A member of the Mantid family. Where's the head, and exactly how many wings do you need to fly? Size 4" wide x 5" tall, in a frame 5" x 6". Praying Mantids are famous for their canabalistic tendencies and their beauty is often overlooked. There are approximately 2,500 species of Praying Mantids, which are distributed between 400 genera. Each mantis looks and acts differently depending on its species. Some are as small as 30mm or less and some can grow to the length of 110mm, like the 'Giant Mantis'. Most of the 'Giant Mantids' look similar to the more common 'African Mantis' but are larger in size and build. Then there is the Dead Leaf Mantis, looking like an old crumpled decaying leaf that when threatened or disturbed they throw them selves to the ground waiting for the danger to leave. Most of the more attractive colourful mantids mimic flowers. These range from the 'Indian Flower Mantis', which has light green wings with a striking white swirl in the middle of it's back to the most beautiful mantis of them all, the 'Orchid Mantis'. With petals in-between the legs and vivid shades of whites and pinks, this mantis lives up to its name mimicking the flower of the orchid. The Rhombodera is also called the Giant Malaysian Shielded Mantis. |
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