TO INVESTIGATE THE PREVALENCE & DISTRIBUTION OF PREDATORY INSECT, HIERODULA PATELLIFERA A PROMINENT SPECIES OF PRAYING MANTIS (INSECTA: MANTODEA) IN QUETTA AND PISHIN DISTRICTS OF BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN.

A field study was conducted in order to investigate the Prevalence and Distribution of predatory insect, Praying mantis (Insecta: Mantodea) in Quetta and Pishin Districts (Balochistan) during peak seasons, in the months of April to September repeatedly over a period of two years (2010-2011). Specimens of Praying mantis were collected from six major areas of district Quetta ( Urak valley, Hanna village, Chashma Achozai, Kuchlak, Hazar Ganji national park and University of Baluchistan), where as in Pishin district and its interior (Pishin town) and other sites namely Bostan, Khanozai, Saranan, Mughtiyan and Bershore as well. The identification of mantis specimens collected showed that one prominent genus belonging to same tribe Mantodea and single family Mantidae prevailed in these areas. The identified species was Hierodula patellifera which is first time recorded from Balochistan. Which is, therefore, fresh addition to the mantid fauna of Balochistan, Pakistan. A large number of specimens were collected from Pyrus malus, alfalfa as well as Brassica campestris, and the majority of them were observed feeding on Homopterans such as aphids, scale insects, leaf hoppers and whiteflies