Are there any black or jet black mantids?

[joossa]

Is there a species of mantids that is mostly or pure black in color?

Thanks.

 

[Ian]

I think the Metallicidae (Spelling inaccurate there...) from the photos I have seen of them.

I will try and find a photo to post up.

 

[Rob Byatt]

I think the Metallicidae (Spelling inaccurate there...) from the photos I have seen of them.I will try and find a photo to post up.

I think you've got a little mixed up there Ian :wink:

The reason the family is named Metallyticidae is because the mantids in within this family (only one genus; Metallyticus sp.) exhibit metalic colours

 

[chun]

My Phyllocrania paradoxa female is jet black

 

[Ian]

Well the photo I saw rob was labelled with this name...I am trying to find the dam thing!

Maybe I should refrain from using CCleaner in the future. I am determined to find this pic...

 

[Christian]

Hi.

There is a phenomenon called fire melanism: specimens on burnt places can be blackish in color. This applies to most savanna species.

Others with more or less dark color are:

Gonypetella

Gonypeta

Oxypilus

Bantia

Bantiella

Thrinaconyx

and others.

Regards,

Christian

 

[Isis]

My male dessicata is also almost black.

 

[jandl2204]

It's a species that apparently originates from the Solomon islands.

The species name is unknown to me. I should point out it does appear similar to Tenodera sp.

Lee