Anatomical organization of the cerebrum of the praying mantis Hierodula membranacea

Many predatory animals, such as the praying mantis, use vision for prey detection and capture. Mantises are known in particular for their capability to estimate distances to prey by stereoscopic vision. While the initial visual processing centers have been extensively documented, we lack knowledge on the architecture of central brain regions, pivotal for sensory motor transformation and higher brain functions. To close this gap, we provide a three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction of the central brain of the Asian mantis, Hierodula membranacea. The atlas facilitates in‐depth analysis of neuron ramification regions and aides in elucidating potential neuronal pathways. We integrated seven 3D‐reconstructed visual interneurons into the atlas. In total, 42 distinct neuropils of the cerebrum were reconstructed based on synapsin‐immunolabeled whole‐mount brains. Backfills from the antenna and maxillary palps, as well as immunolabeling of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), further substantiate the identification and boundaries of brain areas. The composition and internal organization of the neuropils were compared to the anatomical organization of the brain of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and the two available brain atlases of Polyneoptera—the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) and the Madeira cockroach (Rhyparobia maderae). This study paves the way for detailed analyses of neuronal circuitry and promotes cross‐species brain comparisons. We discuss differences in brain organization between holometabolous and polyneopteran insects. Identification of ramification sites of the visual neurons integrated into the atlas supports previous claims about homologous structures in the optic lobes of flies and mantises. Praying mantises are the only insects known to use stereopsis for depth sensation during prey capture. To facilitate further studies on stereopsis and other neural computations in these remarkable predators, we provide a detailed 3D atlas of brain neuropils, fiber tracts, and commissures of the brain of the Asian mantis (Hierodula membranacea) together with 3D reconstructions of the projections of selected visual interneurons into the central brain of this insect.