Chinese mantis

not listed

NNA - Not applicable

not listed

Chinese mantis is a large, exotic, predaceous insect. It is native to Japan, China, North and South Korea, Thailand, and Micronesia. It was accidentally introduced in Philadelphia in 1896. It is now common in the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains, in California west of the Rocky Mountains, and in most of Asia. It is uncommon in the southern third of Minnesota, where it is at the northwestern extent of its range, and is absent from the remainder of the state. It is found in grasslands, meadows, agricultural fields, and woodlands, and at the sides of streams and rivers. Adults are active in summer until fall, when they are killed by the first frost. They eat anything they can catch, including insects, small amphibians and reptiles, and hummingbirds.

Chinese mantis is the largest mantid in the United States. Mature adults can be 2″ to 5″ (51 to 127 mm) in length but they average just 2¾″ (70 mm) long. They may be green, tan, or both in parts.

The head is triangular. There are two very large compound eyes and three small simple eyes (ocelli). The compound eyes are on the front of the head, are bulging, and are directed forward. In low light they appear black but in daylight they are the same color as the head. The ocelli are between and above the antennae bases. There is no raised projection (tubercle) between the eyes. The antennae are short, thin, and thread-like. The three facial shields covering the front of the face are distinctly vertically striped. The upper plate, the one between and below the antennal bases, is squarish, about as long as wide. The structures between the head and thorax are very flexible. The head can be swiveled 180°, allowing the mantis to look “over its shoulder.”

The first section of the thorax (prothorax) is greatly elongated. It is much longer than the first segment (coxa) of the front legs. It is widest behind the head then greatly narrowed ahead of the point where the front legs are attached.

The forewings (tegmen) are mostly thin, pliable, and somewhat transparent (membranous). They may be green or tan. The front (costal) area is green on both green and tan tegmen. The hindwings are heavily marbled and are much broadened from front to rear.

The front legs are adapted for seizing prey (raptorial). On the underside of the thorax, between the coxae, there is a large yellow spot. On each front leg the coxae are greatly lengthened. The third and fourth segments (femur and tibia respectively) are armed with spines. The tibia is more than half as long as the femur. It has several teeth on the underside and no teeth on the upper side. The last part of the leg (tarsus), corresponding to the foot, has five segments. The middle and hind legs are long and slender. On the rear legs the upper surface of the tibia is rounded.

Total length: 2″ to 5″ (51 to 127 mm)

Grasslands, meadows, agricultural fields, and woodlands, and at the sides of streams and rivers

Summer and fall

Adults are active during the day. They remain stationary with their legs raised up as they wait for prey. Though they have wings, females do not fly. Males can fly only short distances.

Adults mate in September. About half of the males are snatched and eaten by the female after mating. The female produces a single, paper mache-like case (ootheca) with 50 to several hundred eggs. The ootheca is usually attached to a bush, small tree, or other vegetation. The eggs overwinter and hatch late in the following spring. Hatchlings are dispersed by the wind. Most nymphs die of starvation or desiccation. Those that survive moult seven times before becoming an adult.

Insects and small animals, including amphibians, reptiles, and hummingbirds.

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.

Uncommon in Minnesota

Until recently, Chinese mantis was classified as Tenodera aridifolia sinensis, a subspecies of giant Japanese mantis, which sometimes goes by the same common name. In 2002 it was raised to species level based on differences in the male genitalia.

Big Black eyes = thirsty

Chinese mantid

Tenodera sinensis sinensis Chinese mantid three and five eighths inches long 8 29 2020.

This large Chinese mantid was photographed at Chiwaukee Prairie, Kenosha Co., Wisconsin.

… There were a number of butterfly wings on the ground under the shrub this mantid was on.

I was watering my flower pots and when it first splashed, I noticed one hop up out of my begonias and sit on top. He was 4+” long and very pretty. He didn’t mind us looking closely at him and taking photos. I love how he turned slowly and looked right at me! It was fun to see!!

found it on our garage door

My Science teacher said I should report the praying mantis, it is about 4 and 1 fourth inches long (not including the hand spike things) also here is a photo

Found today on the side of my mother’s house in Jackson….. is rather large 3+ inches.

Location: Rural Olmsted County

Location: Lake County Illinois

Big Black eyes = thirsty

Location: Northfield, MN

Location: Brainerd MN at North central speedway

Was a bit confused when I noticed it and none (us) of have seen one before, after looking it up we learned they are in Minnesota.

Location: Rochester, MN area

On tall weeds.

Location: Lanesboro MN, Fillmore County

Location: Rosemount, MN

I was watering my flower pots and when it first splashed, I noticed one hop up out of my begonias and sit on top. He was 4+” long and very pretty. He didn’t mind us looking closely at him and taking photos. I love how he turned slowly and looked right at me! It was fun to see!!

Location: Albany, NY

Location: St. Paul near state fair fairgrounds

found it on our garage door

Location: Moorhead, MN

Saw a Chinese praying mantis on our deck here in Moorhead this date. Never seen one here before and understand we should not see one this far north in MN.   Climate change?

Location: Jackson, MN

Found today on the side of my mother’s house in Jackson….. is rather large 3+ inches.

Location: in the area in the middle between Winona and (small area) Wilson and the interstate going past Wilson.

My Science teacher said I should report the praying mantis, it is about 4 and 1 fourth inches long (not including the hand spike things) also here is a photo

Location: Chiwaukee Prairie, Kenosha Co., Wisconsin

Tenodera sinensis sinensis Chinese mantid three and five eighths inches long 8 29 2020.

This large Chinese mantid was photographed at Chiwaukee Prairie, Kenosha Co., Wisconsin.

… There were a number of butterfly wings on the ground under the shrub this mantid was on.