Iran's new praying mantis defends itself by throwing itself to ground

Miami Herald reveals in a new article that in the rugged mountains of western Iran, a newly discovered species of praying mantis has developed a fascinating and unusual defense mechanism — throwing itself dramatically to the ground when threatened. 

This behavior was revealed in a recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa, after researchers raised the mantises to adulthood in a lab setting.

The species, part of the Sinaiella genus, is described as “medium-sized,” “slender,” and “rod-shaped,” according to the research team. Males of the species grow to about an inch in length, while females are slightly longer. These mantises are characterized by dark stripes on their heads and slender bodies with both forewings and hindwings. The defining feature of the species is its dark, clouded hindwings, known as "infumated" wings.

Named Sinaiella azadi, the species pays homage to the Persian word for freedom, “azadi,” reflecting the struggle for freedom by the people of Iran, as explained by the researchers. “Freedom is the essence of human life,” the study states, adding that taxonomists, like those researching this species, “require freedom to communicate, cooperate, and collaborate across geographic and political boundaries to correctly place species within the taxonomic tree of life.”

Researchers initially collected four juvenile mantises during field surveys in Markazi Province, southwest of Tehran, and Armenia, north of Iran. The specimens were then raised in the lab to allow for a deeper understanding of their physical traits and behaviors. During their time in the lab, the mantises demonstrated impressive agility, displaying a “considerable ability to catch flying prey” and often hanging from elevated points.

One of the most interesting observations was made about the females’ unique response to threats. When disturbed, they would “throw themselves to the ground, remain immovable, and take a specific posture by bringing the antennae closer to the body and extending the legs along the body.” The mantises would remain motionless for anywhere between a few seconds to over five minutes, researchers noted.

The Sinaiella azadi species was first discovered in the Kaledeos riverbed in Olympia, where it was observed by Themistoklis Karachalios, curator of the local archaeological museum. The research team, which includes Mahmood Kolnegari, Christian J. Schwarz, Tigran Ghrejyan, and Matthias Borer, has now contributed to expanding knowledge on this fascinating insect from Iran and Armenia.

This new species provides yet another example of the remarkable ways animals adapt to their environments and respond to threats. The discovery of Sinaiella azadi not only adds to the growing catalog of unique species but also brings attention to the diverse and often overlooked world of insects in the region.

By Naila Huseynova