Mantodeology (PRAYING MANTISES) with Lohitashwa Garikipati
Pointy heads. Spiked arms. Tragic romance. It’s a whole episode about praying mantises with a real life Mantodeologist, Lohit Garikipati. Do they really eat hummingbirds? Are they endangered? Invasive? Smart? Extraterrestrial? Get your fill of mantid mythology, evolutionary gossip, sexual cannibalism, mantis motherhood, their alien egg cases, huge eyes, pet advice, and why they can show you the way to hell with this delightful entomologist, UC Davis entomology graduate and longtime keeper of mantids. You’ll lose your mind, but not your head.
Listen via Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Podcast Addict, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow Lohit on Instagram and iNaturalist
A donation went to the World Wildlife Fund
Links to things we discussed:
Manual of praying mantis morphology, nomenclature, and practices (Insecta, Mantodea)
Reddit: the femoral brush of the mantis on the raptorial legs used to clean themselves
Functional morphology of the praying mantis male genitalia (Insecta: Mantodea)
Impact of Consuming 'Toxic' Monarch Caterpillars on Adult Chinese Mantid Mass Gain and Fecundity
Thomas Meehan, the introducer of Chinese mantises
“Alien Insect” by Discovery Channel trailer
The Predatory Behavior of Mantids: Historical Attitudes and Contemporary Questions
Imperial Praying Mantis Kung Fu
High-speed video shows every second of a praying mantis's lethal strike
Other episodes you may enjoy:
Native Melittology (INDIGENOUS BEES)
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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee
Managing Director: Susan Hale
Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth
Transcripts by Aveline Malek
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer
Theme song by Nick Thorburn