More ID help!

[TheBeesKnees]

An acquaintance of mine returned from a bug fair with an unidentified nymph!:

I love her pale coloration. Is this a Sphodromantis sp. or a Hierodula sp.? Or is it something else?

 

[Sticky]

Looks hierodula to me.

 

[Domanating]

It looks like a praying-mantis.

No need to thank me :stuart:

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

Looks so much like Sphodromantis sp., but based off location hierodula would probably make more sense.

 

[TheBeesKnees]

Shieldmantid: hehe my aquaintence is actually located in the states, and the mantis was acquired at a bug fair in their state! So location doesn't help with the ID of this particular lass (though it would be handy if it did!) With location being a non-factor, it's so hard to ID these kinds of nymphs, especially since Hierodula and Sphodromantis look so similar as nymphs @___@

Domanating: Oh, good! I'm glad it is indeed a member of the Mantodea order!! I was second guessing between that and Decapoda.

 

[Domanating]

Domanating: Oh, good! I'm glad it is indeed a member of the Mantodea order!! I was second guessing between that and Decapoda.

Common mistake. You just need to count the legs. if it has 10, then it's a Decapoda

 

[Falconerguy]

Looks like Sphodromantis lineola to me.

 

[mantiseater]

some sort of Hierodula

 

[TheBeesKnees]

man you guys are split right down the middle on this! It really is that difficult to tell the difference between the two genera at nymph stage!

 

[Falconerguy]

I'm gonna change my guess to Hierodula as well. Possibly Membranacea. http://www.mantisonline.de/pics/species/mantids/hierodula/membranacea/adult/female/hierodula_membranacea01.jpg

 

[TheBeesKnees]

Falconerguy: the only thing she was told by the seller was that this one probably would end up being "a bit smaller"
Smaller than what, we're not sure exactly. He could have been insinuating that it's a smaller species for the genus, in which I'd wager more on your previous ID. Apparently the seller was way too overwhelmed in dealing with too many other folks to provide any clear information :T sigh