Orthodera ministralis, common name garden mantis or Australian green mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Australia.[1][2][3]

Orthodera ministralis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Mantidae
Genus: Orthodera
Species:
O. ministralis
Binomial name
Orthodera ministralis
(Fabricius, 1775)
Synonyms
  • Orthodera prasina Burmeister, 1838

Description

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Head shot

They have a green body with their thorax being broader than their head and abdomen. Inside of their front legs have a blue to purple spot. Adult males feature wings and females only have wing buds, which cover their abdomen. Body measures up to 4 cm in length.[4]

Habitat

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The garden mantis inhabits the whole of Australia, particularly gardens, and can often be found hidden in leafy scrub from ground to eye level. It feeds on small insects by ambushing them.[5] They remain motionless for lengthy periods so they can ambush prey as it moves near them. The females lay eggs as a single mass within a sturdy, woody case.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ http://www.ozanimals.com/wildlifedetail.php?genus=Orthodera&species=ministralis Oz Animals
  2. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20091027090335/http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_hoppers/GardenMantid.htm Brisbane Hoppers
  3. ^ http://www.myrmecos.net/insects/Orthodera1.html Australian Green Mantis (myrmecos.net)
  4. ^ Orthodera ministralis (Fabricius, 1775) Atlas of Living Australia
  5. ^ "Garden Mantis (Orthodera ministralis)".
  6. ^ "Garden Mantid".