Giant Asian mantis (Hierodula patellifera)

Giant Asian mantis (Hierodula patellifera) is a species of praying mantis belonging to the family Mantidae. Females typically reach a body length of 6.5–7.5 cm, while males measure 4.5–6.5 cm. Despite its large size, this species is not the largest within the genus Hierodula. They generally appear in various color morphs, including green, yellow, and brown.

H. patellifera possesses a head capable of full rotation. It is dominated by a pair of very large, green eyes, with triangularly shaped jaws. The dorsal region (pronotum) is relatively broad with thickened edges, and the head features a pair of long antennae.





The wings are broad with rounded tips, a striated surface, and thickened margins; each wing bears a prominent white spot. The abdomen is large and segmented, curving downward; while the dorsal side is entirely covered by the wings, portions of the abdomen remain visible from the sides.

The forelegs are large and composed of three segments. The uppermost segment features 2–3 large, whitish spines on its anterior side. The middle segment bears a row of numerous spines with black or white tips. The third segment also carries a row of long, black- or white-tipped spines, terminating in an elongated, pad-like structure. The midlegs consist of three long segments, with the final segment ending in small spines. The hindlegs are composed of several segments.

This insect exhibits specific behaviors that facilitate sexual reproduction. Unmated females possess a unique adaptation to attract mates: they adopt a particular body posture that signals their readiness to breed. This involves arching the abdomen to expose its dorsal surface, accompanied by a rhythmic pumping motion that releases pheromones to draw in males. This posture serves as an indicator of the female's nutritional status and reproductive readiness. Males attracted to these pheromones can distinguish between virgin females and those that have already mated, as only virgin females exhibit this specific behavior. Furthermore, complex predatory movements can also influence mate selection; the ability to stalk and successfully capture prey serves as a signal of a male's fitness.

This species inhabits forests, rice paddies, and home gardens. They typically perch on branches about one meter above the ground. They modify their behavior to reduce the risk of predation under varying wind conditions; as wind speed increases, they sway their bodies and move in a camouflaged manner, making them harder to detect against their surroundings. Their color polymorphism—ranging from bright green to dull brown—provides a significant advantage for blending into the environment.

These insects perform a "peering" motion, swaying back and forth as they approach their prey. This movement not only helps them better integrate into their surroundings but also serves to gauge distance, thereby enhancing their spatial perception.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Order: Mantodea
Suborder: Eumantodea
Infraorder: Schizomantodea
Superfamily: Mantoidea
Family: Mantidae
Subfamily: Hierodulinae
Tribe: Hierodulini
Genus: Hierodula
Species: Hierodula patellifera

SYNONYMS

Hierodula bipapilla Serville (1839)
Hierodula daqingshanensis Wang (1993)
Hierodula dispar Kirby (1900)
Hierodula manillana Giglio-Tos (1912)
Hierodula manillensis Saussure (1870)
Hierodula multispina Wang (1993)
Hierodula raptoria Stal (1877)
Hierodula xishaensis Wang (1993)
Hierodula yunnanensis Wang (1993)
Mantis patellifera Audinet-Serville (1838)

VERNACULAR NAME

Chinese (simplified): 多刺斧螳 - 宽髌圣役螳 - 广斧螳
Chinese (traditional): 寬腹斧螳 - 寬腹螳螂 - 廣斧螳 - 雙突斧螳
English: Giant Asian mantis, Harabiro mantis, Asian mantis, Indochina mantis
French: Mante géante asiatique
Guangdong: 廣斧螳
Hong Kong: 廣斧螳
Indonesian: Sentadu raksasa
Italian: Mantide gigante asiatica
Japanese: ハラビロカマキリ
Java: Sentadu kebo
Korean: 넓적배사마귀
Macao: 廣斧螳
Taiwan: 廣斧螳

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
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