Mega Mantis

[Colorcham427]

How big does this species actually get?

I have been told by many experienced keepers they only get around 6 inches long. And then a few other experienced keepers say they can reach a foot!!! 12 inches!!!

What species is generally labeled Mega Mantis? That species that doesn't get so big and "lives up to the mega" ?

 

[guapoalto049]

I hate to break it to ya man but a foot big may be a tad bit of an exaggeration. Plistospilota guineensis reaches around 12 cm long when adult. I think its getting a bit of the Chinese mantis syndrome, where people see one in the wild/a picture and say it must be 6".

Many people exaggerate measurements for some reason, which to me can get annoying. One common thing I see is placing a ruler on the ground under a standing mantis, so a 12 cm mantid can look 15 cm.

I like it place the ruler along the back of the mantid to get accurate measurements. Until I see clear photographic evidence (not an optical illusion) then I can't say I've seen one longer than an Idolomantis.

 

[sporeworld]

Yeah, I've seen a couple of profile pics of mantids HANGING from a ruler, and I thought that's probably the best way. Assuming they can hang on (clumsy Idolos).

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Yeah, I think if there were 12in. mantis out there we would have seen it by now.

Megas get about 6-7 inches and thats only females, males are less.

 

[PhilinYuma]

All mantises, Brian, are identified by a "type" specimen, which is usually sitting in a museum somewhere. Polyspilotum guinensis is about 15-16cm or 6". There have been many discussions about mantis size on this forum, and two reasons are commonly given for exaggeration, "the fish that got away" syndrome and a tendency to measure a mantis from the tip of its extended raptorial claws to the tip of the extended hind legs instead of TBL.

I am greatly in favor of the casual use of common names (if only because it avoids the use of misspelled binomials ), and the origin of "mega mantis" has interested me. I think that it may have originated with the popular metallic toy that has been around a long time and can still be bought on Amazon and elsewhere.

 

[Rick]

I'm pretty sure no mantis species reaches 12". Many people still think chinese mantids reach six inches but are stunned to find out it is barely four inches.

 

[Frey]

Photo did 2-3 days after laid of ootheca , female was empty, when she is fully feed she could take 12.5

Only Heterochaeta spp could be bigger and maybe Schizocephala bicornis but Plistospilota is more massive



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Thanks Justyna for taking the time to post the Mega size pic.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Thanks Justyna for taking the time to post the Mega size pic.

And that 10 zloty bank note! :lol:

 

[Frey]

: : sorry that take so long

^^ maybe that will help to resolve problem how big she could be

 

[Ntsees]

That is one huge mantid.

 

[guapoalto049]

: : sorry that take so long

^^ maybe that will help to resolve problem how big she could be

Justyna, do you feed that thing whole chickens? :lol:

 

[Frey]

Not yet bus sometimes she look on me like on chiken

Her weight when she is feed-full is the same like adult fully Rhombodera + male on her back i checked it

 

[yen_saw]

Thanks for putting the photo up Jus, many people calling it a mega mantis with 'guesstimate' size but not willing to post it next to a ruler causing all the size exaggeration. The one you had is slightly under 12 cm but still a large specimen as i have mentioned it in another thread.

 

[Frey]

Thanks for putting the photo up Jus, many people calling it a mega mantis with 'guesstimate' size but not willing to post it next to a ruler causing all the size exaggeration. The one you had is slightly under 12 cm but still a large specimen as i have mentioned it in another thread.

You're welcome Yen

Heh, I agree

Only few species is longer than this mantis but I never saw any massiver mantis before

I will put on photo with Rhombodera spp. female to show a diffrences and how big Plisto could be , propably tomorrow morning or for 2 days when female will be full-feed

 

[guapoalto049]

You're welcome Yen

Heh, I agree

Only few species is longer than this mantis but I never saw any massiver mantis before

I will put on photo with Rhombodera spp. female to show a diffrences and how big Plisto could be , propably tomorrow morning or for 2 days when female will be full-feed

Nice! If you've seen any of my photo posts you know I'm a sucker for comparison shots haha

 

[yen_saw]

You're welcome Yen

Heh, I agree

Only few species is longer than this mantis but I never saw any massiver mantis before

I will put on photo with Rhombodera spp. female to show a diffrences and how big Plisto could be , propably tomorrow morning or for 2 days when female will be full-feed

yes, and if you put species like A. multicolor next to this monster it will look like a baby. But the other way around if you place it next to the following specimen

 

[guapoalto049]

yes, and if you put species like A. multicolor next to this monster it will look like a baby. But the other way around if you place it next to the following specimen

The first time I saw this photo on an old post of yours Yen I immediately bookmarked it. Now that is a MEGA mantis! Such a shame the Toxodera species are so rare and difficult to raise.

 

[yen_saw]

The first time I saw this photo on an old post of yours Yen I immediately bookmarked it. Now that is a MEGA mantis! Such a shame the Toxodera species are so rare and difficult to raise.

Many people believed it was more than foot long when i showed them this dried specimen