Chinese mantis

The Chinese Mantis (Tenodera sinensis) is a species of praying mantis native to China. Around 1895 the species was imported to North America for biological pest control. Tenodera sinensis often is erroneously referred to as Tenodera aridifolia sinensis because it was at first described as a subspecies of Tenodera aridifolia, but Tenodera sinensis is now established as a full species.^[1]

Tenodera sinensis feeds primarily on other insects, though adult females in particular sometimes catches small vertebrates. For example, they have been documented as feeding on small reptiles, amphibians and even small species of hummingbirds.^[2][3] Like most mantids, they are known to be cannibalistic. Also like most mantids they do not generally avoid toxic or venomous prey, however they have been observed eating the larvae of monarch butterflies, but discarding the entrails.^[4]

Description

The Chinese Mantis is a long, slender, brown and green praying mantis. It is typically longer than most other praying mantises reaching just over 11 centimeters,^[5] and is the largest mantis species in North America (spread throughout much of southern New England, and the Northeast United States). Its color can vary from overall green to brown with a green lateral stripe on the edge of the front wings. In low light the eyes of the mantis appear black, but in daylight appear to be clear, matching the color of the head. Chinese Mantids are slightly different in color and are usually larger than Tenodera aridifolia angustipennis which were introduced to the United States of America as well. One way of telling Tenodera sinensis and Tenodera aridifolia angustipennis apart is by looking at the spot in between their front legs. If it is yellow then it is a Chinese Mantis but if it is orange then it is a Narrow-winged Mantis.

The female can produce several spherical ootheca roughly the size of a table tennis ball, containing up to 400 eggs. The oothecae are often affixed to vegetation such as bushes and small trees, as seen in the image below.

Captivity

Chinese Mantids are a common pet for mantis enthusiasts, and otheca can be purchased from plant nurseries across the US. They are notable for quickly adapting to the presence of humans. They can become tame enough to perch on one's hand and even be hand-fed.

Care

The Chinese Mantis should be kept in a terrarium roughly three times its body size. The Chinese Mantis is an aggressive carnivore that will tackle and eat large insects. The Chinese Mantis' diet consists primarily of cockroaches, moths, butterflies, grasshoppers, crickets and spiders. During early life (called "instar"), Chinese Mantids will eat Drosophila melanogaster and similar small flies. As they grow larger, Mantids will accept House Flies, Blue Bottle Flies and small roaches.

Mantids drink dew from leaves, so a gentle misting every other day is required. In the terrarium, Mantids require sticks and other foliage for climbing and molting. Mantids will thrive in temperatures ranging from 20 to 38°C. Sudden temperature changes may be fatal.

Predators

Although formidable, the Chinese Mantis is preyed on by other mantises, birds, and the Asian Giant Hornet in its native range (although the roles have been know to reverse, with the hornet falling prey to the mantis).^{[citation needed]}

Culture

There are two martial arts styles created to mimic the movements of the Chinese mantis. Developed in the Shandong province of China in the mid-1600s, Praying Mantis kung-fu is based on the quick movements and techniques of the Chinese mantis. An unrelated style of kung fu that was developed by the Hakka people in Southern China is known as Southern Praying Mantis.

Additional Images

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  Adult female Tenodera Sinensis perched in a tree.

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  Adult male Tenodera Sinensis perched on my hand.

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  Adult Chinese Mantis cleaning itself.

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  Hatchling Chinese mantis on a baby's hand

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis from front

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis from side

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  Tenodera sinensis ootheca

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  Adult male Tenodera sinensis

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  Sub-adult or close to sub-adult Tenodera sinensis

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  Adult male Tenodera sinensis

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis eating a Long Horned Grasshopper

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis on arm

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  Underside of an adult female Tenodera sinensis several weeks after molting to adult

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  Sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis on hand

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  Sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis on hand

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  Sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis on hand

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis on hand

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  Adult female Tenodera sinensis on hand

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  Sub-adult female Chinese Mantis slightly swollen wing-buds

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  Pre-sub-adult female Chinese Mantis

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  Sub-adult female Chinese Mantis on hand

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  Sub-adult female Chinese Mantis on hand

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  Sub-adult female Chinese Mantis on arm

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  Sub-adult Chinese Mantis on hand

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  One green pre-sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis and one brown sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis

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  Pre-sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis

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  Pre-sub-adult female Tenodera sinensis

Sources

• Watkins, Gary. Praying Mantids
• Keeping and breeding Chinese mantis in captivity

See also

• List of mantis genera and species
• Northern Praying Mantis (martial art), a Chinese martial arts style based around the movements of a Mantis.
• Southern Praying Mantis (martial art), a southern Chinese martial arts style developed by the Hakka people, and unrelated to the northern Chinese martial art style of Northern Praying Mantis.

References