Hierodula majuscula

Hierodula majuscula is a species of praying mantis in the genus Hierodula. It is also known as the giant rainforest mantis and the Australian giant mantis. It is found in coastal northern Australia, most usually in rainforest and adjacent habitats.[2] This species is typically green although a less common bright yellow form does occur.

Hierodula majuscula
Female with her ootheca
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Mantodea
Family:
Mantidae
Genus:
Hierodula
Species:
H. majuscula
Binomial name
Hierodula majuscula
(Tindale, 1923)
Synonyms
  • Parhierodula majuscula Tindale, 1923[1]

Diet

It is predominantly a predator of insects including phasmids, grasshoppers, crickets, flies and other mantids. It also feeds on other invertebrate predators such as spiders and occasionally small vertebrates like geckos, frogs, and juvenile snakes.

Description

This is the largest species of Australian mantids. Size is 70–110 mm in total length from eye to wing. It is one of the largest mantis species in the world. The specific epithet "majuscula" means large in Latin.

  • Adult
  • Mating couple

See also

References
  1. Tindale, Norman B. (1923). "Review of Australian Mantidae". Records of the South Australian Museum. 2 (3): 449; Pl. 20, Figs. 50–51.
  2. "Species Hierodula (Hierodula) majuscula (Tindale, 1923)". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2010.


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