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Sphodromantis gastrica
Species of praying mantis / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sphodromantis gastrica, with the common names African mantis or common green mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Africa.[1][2][3]
Quick Facts African mantis, Scientific classification ...
African mantis | |
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Adult in the Kruger Park, South Africa | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Mantodea |
Family: | Mantidae |
Genus: | Sphodromantis |
Species: | S. gastrica |
Binomial name | |
Sphodromantis gastrica (Stål, 1858) | |
Synonyms | |
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It averages 65–75 millimetres (2.6–3.0 in) in body length, and has a very diverse diet, hunting any prey of reasonable size.[4] It has a lifespan of approximately 332 days and usually females live longer than males. Their survival rate until adulthood is about 41.8%.[5]
Previously classified as Hierodula bicarinata (Saussure, 1869) and as Sphodromantis guttata (Giglio-Tos, 1907), this species has been found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and East Africa.[6][7]
- Dorsal aspect of a late instar female, showing wing-pads
- Immature female
- Sphodromantis eating bee