Garden Mantis

The Garden Mantis, or more correctly, False Garden Mantis, Pseudomantis albofimbriata, is a member of the mantis family of which there are over 2,000 species worldwide. They have triangular-shaped heads, long bodies and extra-long forelegs often held in a ‘praying’ position – hence the Praying Mantis.

Pseudomantis albofimbriata can be either brown or green. They use their long forelegs to capture their prey – flies, bees, moths, butterflies, etc., which they locate with their excellent eyesight and flexible head.

Mantises themselves are preyed upon by birds, lizards, frogs, large spiders, etc. – it’s a jungle out there! There are some wonderful videos explaining mantis behaviour – ‘Kung Fu Mantis vs Jumping Spider’, BBC Earth. Wikipedia has an excellent mantis page that explains their etymology, anatomy, reproductive behaviour, sexual cannibalism, mythology and much more.

This individual was present on a hakea shrub in our garden recently.