My new Hierodula parviceps

[SkittishMale]

This is a mated female H. parviceps I just got today along with a handful of first instar nymphs. I am really digging her pale blue colour.

 

[bobericc]

Oooh asian marbled mantis are my favorite marble. The greens dont get the same marble colored wingset?

 

[dmina]

That is really cool... I have not seen one yet .. at least I can't remember? ... but that is not saying much.



On your new family members!

 

[TheBeesKnees]

beautiful mantis!! Looks just like my girls A wonderful species. The sea foam colored ones like this are my favorite.

though, I was told a while back on this site that these mantises are mis-identified and are not parviceps but some kind of patellifera (based on some old text by the original founder of the species?). I have no idea, myself... not that it really matters, even haha. It remains a point of confusion for me...

 

[Darkrai283]

though, I was told a while back on this site that these mantises are mis-identified and are not parviceps but some kind of patellifera (based on some old text by the original founder of the species?). I have no idea, myself... not that it really matters, even haha. It remains a point of confusion for me...

Yeah, I'm really confused about that too...

But the H. patellifera that is currently known internationally is a species in which the females only get up to 60-70mm, waay smaller than the 'mis-identified' H. parviceps circulating right now. :wacko:

 

[TheBeesKnees]

Not only that, but they are way smaller than the mis-ID'd parviceps I'm catching in the wild, too @ u@;;

 

[Extrememantid]

We gotta share this species

 

[SkittishMale]

@TheBeesKnees I haven't heard of the rumour of the mis-IDing of H. parviceps but you're probably right that this isn't H. patellifera because like you said, patellifera is significantly smaller.

@Extrememantid Haha yes! I'll try to get some to you for sure.

 

[TheBeesKnees]

Yeah, apparently, they're missing a completely black fore coxae and a black line on the inside of the forefemur., which was originally documented as a marker for the H. parviceps species. Here's the discussion in question!
But if they're not parviceps, and their not patellifera, then...what are they??

 

[SkittishMale]

I have no idea but I guess I'll continue to call it parviceps like I was told it was until someone very knowledgeable steps in and correctly identifies it if in fact it isn't parviceps.

 

[SkittishMale]

It was a nice warm sunny day yesterday so I had taken her outside for some better photos. I believe these photos do her a lot more justice.

I find that her pale blue colour looks really good against the pink of the chrysanthemum flowers in the background.

 

[dmina]

She is a fatty... Yes, I agree those colors do go well with her... She wears it well!