What species is this?

[dataduffy]

Hi there,

I found this one outside this morning. Any idea what it is? (I live in China)

It's the first time I've seen this type, and for an adult, it is much smaller (about 2")than the more common types that we get here. It is very hyperactive. It was difficult to take these pics as it never stayed still.It also seems to like flying a lot. (Sorry about the poor pics, they were taken with my phone.)

For the pics below.....

Rick, further to the pic on my "Introduce Yourself" post, where you commented "I am pretty sure it is Tenodera, however I have never seen sinensis with that black line on the wings."

I found a further 4 adults this morning, (All before going to work). Two were brown, and two green. All have the black line.

See the pics below.

Now for the really dumb question... :blink: ...Given that they look pretty much identical apart from colour, are they the same species?

 

[massaman]

those appear to be chinese if I am not mistaken

 

[LauraMG]

I was thinking the same as massaman, looks like a brown and a green Chinese. Beautiful specimens!

 

[dataduffy]

Sorry, my post is not too clear...been a long day.

I am sure now that the bottom two pics are Chinese, however looking at the pics on here, I don't see any Chinese with the black stripes.

Does anyone have any idea about the mantis in the first two pics?

Given that it is an adult, and sooo much smaller, it really can't be the same species, can it?(I am new to this!!) Any idea what it is? You can't see it clear from the pic, but the wing does have a white "eye" mark on it.

 

[massaman]

the bottom ones are indeed chinese and the one on top could be a european and those are not black stripes they are the wing folds on the chinese I think and not black stripes and all of my female chinese that I have look like those chinese in the bottom picture and so I am postive thats what they are and they dont have stripes either!

 

[MantidLord]

That first one is definitely not european. No eyespot whatsoever and it's too small. They maybe be smaller than chinese, but they're not miniature. Idk what it is though.

 

[dataduffy]

Thanks massaman,

I should have said "line" and not "stripe". (You're correct, they don't have stripes, but if my daughter gets near them with her colouring pens, all bets are off! ).

Here is another pic of one that I saw last week. You can see how pronounced the dark line is.

So for a complete noob like me, can you please tell me exactly what causes this?

I have never tried to open the wings, as I guess that this just should not be done and I don't want to harm them.

Sorry again for all the dumb questions, and thanks for the help.

 

[massaman]

maybe yen-saw or christian would know what species this is!

 

[tier]

1&2: guess Hierodula sp.

3,4&5: sure Tenodera sp(p). Pictures 3 and 4 show the same species of Tenodera, picture 5 may show another species of the genus Tenodera.

Of three abundant species of Tenodera in China, T. angustipennis is the smalles, T. sinenis is medium sized an T. superstitiosa are the biggest I think. I don't know the size of your hand, but I guess T. sinensis could be possible here.

PS: Isn't it funny with the stupid trivial names? You mentioned you are from China and the answer (wich was indeed not really wrong) was these are "chinese". LOL

 

[Rick]

I believe your two large ones there are chinese mantis for sure. They can be green or black. The first mantis I am not sure of. It is a male though. It is NOT european mantis as was suggested.

 

[MantidLord]

1&2: guess Hierodula sp.

3,4&5: sure Tenodera sp(p). Pictures 3 and 4 show the same species of Tenodera, picture 5 may show another species of the genus Tenodera.

Of three abundant species of Tenodera in China, T. angustipennis is the smalles, T. sinenis is medium sized an T. superstitiosa are the biggest I think. I don't know the size of your hand, but I guess T. sinensis could be possible here.

PS: Isn't it funny with the stupid trivial names? You mentioned you are from China and the answer (wich was indeed not really wrong) was these are "chinese". LOL

Tier, why is it that T. superstitiosa hasn't been established throughout the world like the other two? And is size really the only main difference (other than sexual organs)?

 

[tier]

Hi

I dont know about the other two have been established troughout the world. All I know is T. sinensis is common in parts of the USA and Canada. I dont know why. Maybe this species has the widest tolarance to different habitats. Or maybe just because this species was used as pest control while the otheres werent.

I don't know how to distinguish the species of the genus Tenodera.

regards