Species accounts

Wandering violin mantid

Gongylus gongylodes

FAMILY

Empusidae

TAXONOMY

Gongylus gongylodes Linnaeus, 1758, India.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Rose mantid.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Varies from light to dark brown in color. The head has a conical extension at the vertex. The anterior portion of the extremely thin thorax is expanded laterally in a diamond shape. All legs have leaflike extensions. Males are 2.8–3.1 in (7–8 cm) long; females, 3.1–3.5 in (8–9 cm). Male antennae are feathery, whereas female antennae are threadlike.

DISTRIBUTION

Southern India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and eastern Java.

HABITAT

Primary and secondary rainforests.

BEHAVIOR

Physical characteristics allow them to blend in well in leaf litter and shrubbery.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Preys chiefly upon flying insects that it can catch.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Oothecae containing 50–100 eggs are deposited on woody stems and hatch after several weeks.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not listed by the IUCN, but is probably threatened by habitat destruction due to overpopulation.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

Orchid mantid

Hymenopus coronatus

FAMILY

Hymenopodidae

TAXONOMY

Hymenopus coronatus Olivier, 1792, Java.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Flower mantid.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Adults are white with pink patches on the head, the anterior and middle portions of the forewings, and the legs. Females are twice as long as males, averaging 2 in (5 cm) and 1 in (2.5 cm), respectively). The eyes are conical and rise above the dorsal edge of the head. Legs have leaflike projections.

DISTRIBUTION

Southeast Asia.

HABITAT

Primary and secondary rainforests.

Theopropus elegans

Gongylus gongylodes

Deroplatys lobata

Hymenopus coronatus

Order: Mantodea

BEHAVIOR

Commonly found in or near flowers, awaiting prey. During courtship males tap their antennae and forelegs against the wings of the females, presumably to signal a willingness to mate.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Predators of small arthropods.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Long, narrow oothecae (2 in, or 5 cm) are laid on stems and branches of plants and shrubs. The first-stage larvae have red bodies and black heads, resembling ants. This ant mimicry is thought to protect them from predators.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

This is a popular species among hobbyists.

No common name

Liturgusa charpentieri

FAMILY

Liturgusidae

TAXONOMY

Liturgusa charpentieri Giglio-Tos, 1927, Brazil.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Mottled, lichen-colored elytra and legs camouflage this mantid well against tree trunks. The body is dorsoventrally flattened.

Vol. 3: Insects

The head is held with the mouthparts facing forward (prognathous). Adult females are 2.5 in (6 cm) long; males, 1.6 in (4 cm).

DISTRIBUTION

Yucatán peninsula south through the Amazon basin.

HABITAT

Primary and secondary rainforests.

BEHAVIOR

Often found facing upside down on large tree trunks. When startled, they scamper around to the opposite side of the tree very quickly and then remain motionless to avoid detection.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Opportunistic carnivores of smaller arthropods.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Females attach oothecae inside bark fissures or under leaves. The exterior shell of the egg case is amber colored and opaque, allowing the eggs to be seen inside the case.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

No common name

Choeradodis rhomboidea

FAMILY

Mantidae

TAXONOMY

Choeradodis rhomboidea Stoll, 1813, Surinam.

Vol. 3: Insects

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Their uniformly leafy green color makes them difficult to find in the forest. The pronotum, or shield, is laterally flattened and leaflike. Males and females attain lengths up to 3 in (7.5 cm)

DISTRIBUTION

Amazon basin of South America.

HABITAT

Primary and secondary rainforests.

BEHAVIOR

Perch on leaves and remain motionless, completely blending into their verdant environment as they await passing prey.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Opportunistic feeders of smaller arthropods.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

After mating, females deposit 50–100 eggs inside an ootheca attached to the underside of a leaf or branch.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

Dead-leaf mantid

Deroplatys lobata

FAMILY

Mantidae

TAXONOMY

Deroplatys lobata Guérin-Méneville, 1838, type locality not known.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

These mantids are extraordinary mimics of dry, dead leaves. Their coloration is mottled light gray to dark brown. The leaflike pronotum is expanded laterally. Middle and hind legs have leaflike expansions, further adding to their camouflage. Adult males, at 2.5 in (6 cm) are approximately two-thirds the length of adult females, at 2.8 (7 cm).

