Prete F R, Cleal K S
Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Brain Behav Evol. 1996;48(4):173-90. doi: 10.1159/000113196.
The predatory behavior of free ranging praying mantises, Sphodromantis lineola (Burmeister), in response to prey at various positions in the midsagittal plane, was examined using high speed (200 frames per second) videography. Predatory strikes fell neatly into two categories based on the elevation of the prey from the surface on which the mantises stood: high strikes and low strikes. When the prey was 35 degrees or more above the surface (measured from the mesothoracic tarsus), mantises assumed a posture that elevated and pointed the body upwards (high strikes). When prey was near or below the surface on which the mantises stood, they assumed a posture that lowered the body and shifted its center of gravity forward (low strikes). Each of these two initial postures was followed by distinctly different constellations of movements, which included a rapid grasping movement of the raptorial forelegs and, if the prey was sufficiently distant, a displacement of the body upwards (high strikes) or forwards (low strikes). Our analyses suggest that prothoracic angle and, to a lesser degree, head angle and the degree to which the mesothoracic legs are extended provide the critical proprioceptive cues used in programming the appropriate attach sequence. Based on our results, we hypothesize that mantises process visual and proprioceptive information indicating prey location in 'pterothorax-centered space'.
利用高速（每秒200帧）摄像技术，研究了自由放养的条纹螳螂（Sphodromantis lineola，Burmeister）在矢状面不同位置对猎物的捕食行为。根据猎物相对于螳螂站立表面的高度，捕食攻击可清晰地分为两类：高攻击和低攻击。当猎物位于高于表面35度或更高的位置（从中胸跗节测量）时，螳螂会采取一种将身体抬高并向上指向的姿势（高攻击）。当猎物靠近或低于螳螂站立的表面时，它们会采取一种降低身体并将重心向前移动的姿势（低攻击）。这两种初始姿势之后都会伴随着明显不同的一系列动作，其中包括捕捉足快速的抓握动作，如果猎物距离足够远，身体会向上（高攻击）或向前（低攻击）移动。我们的分析表明，前胸角度，以及在较小程度上的头部角度和中胸腿的伸展程度，提供了用于编排适当攻击序列的关键本体感觉线索。基于我们的研究结果，我们推测螳螂会处理视觉和本体感觉信息，这些信息表明猎物在“以翅胸为中心的空间”中的位置。
