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Orthodera ministralis
Garden Mantis or Australian Green Mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Australia. The male has long wings, that completely cover the thorax. The female has much shorter ones. The stunning blue eye-spots on front legs are used defensively to ward off predictors.
The Garden Mantis inhabits the whole of Australia, and can often be found in hidden in leafy scrub from ground to eye level.
This mantis was sitting on the rail of our sliding glass door having a stare-off with our dog. I rescued them from each other. Mantids have compound eyes, so what appears to be pupil spots on the eyes are actually a reflection of the camera lens.
Spotted on Feb 3, 2013
Submitted on Feb 5, 2013
13 Comments
Maravillosa. lori.tas
Me too, Argy. I couldn't see them at first. Fortunately for me, it moved. Hobbyists are a great source of information, ForestDragon.
That's a great link, Lori. I guess it's a good thing that people keep Mantids as pets!
Love those 'eye spots' on the tibia.
Me too. This is another link I found on sexing mantids: http://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-ma...
Lori, I was looking at that link you provided (the gaiaguide one). It looks like the female Mantid in their reference is a different species entirely. It has a differently shaped thorax area. It looks more like a female Miomatis caffra (African Mantis).
http://mantodea.myspecies.info/miomantis...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mioman...
I wish I knew from where you start counting the abdominal segments for ID.
HI again ForestDragon, I found another source that says, "After the 3rd molt, 8 segments can be counted on the male's abdomen while 6 on the females." In looking at all my photos, I'm pretty sure that there are 8 segments on this particular mantis. Perhaps he'd just eaten a big meal. http://www.insectstore.com/orthodera-min...
Hi ForestDragon, I was going on this description: http://www.gaiaguide.info/Group.html?gro... But I agree that that abdomen width is more likely to be a female. Thanks, I'll investigate further.
Hi lori! You have a wonderful series here! I think this is a female though. From what I can find, both sexes in this species have wings that cover the abdomen entirely. That big abdomen indicates this is a female Mantid. Males have slender abdomens.
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_...
Just added two more photos, to show the eye-spot and the scale better.
I was trying to get him to 'flare' his front legs at me, Shanna. Apparently I did not look like a credible threat. ; ) Thanks Luis, I have to credit my dog for the actual "spotting". Although she's terrible at taking photos.
Lovely pics Lori - I've never seen eye spots like that, it's amazing!!!
Great spotting lori.tas!