Mantis ID, SW Spain (1 Viewer)

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Oct 2, 2017

• #1

After years of not seeing a mantis I had two in two days in September.

The first was a large one (about 4 ", 10cm) that walked across the path near Los Barrios, Cadiz.

The second, a bit smaller (about 2.5 ", 6cm) and with a slimmer abdomen landed a few miles away from the first at Aglarrobo watchpoint, Algeciras the following morning.


Any IDs welcome.

 

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Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Oct 12, 2017

• #2

(Bump)

Anybody?

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 12, 2017

• #3

First seems way too big for religiosa or others mentioned here?

https://www.amentsoc.org/publications/bulletin/articles/mantids-found-in-sevilla-spain.html

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2017

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Oct 12, 2017

• #4

Funny how you seem able to find dead cows (and thereby vultures) which elude me but I've not had any problem seeing mantids doing so pretty much every year since I started visiting SW Spain. I'm no insect expert but I do have a copy of the new photographic guide to Mediterranean insects. This suggests that the first, on size grounds, should be Praying Mantis Mantis religiosa. I guess the second one could be a young specimen of the same species but it looks like Mediterranean Mantis Iris oratoria. That said the new guide also tells me that there are c26 mantids in the region but only covers seven species ...

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Oct 12, 2017

• #5

Is religiosa so big John?

The post I linked too, mentions the other supposedly larger species at 70mm whilst the OP puts his at c100mm?

Edit. It seems they are that big with females given at 7-9cm, bigger than the males at 6-7cm

A

 

Last edited: Oct 12, 2017

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Oct 12, 2017

• #6

10cm might have been an over-estimate on my part, but not by much. I was looking at it on the path and my personal guess at the time was 'about 4 inches' (ie 10cm), being roughly the width of my hand, which I've always assumed to be 4". I find that my hand is slightly less than that in fact and therefore 9cm of a large female praying mantis is a nice fit.

Thanks folks.

 

John Cantelo

Well-known member

• Oct 12, 2017

• #7

The new guide says religiosa is 43-88mm which, at the top end at least, is substantially larger than other species and only approached by Sphodromantis viridis (53-75 mm) and Empusa fasciata (60-72 mm) although the latter has a different shaped head.