Praying mantises and fungi

Insects of the order Mantodea comprise a large cosmopolitan group of species. They are predatory, and well known for their upright "praying" stance with their long, often barbed forearms adapted for grabbing prey insects. Many species are mimics of leaves and other plant structures. Sexual cannibalism is a widely noted remarkable feature of female mating behaviour. [Mantises pictured here from Spain, Turkey, Zimbabwe, Malaysia.]

One fungus found to be associated with mantises is Daldinia eschscholtzii. This species has also been isolated from wood and in algae. [The closely related Daldinia concentrica, or King Alfred's cake is pictured - a very common fungus to growing in woodlands the UK.]
In some studies examining the biochemistry of D. eschscholtzii, previously-unknown polyketide secondary metabolites have been described. Polyketides are a highly diverse group of natural compounds; with a biosynthesis related to fatty acid synthesis. Their structural diversity and often high potency and bioactivity deem them suitable for development into potential drugs and pesticides.