An illustrated key to the praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) of India up to generic level Author Kamila, A. P. 0000-0003-2159-2888 Western Ghat Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode, Kerala, India- 673006 & University of Calicut, Thenhipalam, Malappuram, Kerala, India- 673635 kamiii619@gmail.com Author Sureshan, P. M. 0000-0003-4722-6368 Western Ghat Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode, Kerala, India- 673006 pmsuresh43@gmail.com text Zootaxa 2025 2025-01-09 5566 3 446 480 https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5566.3.2 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.5566.3.2 1175-5326 14703192 F6F38808-9CD6-41AB-BE36-4CC3FDFDB753 Key to Families of Indian Mantodea 1. Body metallic green or bluish green in colour ( Fig. 9 ). Proximal posteroventral spine of fore femora much elongate and stout ( Fig. 10 ). Fore wings with pseudovein ( Fig. 11 ).................................................. Metallyticidae - Body non- metallic in colour. Proximal posteroventral spine of fore femora not as above, same as other posteroventral spines. Fore wings without pseudovein.......................................................................... 2 2. Pronotum short, trapezoidal, without any lateral pronotal expansions ( Fig. 136 ). Fore femora with only one discoidal spine. Fore tibia devoid of spines except tibial spur ( Fig. 137 ). Distal cercomere expanded like a leaf( Fig. 138 ).. Amorphoscelidae - Pronotum distinctly longer than broad, sometimes with lateral pronotal expansions. Fore femora with more than one discoidal spine. Fore tibia usually with two rows of spines and tibial spur. Distal cercomere not expanded as above............... 3 3. Anteroventral spines of fore femora arranged 1 long and 3-4 short alternately ( Figs. 75, 77 ). Antennae of male bipectinate ( Fig.74 )..................................................................................... Empusidae - Anteroventral spines of fore femora arranged differently, usually 1 long and 1 short alternately ( Fig. 37 ). Antennae of male simple, sometimes ciliate ( Fig. 58 )........................................................................ 4 4. Fore tibial posteroventral spines numerous, mostly arranged closely and more or less decumbent ( Fig. 114 ), sometimes otherwise ( Fig. 84 ). Usually vertex with process ( Figs. 81, 83 , 94 , 104 , 106 , 117 ). Fore femora sometimes with leaf-like dilation ( Figs. 98 , 102, 103 , 105, 107, 110 ). Fore wings often with transverse bands or eye-like markings ( Figs. 83 , 93, 96 ) and hind wings with bright colouration ( Figs. 92 , 93 )............................................................. Hymenopodidae - Fore tibial posteroventral spines less in number, well separated and not decumbent ( Figs. 141 , 149 ). Vertex sometimes with process. Fore femora simple, without leaf-like dilations ( Figs. 37 , 43 , 141 ). Fore wings without eye-like markings as above and hind wings with or without colouration.................................................................... 5 5. Antennae and/or anterior margin of fore wings distinctly ciliated at least in males ( Figs. 58, 59 ), if not, then disc of pronotum highly tuberculated ( Fig. 53 ). Pronotum short or a little elongated, more or less denticulated laterally or tuberculated on disc ( Figs. 47 , 53 , 61 , 72 ). Eyes round........................................................................ 6 - Antennae or anterior margin of fore wings not ciliated as above. Pronotum mostly elongated or with lateral pronotal expansions ( Figs. 16 , 28 , 118, 120 , 123 , 133 , 144 , 148 ) sometimes denticulated laterally, but without tubercles on disc. Eyes round to conical ( Figs. 15, 17, 19 , 21 , 30 , 36 , 134 , 140 ).............................................................. 7 6. Body mostly small, bark coloured ( Figs. 48 , 51, 54 , 57, 62 , 66 , 69 ). Pronotum short, more or less tuberculated on disc, lateral sides mostly smooth, metazone as long as or a little longer than prozone ( Figs. 47, 50 , 53, 56 , 61 , 67 , 70 ) sometimes pronotum with spine-like structure at maximum dilation ( Fig. 53 )............................................. Gonypetidae - Body medium-sized ( Fig. 71 ). Pronotum elongated, not tuberculated on disc, lateral sides more or less denticulated, metazone distinctly longer than prozone, pronotum without spine-like structure at maximum dilation ( Figs. 71, 72 )....... Haaniidae 7. Body mostly brown colored. Fore wings with enlarged, black anal area ( Figs. 29, 32 , 33 )................... Rivetinidae - Body green or brown colored. Fore wings without black anal area as above ( Figs. 35 , 121 , 124, 127 , 133 )............... 8 8. Body long, bizarre (unusual) shaped ( Figs. 35, 38 , 40 ). Eyes mostly with a lateral spine or tubercle ( Figs. 36 , 41 ). Mid and hind legs mostly with lobular structures ( Figs. 38 , 40 )................................................... Toxoderidae - Body not bizarre shaped. Eyes without lateral spine or tubercle ( Figs. 134 , 140 ). Mid and hind legs sometimes with small lobes............................................................................................... 9 9. Eyes mostly oblong ( Fig. 15, 17, 19 , 24, 26 ). Pronotum more or less rectangular and depressed. Supra-coxal dilation indistinctly to moderately marked ( Figs. 14 , 20 , 23 , 27 ).................................................... Eremiaphilidae - Eyes rounded or slightly conical. Pronotum neither rectangular nor depressed as above. Supra-coxal dilation distinctly marked ( Figs. 118 , 123, 125 , 144 , 148 ).......................................................................... 10 10. Body resembling stick or leaf. Pronotum either very long, at least 5 times as long as wide ( Figs. 119–121 ) or with large lateral pronotal expansion along entire length ( Fig. 118 )................................................. Deroplatyidae - Body different. Pronotum slender or a little elongate, sometimes with lateral pronotal expansion ( Figs.124, 125 , 133 , 144 , 148 )............................................................................................... 11 11. Body small and delicate usually green in colour ( Figs. 139 , 143 , 147 ). Lower frons transverse and narrow ( Figs. 140 , 145 ). 12 - Body large and strong, green or brown in colour ( Figs. 124, 127 , 133 ). Lower frons not as above, usually broad and pentagonal ( Fig. 134 ).................................................................................... Mantidae 12. Fore femora with 3 discoidal spines. Posteroventral spines of fore tibiae gradually increase in length towards apex ( Fig. 149 )......................................................................................... Nanomantidae - Fore femora with 4 discoidal spines. Posteroventral spines of fore tibiae unequal in length and irregularly placed ( Fig. 141 )....................................................................................... Leptomantellidae