Genetic diversity and molecular phylogeographic analysis of an alien praying mantis, <i>Hierodula chinensis</i> , in Japan

Abstract Hierodula chinensis Werner (Mantodea: Mantidae), an alien praying mantis species in Japan, has been reported at several sites on the three major islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu since the 2000s. Because there are multiple records of this alien species from various regions in Japan, we hypothesized that the species has been introduced repeatedly from multiple source regions. To test this hypothesis, we examined genetic variation in a 1,483 bp sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene in 127 H. chinensis individuals from 40 sites in Japan. The inferred molecular phylogeny based on 18 haplotypes revealed two genetically distinct clades within this species, suggesting high genetic variation in its introduced range. One haplotype was detected at most study sites, whereas 10 haplotypes were each found at only a single site and each was the only haplotype detected at that site. These findings suggest that in each area in Japan, the H. chinensis population was likely established by a limited number of founding individuals, and they imply that multiple localized introduction events occurred in the past. Five haplotypes, however, were found in multiple prefectures, and four of these five were detected both in mainland Japan (Honshu) and on Kyushu or Tsushima Island. The occurrence of these haplotypes in geographically separated regions indicates secondary expansion of this species due to human activities or natural migration.