Mantids

paul m · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-2006, 11:43 PM

We now have several pictures of various species of mantis in the insect gallery - all different? I ask, expecting the answer, 'Don't know.', if there are any sources for identifying mantids? No luck to date ...

Matra Man · #2 (**permalink**) 04-12-2006, 03:28 PM

Hello Paul !

Regarding the mantids, the one in Guy F's photo is, I believe, either Empusa pennata or E. fasciata.

Regarding distribution, the former is listed as SW, while the later is SE.

My info comes from "Insects of Britian and Western Europe" by the great Michael Chinery. This is my "field bible" and should be in the hands of anyone interested in insects !

The photo shows a juvenile, with all its stripey comouflage. When is grows up, it looks almost demonic....and very scary !!!!!

Unfortunately, the juvenile E. fasciata is not in the book !

Best wishes, Colin.

paul m · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2010, 03:15 PM

It's a long time since we had a mantis on the forum.
So, you folks in mantid parts of the world, can you get any pictures like this?
Praying mantises up close: wildlife enthusiast Jimmy Hoffman photographs the unusual insects - Telegraph

basquesteve · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2010, 03:37 PM

I have not seen one this year heres one from the last

paul m · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2010, 03:47 PM

That's a start, should bring them in!

Pudding4brains · #6 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 03:59 PM

Thereyahgo Paul

The big Mantid was a gift from one of the nurses in the hospital (my companion had to have surgery here) - she brought it in one day from her garden just outside Surabaya (Terima kasih mbak Yulita!). This big girl (8-9cm) took a real liking to me - climbed around on me forever. Wouldn't sit still for a photo and when I held the camera to close would reach for it, or in the end just jump right on it. When I dropped her off on a plant in the hospital garden she just climbed the twig closest to me and jumped right back on my schoulder - one time even smack in the face

But with those cute looks she'll be forgiven

The only other Mantid I encountered here was much smaller (totally different looking too) and I didn't get a proper shot off as other people where bumping into me and I lost the animal. Nearby I found an ootheca - may well be of the same species hence? Is the hairy thingy also something Mantid-ish?

Another set of (bigger, 2-3cm) ootheca concludes the Java Mantid experience ...

Some images of Mantis religiosa when I get back.

Cheers, Arp

paul m · #7 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010, 07:08 PM

I didn't mean for you to go out of your way!

Still, you've made a new friend for life!
Hope your companion's surgery was succesful.