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Giant African mantis

Sphodromantis viridis

Description:

Despite its scientific name (viridis is Latin for green) this insect ranges in color from bright green to dull brown.Females can reach 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length. Due to the sexual dimorphism typical of mantises, the male is much smaller. Females may also be distinguished from males as they have six segmented abdomens compared to an eight segmented abdomens of the males. As adults, both sexes have a distinctive white spot on their wings. They have a yellowish color on their inner foreleg distinguishable from the black eyespot and white dots of the European mantis Mantis religiosa with whom it shares some range.

Habitat:

A variety of habitats, but seems to prefer sunny areas of green growth dominated by shrubbery or herbaceus plants.

Notes:

I think it may be a male. It has a large wound behind the head, which may have caused the female

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6 Comments

PatriciaPi
PatriciaPi 11 years ago

thank you so much @manolovbg and @AustinJacobs!!
I do the best I can! :)

RiekoS
RiekoS 11 years ago

I love the picture.

manolovbg
manolovbg 11 years ago

Haha I love the face. Great photos!

Austin Jacobs
Austin Jacobs 11 years ago

It looks like it's making a silly face for the camera. Amazing pictures!

PatriciaPi
PatriciaPi 11 years ago

Thank you @NuwanChathuranga!

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

lovely pose in the 1st pic :)

PatriciaPi
Spotted by
PatriciaPi

Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

Spotted on Sep 17, 2012
Submitted on Sep 17, 2012

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