Praying mantis (Apteromantis bolivari Werner, 1929)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 11052064

Apteromantis Project is a scientific research performed during 2011 in various localities of the Mediterranean Basin. The target of the research was to verify not just the presence of a mysterious insect,  the Apteromantis bolivari, of which there had been no sightings reported for more than half a century, but also to understand the validity of the two species of the genus Apteromantis in their evolutive context and to update the information on their conservation status. During the expedition held in 2011 in North Morocco, living populations of very rare mantids like Tenodera rungsi, Apteromantis bolivari were encountered and recorded, confirming their presence in different habitats but extremely reduced distribution. Collected specimens, compared with other species by their taxonomy and biogeography, confirmed old records and descriptions and gave important information on the ecology of mantids in the Mediterranean area. The rarity, the reduced distribution and the poor knowledge on Moroccan mantids lead to some considerations on the conservation problems and priorities about these insects. A divulgative documentary is also under development.

http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/?12548/MantisMorocco

http://apteromantis.entomon.info/?lang=en