The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: Portuguese Mantises (Mantodea)

Study Extent

Specimens of Mantodea were captured in 60 sites. Sites were distributed across continental Portugal, with a concentration of records in the NE region of the country. Sampling was conducted from 2006 to 2019, in several field work expeditions.

Sampling

Specimens of Mantodea were captured in continental Portugal from 2006 to 2019 by direct search of the environment and by using both UV LED and mercury-vapor lamps to attract the insects. Captured specimens were preserved in 96% ethanol and stored at the InBIO Barcoding Initiative reference collection for downstream molecular analysis. Collected specimens were morphologically identified.

Quality Control

For all DNA barcoded specimens, their morphological identification was contrasted with the results of the Blast of the newly generated DNA barcodes in BOLD Identification Engine. Prior submission to GBIF, data was checked for errors and inconsistencies with OpenRefine 3.4.

Method steps

1. Specimens of Mantodea were captured in 60 different localities of continental Portugal. Field work was carried out between 2006 and 2019, with 78% of the records obtained in 2018.
2. Specimens were collected by direct search of the sampling site while also using both UV LED and mercury-vapor lamps as lures distributed along the site. Collected specimens were preserved in 96% ethanol.
3. The specimens were morphologically identified using a binocular stereoscopic microscope and resorting to available literature (Agabiti, Salvatrice and Lombardo, 2010; Marabuto, 2014; Sánchez-Vialas, Rodríguez-Flores and García-París, 2015).
4. DNA barcodes were sequenced from a subset of samples from each species in the dataset, usually six, selected to represent the best geographical coverage available for the species, for a total of 48 samples. For this, one leg was removed from each individual, DNA was then extracted, and a 658 bp COI DNA barcode fragment was amplified and sequenced.
5. All obtained sequences were submitted to BOLD database and to each sequenced specimen the morphological identification was contrasted with the results of the BLAST of the newly generated DNA barcodes in BOLD Identification Engine.
6. Prior submission to GBIF, data was checked for errors and inconsistencies with OpenRefine 3.4.

This dataset is composed of data relating to 144 Mantodea specimens belonging to nine of the twelve species present in Portugal. These represent four families and eight genera of Mantodea present in the country. The two non-native species of the Miomantis genus and the rare Rivetina baetica were not captured and therefore are not included in the dataset. The most represented species are Ameles paradecolor Agabiti, Salvatrice & Lombardo, 2010 (39 specimens) and Perlamantis allibertii Guérin-Méneville, 1843 (36 specimens), accounting for 52% of the collected specimens.

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
3. Insecta
   rank: class
4. Mantodea
   rank: order
5. Amorphoscelidae
   rank: family
6. Empusidae
   rank: family
7. Mantidae
   rank: family
8. Tarachodidae
   rank: family

Continental Portugal.