DISTRIBUTION

Southeast Asia.

HABITAT

Primary and secondary rainforests.

BEHAVIOR

Dwells in leaf litter and shrubs. When threatened, these insects assume a startle posture by exposing their brightly colored forelegs as well as eyespots on the ventral sides of their forewings.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Carnivores of small arthropods.

Order: Mantodea

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Females lay oothecae on twigs. Hatchling mantids (50–100) emerge 30–50 days later.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Widespread, but habitat destruction threatens them. Not listed by the IUCN.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

European mantid

Mantis religiosa

FAMILY

Mantidae

TAXONOMY

Mantis religiosa Linnaeus, 1758, Africa.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Varies from light green to brown in coloration, blending in with surrounding vegetation. Has a distinguishing bull’s-eye spot on the inner forelegs. Adult males vary in length from 2–2.5 in (5–6 cm); females, from 2.5–3.2 in (6–8 cm).

DISTRIBUTION

Widely distributed in southern Europe, Africa, temperate Asia, Australia, the northeastern United States, and Canada.

HABITAT

Open fields and meadows.

BEHAVIOR

These mantids fly well; then fly toward bright lights at night.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Predators of small arthropods.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Egg cases (50–100 eggs each) are laid in autumn, primarily on low grass stems; they also can be found on rocks or buildings. Larvae hatch in spring.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Very widespread. Introductions into the United States have expanded its range. Not listed by the IUCN.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

None known.

Chinese mantid

Tenodera aridifolia sinensis

FAMILY

Mantidae

TAXONOMY

Tenodera aridifolia sinensis Saussure, 1871, type locality not known.

One of the largest mantids, females can attain lengths of 4 in (10 cm) or more. Chinese mantids are marbled green, brown, and gray, with a distinct pale green border on the anterior edge of the first pair of wings.

DISTRIBUTION

Found in temperate eastern Asia, the eastern United States, and California. Deliberately introduced to the United States in 1896.

HABITAT

Meadows and open fields.

BEHAVIOR

Seen on herbaceous plants and woody shrubs. Sometimes found adjacent to flowers, awaiting potential prey.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Carnivores. Devours any arthropod it can ensnare.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Females produce 100–200 eggs inside a spongy ootheca and attach it almost anywhere, including leaves, branches, buildings, and vehicles. Eggs overwinter in the ootheca, and the larvae hatch in spring.

CONSERVATION STATUS

FAMILY

Mantidae

TAXONOMY

Theopropus elegans Westwood, 1832, type locality not known.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

English: Banded mantid.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Hatchling larvae are red-and-black ant mimics until their first molt, after which they become green and white. Adult females are 1.6–2 in (4–5 cm) long, and males are 0.8–1.2 in (2–3 cm).

Both sexes are spotted green and white with a large white transverse strip on the forewings. Hind wings are bright orange.

DISTRIBUTION

Southeast Asia.

HABITAT

Primary and secondary rainforests.

BEHAVIOR

Hides among flowers to catch prey. When encountering another mantid of the same species, they thrust out their forelegs in an apparent boxing motion—hence their common name.

Widespread in its range. Global warming eventually may restrict this species to a more limited temperate range. Not listed by the IUCN.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Captures small arthropods for consumption.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Resources

Books

Ehrmann, Reinhard. Mantodea: Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt.

Münster, Germany: NTV, 2002.

Giglio-Tos, E. Das Tierreich Vol. 50, Mantidae. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 1927.

Helfer, Jacques R. How to Know the Grasshoppers, Crickets, Cockroaches and Their Allies. New York: Dover Publications, 1987.

Preston-Mafham, K. Grasshoppers and Mantids of the World.

London: Blanford Press, 1990.

Prete, F. R., H. Wells, P. H. Wells, and L.E. Hurd, eds. The Praying Mantids. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999.

Cynthia L. Mazer, MS