Configural prey recognition by the praying mantis, Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.); effects of size and direction of movement.

The visually released, predatory behaviors of approaching and striking at prey by the praying mantis, Sphodromantis lineola (Burr.), were measured in response to various moving, three-dimensional lure configurations. Lures varied in length (3, 7, 15, 25, 35, 50, 70 or 100 mm), thickness (i.e. width and height: 3, 7, 10, 15, 20 or 30 mm) and direction (approaching or moving orthogonally). Each of these three parameters has a significant effect on whether adult female S. lineola recognize a moving object as potential prey. Approaching lures are strong releasers of predatory behaviors when they are 3-35 mm long and 10 mm thick. Orthogonally moving lures, although overall poor releasers of predatory behavior, are at their strongest when 3-35 mm long but only 3 mm thick. These response patterns are similar to those for some anurans and urodeles, which also hunt small invertebrates with analogous behavioral repertoires. This suggests that these groups may have evolved similar algorithms for identifying prey in spite of dissimilar neural organization.