ. Entomol. Soc. America 4:197-242. 
SCIENTIFIC NOTE 
Notes on Mantids (Stagmomantis, Iris) as Possible Predators of Conenose Bugs 
(Triatoma , Paratriatoma). — Wood (1975, NPCO News 35:18) reported experimental 
destruction of Triatoma by a mantid, Litaneutria (?). Mantids were confined to covered cir¬ 
cular plastic dishes, 26 cm in diameter and 10 cm deep. A piece of damp filter paper 
covered the floor of the container. For aeration, the lids were drilled with five holes, 3 mm 
in diameter. 
A male California mantid, Stagmomantis calitornica Rehn & Hebard, ate one male 
Triatoma protracta navajoensis Ryckman except for five legs and two wings. Six days later it 
ate one replete fifth instar nymph except for head, legs and the posterior half of the 
abdomen. 
Three female Mediterranean mantids, Iris oratoria (Linnaeus), were collected X-13-75 on 
oleanders at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co., CA. Strohecker (1952, Pan-Pacific Ent. 
28:138) first reported this mantid from the Coachella Valley east of the Borrego Valley in 
California. In the laboratory at Thousand Oaks they were at first confined to plastic dishes 
and offered chiefly T. p. navajoensis as food. The mantids feed from any position, 
horizontal, head up or head down. The pattern of feeding was to grasp the triatome by the 
head and abdomen with both forelegs and begin chewing vigorously on the thorax with 
the victim held horizontally. In most instances the prothorax and head were consumed 
first, followed by the rest of the thorax and abdomen. By eating the smaller portion first, 
the mantid freed one leg for aid in holding and manipulating the heavier abdomen. The 
insect systematically chewed along the outer edges of the exoskeleton, segment by 
segment, pausing periodically to consume the internal tissues. Individual legs of the 
The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 54:17-18. January 1978 
