Mantis at Large=Large Mantis

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Looks like a European mantis based on the eye spots. It isn't that big. The pics just make it appear to be.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
guapoalto049 said:
A 6" male European? Name him Andre the Giant
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Looks like a female from the size of the head and body. It's a European, the spots give it away. They way they are handling it, you'd think it was going to attack them. Wish I could find another female, I have 5 males now. Went down to the river with my youngest we spent an hour looking for mantids or ooths and never saw one. When we pulled into the driveway and got out of the car we found 2 males on the front lawn.....go figure.

We scoured the bushes in front of the house figuring the males were there for a reason, but found nothing.

Idaho was never known for Mantids, apparently they have only been here about 10 years. It was always believed that the climate was too cold, but they have steadily migrated north and adapted. Perhaps the same is true in Washington.

I'm going to put all 5 males on house plant later today and snap off some pics.

 
That thing is NOT 5 or 6" as reported in the link. Great looking mantis, and big to be sure, but not as big as reported.

I have one of those cages pictured...AND one of those spatula thingies.

I would put that mantis in the realm of 3.5"

That's the average size for chinese mantids around me (and I've never seen a 5 or 6" Chinese, like people claim - biggeset I've ever seen was 4.5)

But I don't think that's a chinese....it does look like a European, based on the eye spots...do they get to 3.5"?

 
Idaho was never known for Mantids, apparently they have only been here about 10 years. It was always believed that the climate was too cold, but they have steadily migrated north and adapted. Perhaps the same is true in Washington.
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I've lived in Washington my whole life and I've never seen one here... and trust me, I've looked, hah. Maybe in eastern WA, since the temps get so high over there, but the humidity is so low, I wouldn't expect there to be any mantises.

Apparently, though, after doing a little research, mantises can come into WA as stowaways in shipments from other states.

 
guapoalto049 said:
A 6" male European? Name him Andre the Giant
Click to expand...
Also name him/her Long Dead. Those pix were taken three years ago!
laugh.gif


 
Don't think European mantis get that big (beyond 3 inches from head to abdomen). I would like to see a picture of 3" adult female Europena mantis next to a ruler.

 
I trust Yen on this...so maybe it's not a European...or maybe the picture is REALLY making it look bigger than it really is.

We found an adult female European on Fire Island a couple weeks ago - she was just about 2.5" I would say...

I've just read so many fish stories about HUGE mantises...that turned out to be such disapointments.

I would LOVE to see a 6" mantis....but I just don't think there are that many that get that big. Maybe the Australian mega-mantis...forget the scientific name (please don't crucify me for using a common name :( )

 
Schloaty said:
I've just read so many fish stories about HUGE mantises...that turned out to be such disapointments.

I would LOVE to see a 6" mantis....but I just don't think there are that many that get that big. Maybe the Australian mega-mantis...forget the scientific name (please don't crucify me for using a common name :( )
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Mantids look bigger simply because other insects are much smaller. People often say Chinese reach 6", yet I've never seen evidence of one legitimately over 4". Only a handful reach 5"+...Heterochaeta, Toxodera, Paratoxodera, Solygia, and Ischnomantis are the only genera that I know of.

I believe you're thinking of Archimantis latistylus from Australia. There is another species in the genus I've heard of, A. monstrosa, though I've never seen any pictures. Perhaps one of the more experienced readers on the forum can help me out here!

 
People often say Chinese reach 6", yet I've never seen evidence of one legitimately over 4".
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Yep, I think you have it right.

I have seen a Chinese or two over 4"...though it's rare. I actually have a MALE in my yard right now that's easily over 3.5", which is pretty huge for a male. He was actually longer than the female he found. :blink:

So I would beleive it if someone told me they had a female a 4.5"....but any bigger than that would make me cry BS.

 

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