Mantids: the noble, patient predators.

[Trehopr1]

Mantids have a character all their own. They have a
noble way about them in their appearance. They are
watchful, patient, and calculating predators which
have captured our imaginations for a very long time.
Their order Mantodea numbers just over 2400 species
in 15 families and in 430 genera.

I have always appreciated these delightful fellows when
I have run across them in the field. The vast majority
have through evolution adapted to blend-in --- in plain
sight. Though, they may be apex predators in their world
mantids are a tasty treat amongst birds and other creatures.

I only have a small assortment of species picked up over
my years but, when I find a new interesting one I usually
re-spread it and add it for variety.

Here are but, a very few of the wonderful possibilities
within this curious order.

Hooded Mantid (Choeradodis sp.) Tinalandia,Ecuador, May 1988


Theoprobus elegans (W. Malaysia) June 2002


Unidentified sp. (W. Malaysia) July 2005


Deroplatys truncata (W.Malaysia) March 2001, female
*Quite variable in its leaf-like appearance....



European Mantis (Mantis religiosa) August 2012


Well, that finishes up my brief short-subject discussion
on mantids. Feel free to post images of any you may
have and would like to share with us.

[littlegreenmantis]

i love mantis, they are like the insect version of cats. majestic, perfectly designed apex predators but they really arent the brightest and the more time you spend around them the sillier they are

[livingplanet3]

Unidentified sp. (W. Malaysia) July 2005...

This is a species of Theopompa, probably either T. servillei or T. tosta. Commonly referred to as "Giant Bark Mantids".

[Trehopr1]

Thank you very much livingplanet3 for the ID !

As is the case these days with much of this "semi-prepared" and packaged material one gets very little information except for perhaps a (general) locality and maybe a date of capture.