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Te rō

South African praying mantis

Miomantis caffra Saussure
Hoki ki te He aha tēnei pepeke? Back to What is this bug?
South African mantis mating. Image: kengillies / CC-BY-NC

South African mantis mating. Image: kengillies / CC-BY-NC

Pūtoi
Order
Mantodea
Whānau
Family
Mantidae
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Te Rahi

  • E 30–40 mm pea te roa.

Size range

  • Length about 30–40 mm

Te Tītaringa

  • Nō Āwherika ki te Tonga tēnei momo.
  • Kua rarau te noho ki Aotearoa mai i te takiwā o te tau 1978.

Distribution

  • From South Africa
  • In New Zealand since about 1978

Te Huringa Ora

  • Ka āta whaiwhai haere i ngā pepeke hei kai māna.
  • Mai i te kākāriki ki te parauri ana tae.
  • Huna ai i raro i ngā rau.
  • He mangaeka te tae o te pūkoro hua, ina whānau mai kua hukahuka, pēnei i te kahu o te hēki kua koheria. Nō muri ka mārō haere.

Life history

  • Predacious, catches insects
  • Variable in colour, green to brown
  • Lacks blue patch on front legs
  • Usually hides under leaves
  • Egg case is fawn. When laid it is foamy like meringue, which then hardens
South African mantis. Image: Mike Bowie / CC-BY-NC Image
South African mantis. Image: Mike Bowie / CC-BY-NC
South African mantis mating. Image: kengillies / CC-BY-NC Image
South African mantis mating. Image: kengillies / CC-BY-NC
South African mantis eggcase. Image: Grey Smith / CC-BY-NC Image
South African mantis eggcase. Image: Grey Smith / CC-BY-NC
South African mantis nymph. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz Image
South African mantis nymph. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz
South African mantis laying eggs in an eggcase sac. Image: Colin Ogle / CC-BY-NC Image
South African mantis laying eggs in an eggcase sac. Image: Colin Ogle / CC-BY-NC
South African mantis with prey. Image: Mark Tutty / CC-BY-SA Image
South African mantis with prey. Image: Mark Tutty / CC-BY-SA