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the web of life in southern Africa

Family: Hymenopodidae (flower mantids)

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthopoda > Mandibulata > Atelocerata > Panhexapoda > Hexapoda > Insecta (insects) > Dictyoptera > Mantodea (mantids)

The Hymenopodidae are the most attractive of the mantids often mimicing flowers.  They have a raised process in the middle of their head and the inner margins of the front femora have alternating short and long spines with those on the tibiae being closely spaced and laying at an angle.  The fore wings are often decorated with bands or spiral markings making it look rather like a target or bulls eye and also aids in frightening off attackers.  The females are sometimes short winged.

This family is found throughout the tropics except in Australia. 

Phyllocrania paradoxa (Leaf mantid, body length 44mm) ♂. [image by M. Picker & C. Griffiths ©, from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa, used with permission].

Phyllocrania paradoxa (Leaf mantid) (body length 44mm)♀. [image by M. Picker & C. Griffiths ©, from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa, used with permission].

Phyllocrania paradoxa  Long, flattened and narrow egg-case (ootheca) [image by M. Picker & C. Griffiths © from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa used with permission].

Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi (Eyed-flower mantid, body length 42mm) [image by A. Weaving © from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa used with permission].                                                                    

Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi (Eyed-flower mantid) (body length 42mm) [image by A. Weaving © from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa used with permission]

Harpagomantis tricolor (Flower mantid) (body length 31mm) [image by A. Weaving © from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa used with permission]

Galinthias amoena Small (body length 25mm) [image by M. Picker & C. Griffiths © from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa used with permission].

Oxypiloidea tridens (body length 24mm) [image by  M. Picker & C. Griffiths © from Field Guide to Insects of South Africa used with permission]

Page by Dawn Larsen