Garden Mantid
Scientific name: Orthodera ministralis
Click to enlarge image
Garden Mantid, Orthodera ministralis
Image: Stuart Humphreys
© Australian Museum
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Orthodera
- Species
- ministralis
- Family
- Mantidae
- Super Family
- Mantodea
- Order
- Mantodea
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 4 cm
Introduction
The Garden Mantid is probably the most common praying mantid seen in Sydney. The family Mantidae, to which it belongs, includes almost 75% of all praying mantid species in Australia.
Identification
The Garden Mantid is blue-green with a bright blue to purple spot on the inside of its fore legs.
Habitat
The Garden Mantid lives in suburban gardens and may be seen leaping among the leaves.
Distribution
The Garden Mantid is found throughout Australia.
Feeding and diet
The Garden Mantid is carnivorous and feeds on small insects including aphids.
Life history cycle
Many species of praying mantids have distinctive egg cases or 'ootheca'. The ootheca of the Garden Mantid is about 2 cm in length and is hard and woody. It is often seen attached to fences, buildings, fly screens or vegetation.
