African mantis | |
---|---|
![]() |
|
Adult in the Kruger Park, South Africa | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Mantodea |
Family: | Mantidae |
Genus: | Sphodromantis |
Species: | S. gastrica |
Binomial name | |
Sphodromantis gastrica Stål, 1858 |
Sphodromantis gastrica, with the common names African mantis or common green mantis, is a species of praying mantis from Africa.
It averages 65–75 millimetres (2.6–3.0 in) in body length, and has a very diverse diet, hunting any pray of reasonable size.
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.
Dorsal aspect of a late instar female, showing wing-pads
Immature female
Sphodromantis eating bee