largest and sturdiest? hmm, not sure...i'll leave that one up to the mantis specialists here. hierodula and tenodera tend to be pretty hefty and burly. didn't the mantis documentary that the discovery channel did also use hierodula for the mouse/snake/hummingbird footage?hmm, against the largest centipede, i think the centipede would unfortunately win most of the time. it's so long and each segment has strong legs and it could use that to move the mantis around even if the mantis has the centipede in its grip. i think the only way a mantis would win is if:
1. the mantis grabs the centipede close to the head...that way, the centipede won't be able to wrap its head for a poisonous bite. on the otherhand, i was also surprised that the 9 inch corn snake in that mantis documentary wasn't able to bite the mantis?!! i'm sure a giant centipede would be to though with no problem.
2. the mantis makes repeated lunge attacks and backs off. the mantis is physically more capable of doing this than a centipede.
unfortunately, i don't think any mantis is SMART enough to do either #1 or #2, so it's entirely up to chance for #1 or #2 to happen.
that's my guess. haha i love these speculative animal duels.
great white shark vs. saltwater crocodile?