First assessment of the biodiversity of praying mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) in Cameroon with DNA barcoding

Type deposition. Holotype ♂ coll. Pavan: CAR. Material. 3♂ (VGPC23402, VGPC23572-3): 1♂ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 8.VIII.2021, V. Govorov leg.; 2♂ same data, but 26.I-9.III.2022, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg. Distribution. CAR, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon. Comments. New record for Cameroon. Sphodromantis gracilicollis centroccidentalis Roy, 2010 Type locality. La Maboke´, CAR. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ MNHN. Material. 1♂ (VGPC23574): Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚ 28’15.6"E, 26.I-9.III.2022, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg. Distribution. Cameroon, CAR, Gabon. Sphodromantis lineola pinguis La Greca, 1967 Type locality. La Maboke´, CAR. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ RMCA. Material. 27♂, 7♀ (VGPC23401, VGPC23440-1, VGPC23501-5, VGPC23546-71): 4♂, 1♀ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 27.VII-1.VIII.2021, V. Govorov leg.; 9♂, 3♀ same data, but 2-10.VIII.2021; 9♂, 1♀ same data, but 11-22.VIII.2021; 3♂, 1♀ same data, but 26.I-9.III.2022, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg; 1♂ same data, but 25.V-2.VI.2021, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg.; 1♂ same data, but 1-31.III.2018, J. Synek leg; 1♀ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II vil- lage, bank of the Nyong River 3˚25’03.8"N 11˚27’12.8"E, 10.VIII.2021, V. Govorov leg. Distribution. Angola, CAR, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Repub- lic of the Congo. Comments. This species was extremely abundant in disturbed habitats (village, plantations), but noticeably absent in the forest. One female (10.VIII.2021) was found resting on the stand of

reeds along Nyong River right above moving water. Such an unusual place for a mantis was most likely linked to this individual bearing two horsehair worms (Chordodes sp., Nematomor- pha) which are known to drive its hosts towards open water to continue the parasite’s lifecycle. Sphodromantis sp. Material. 1♂, 1♀ (VGPC23): South-West Region, Limbe´, secondary forest, 1-30.VIII.2019, Ntah Eliot Nji Bama leg. Comments. Closely allied to S. lineola pinguis but differ in body size and presence of pig- mented spots on the forefemora. See Discussion for more details. Tenodera Burmeister, 1838 Tenodera superstitiosa superstitiosa (Fabricius, 1781) Type locality. Equatorial Africa. Type deposition. Holotype ♀ NHMUK. Material. 1♂ (VGPC23576): Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, around light trap 3˚ 23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 1.VI.2021, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg. Distribution. Angola, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia. Tismomorpha Roy, 1973 Tismomorpha vitripennis (Bolivar, 1908) Type locality. Esosung, Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon. Type deposition. Holotype ♂ MNCN. Material. 4♂ (VGPC23333-5, VGPC23575): 1♂ Mbalmayo Region, Ebogo II village, light trap 3˚23’38.4"N 11˚28’15.6"E, 30.VII.2021, V. Govorov leg.; 1♂ same data, but 5.VIII.202; 1♂ same data, but 26.I-9.III.2022, J. Sˇobotnı´k leg.; 1♂ same data, but 1-31.III.2018, J. Synek leg. PLOS ONE Diversity of praying mantises in Cameroon

PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304163 May 23, 2024 16 / 23