Purple-winged mantis (Tenodera australasiae)

Purple-winged mantis (Tenodera australasiae) is a species of praying mantis (family Mantidae) characterized by its purple-hued wings. Both males and females are capable of flight and can reach a length of up to 8 cm. This species is cannibalistic and preys on a variety of insects, frogs, lizards, and other small animals.

Adults feature longitudinal stripes along their bodies, accented by purple patches. Females are typically green with a white stripe running along the top of the abdomen and thorax, while males are light brown or brownish-white. The species possesses green eyes, an elongated thorax, and spiny forelegs.



T. australasiae inhabits forests, rice paddies, gardens, residential areas, and roadsides—anywhere with a mix of shrubs, grasses, and large trees. These insects are highly skilled at camouflage, which serves both to evade predators and to facilitate ambush hunting. They hunt from within shrubs or tall grass by hanging from their hind legs, then lunging at prey with their spiny forelegs.

Females lay their eggs within an ootheca (egg case) measuring 25 mm in length and 15 mm in width. Upon hatching, the nymphs resemble miniature versions of the adults—lacking wings and measuring 6 mm in length—with brown and purple striped patterns along their backs. These oothecae often serve as hosts for parasitic wasps.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Mantodea
Suborder: Eumantodea
Infraorder: Schizomantodea
Superfamily: Mantoidea
Family: Mantidae
Subfamily: Mantinae
Tribe: Polyspilotini
Subtribe: Tenoderina
Genus: Tenodera Burmeister (1838)
Species: Tenodera australasiae Leach (1814)

SYNONYMS

Tenodera darchii Mac Leay, 1827
Tenodera tessellata Burmeister, 1838

PUBLICATIONS

Leach (1814) Zool. Misc., 1.

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 南亚窄颈螳
Chinese (simplified): 澳亚刀螳
English: Purple-winged mantis, Australian mantid, Purple-winged mantid
Indonesia: Sentadu ungu
Java: Sentadu ungu

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