- Insectarium
A study headed by the Insectarium team with Université de Montréal has revealed that the praying mantises present in Canada would have originated in western France. The results suggest that the species was likely introduced in the late 19th century, through the horticultural trade.
Historical archives and DNA analysis
Thanks to data collected on the community-science platform iNaturalist, researchers were able to identify specific places in Québec and Ontario where the praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) can be found. In total, 16 collected specimens made it possible for genetic analysis to be carried out. By comparing their DNA to the DNA of European samples, the team succeeded in tracing the likely origins of these populations.
The results, combining genetic data with historical archives, lead to the same conclusion: the praying mantis is thought to have been introduced at the end of the 19th century, possibly through the horticultural trade.
This study on the origins of praying mantises in North America was directed by Julio Rivera, a postdoctoral researcher at the Insectarium.
The complete scientific article, The French connection: DNA barcodes reveal the geographic origin of introduced populations of Mantis religiosa (Mantodea: Mantidae) in southern Quebec and Ontario, Canada, is published in the journal The Canadian Entomologist.