Expansion of the distribution of Antemna Rapax Stal 1877 (Mantodea: Mantidae) in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua

Authors

  • Alonso Santos-Murgas Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Departamento de Zoología. Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. - Estación Científica Coiba AIP, Ciudad de Saber, Panamá. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9339-486X
  • Alfredo Lanuza-Garay Universidad de Panamá, Centro Regional Universitario de Colón, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Departamento de Zoología. Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0480-5490
  • Rogemif Fuente-M. Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Escuela de Biología, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. - Fundación Los Naturalistas, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4389-2665
  • Saul S. González-G. Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0749-8898
  • Jeancarlos Abrego-L. Universidad de Panamá, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Exactas y Tecnología, Departamento de Zoología. Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9576-9175

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62430/rtb20252322063

Keywords:

color patterns, distribution, informal database, Panama, praying mantis

Abstract

The praying mantis Antemna rapax Stål, 1877 (Mantidae: Antemninae) is recorded for the first time from several localities in Panama, formally expanding its known distribution within the country. New records come from Konsenda San Blas along the road to San Blas (Guna Yala), Chepo (Panamá Province), El Valle de Antón (Coclé Province), and Santa Fé National Park (Veraguas Province). Additionally, a yellowish coloration pattern observed in females of this species is documented for the first time, with no previous reports from Panama, Costa Rica, or Nicaragua. This chromatic pattern was identified through citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist and GBIF, from which a total of 67 records were extracted. In Costa Rica, data span from 1988 to 2025, and in Nicaragua from 2001 to 2009. The morphology of the ootheca is also described for the first time, along with new biological and ecological data on A. rapax that had not been previously reported in scientific literature.

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Published

2025-12-09

How to Cite

Santos-Murgas, A., Lanuza-Garay, A., Fuente-M., R., González-G., S. S., & Abrego-L., J. (2025). Expansion of the distribution of Antemna Rapax Stal 1877 (Mantodea: Mantidae) in Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The Biologist, 23(2). https://doi.org/10.62430/rtb20252322063