Progetto Mantidi Aliene
from 21/06/2020
WHAT IS THE ALIEN MANTIDS PROJECT?
The Alien Mantis Project is a citizen science project for the study, monitoring and education on allochthonous mantids species, focused mainly in Italy and promoted by Italian researchers, but without neglecting the European context and the whole international situation.
WHO ARE WE?
The Alien Mantis Project is carried out by an informal working group of Italian scholars and researchers, academic and independent, taxonomists and biologists working in the field of research on mantids, on their biogeography and ecology in relation to the impacts of alien species in Italy and abroad. It is non-profit and advocates only on scientific matters.
ALIEN MANTIDS IN ITALY
The natural landscape of mantids in Italy has changed profoundly in recent years. In addition to the well-known Mantis religiosa, a dozen other species are naturally present in this country, mostly small, uncommon and very elusive mantids, whose knowledge is still quite incomplete.
In the recent years threee alien species appeared in Italy: the African Giant Mantis (Sphodromantis viridis), the Asian Giant Mantis (Hierodula tenuidentata) and the Indochinese Giant Mantis (Hierodula patellifera), which are now distributed throughout most of the country Italy.
The rapid spread of these exotic, alien species in an environment such as ours raises important questions of ecology and conservation. What will be their impact on our ecosystems? Will they compete with native species? Will they feed on native fauna, or could they limit the spread of other alien species (such as the Asian stinkbug for example)?
We need your help to deal with these aliens!
Aim
WHAT WE DO?
To answer these questions on these allochtonous species, the Alien Mantis Research Project was born, whose primary goal is to understand the population dynamics of these new species. The research team behind it consists of entomologists, naturalists, and specialists in this insect group and is always open to new collaborations. The first step, which is also the one that has allowed us to understand its early developments, is participatory monitoring, or citizien-science. This site collects what is the scientific information so far known about these species in Italy to enable their identification and a form for reporting their presence.
About branding
Profile image design by: PMA
Logo design by: PMA
Created Sept. 24, 2024, 3:06 p.m.
Updated Sept. 24, 2024, 3:06 p.m.
