Amelidae is a family of small to medium-sized praying mantises, commonly known as dwarf mantises, which were previously classified under the family Mantidae. They are characterized by extreme sexual dimorphism, with winged, slender males and brachypterous (short-winged), stubby-bodied females. They are primarily found in the Mediterranean region, Africa, Asia, and North America.
Key Facts about the Family Amelidae
Physical Characteristics:
Size: Generally small, with species like Ameles spallanzania reaching lengths of 18–40 mm.
Sexual Dimorphism: Males are slender and winged, while females are more robust, with reduced wings (brachypterous) and are unable to fly.
Structure: They have short, thick fore femora (usually less than 4 times longer than wide) and a short, stout pronotum.
Head Shape: The vertex of the head is typically straight or convex.
Coloration: Colors range from brown, green, ochre, to grey, allowing them to blend into their environment.
Behavior and Biology:
Reproduction: Similar to Mantis religiosa, females of some species, such as A. spallanzania, may cannibalize males during mating.
Courtship: Males often perform unique courtship, such as the snake-like movements seen in the "Snake-tail Mantis" (Ameles serpentiscauda) to avoid being eaten.
Habitat: They prefer warm, dry, and sunny places with sparse vegetation, such as Mediterranean scrubs.
Life Cycle: Adults are usually found from late spring to late summer, with nymphs hatching around July.
Distribution and Habitat:
They are predominantly found in the Mediterranean basin (from Morocco to Greece and southern Europe).
They are well-adapted to arid and rocky, sparse vegetation environments.
They are rapidly expanding their range northward in Europe.
Identification:
The identification of Amelidae species, particularly in the genus Ameles, requires careful analysis of both external morphology (like eye shape, pronotum length) and male genitalia.
They are often confused with other species, making detailed taxonomic studies crucial.
Conservation Status:
Some species, like Ameles serpentiscauda, are considered potentially threatened due to habitat loss.
