Insect collections were carried out monthly from January to December of 2004, during three nights of lunar transition third quarter moon/new moon from 18 p.m. to 6 a.m. They were collected over a vertical white sheet illuminated by a 250 watts mixed light and a 20 watts black light (BL) and black light bulb (BLB) lamps. The light trap was mounted at 45 meters height in a metallic tower of 50 meters height, in a "platô de terra firme", in the Cueiras River basin, in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. It was collected 23 species of Mantodea: Chaeteessidae (1 species); Mantoididae (2); Mantidae (15); Thespidae (2) and Acanthopidae (3). Six new species were registered and they will be described opportunely in the following genera: Cardioptera Burmeister, 1838; Phyllovates Kirby, 1904; Pseudovates Saussure, 1869; Stagmomantis Saussure, 1869; Stagmatoptera Burmeister, 1838 and Metilia Stal, 1877. Three species previously recorded to an indetermined Brazilian region are being recorded to Brazilian Amazon: Heterovates pardalina Saussure, 1872; Macromantis ovalifolia (Stoll, 1813) and Photina reticulata (Burmeister, 1838). Four records are new for the Amazonas state: Angela guianensis Rehn, 1906; Photina gracillis Giglio-Tos, 1915; Raptrix perspicua (Fabricius, 1787) and Vates festae Gigio-Tos, 1914. The specimens number collected monthly are presented for each species.
Light trap; Nocturnal collection; Canopy; Amazonian forest; Mantodea
