Family MANTIDAE

Mantidae

Mantid, Canberra

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Family MANTIDAE

Compiler and date details

2014 - ABRS

John Balderson, D.C.F. Rentz & Alison M.E. Roach, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

Introduction

Mantidae are generally large (10–120 mm in length) insects but vary considerably in size and shape. The head is generally broader than high and the eyes and ocelli are generally large and well-developed. The pronotum is usually much longer than wide. Males are macropterous but females may be macropterous or brachypterous. Male genitalia are of major importance in separating genera and species.

Mantidae is the largest family of Mantodea with a worldwide distribution and with many genera and species. Twenty subfamilies were recognised by Beier (1964), of which three (Iridopteryginae, Orthoderinae and Mantinae) are known to occur occur in Australia. Species from three other subfamilies are recorded as occurring in Australia (Thespinae—one species, Compsothespinae—one species and Toxoderinae—one species) but their presence here is extremely doubtful. Roy (1987) discussed the need for a revision of the subfamily definitions.

Although the genera of the family Mantidae have been assigned to subfamilies, they are listed alphabetically in the Catalogue so the text is self indexing. The subfamilies and their included genera are:

Compsothespinae
Compsothespis
Orthoderinae
Orthodera
Orthoderina
Iridopteryginae
Bolbe
Calofulcinia
Ciulfina
Gonatistella
Ima
Kongobatha
Nanomantis
Neomantis
Mantinae
Archimantis
Austrovates
Coenomantis
Deiphobe
Hierodula
Mantis
Notomantis
Nullabora
Pseudomantis
Rhodomantis
Scolodera
Sphodropoda
Statilia
Tenodera
Trachymantis
Thespinae
Thespis
Toxoderinae
Toxoderella

Iridopteryginae are small (10–35 mm in length), delicate mantids with only three discoidal spines on the anterior femur. In Australia, the subfamily is represented by eight genera. Orthoderinae are medium sized (25–40 mm in length), green mantids with the pronotum lacking supra-coxal widening and with lateral margins almost parallel. Both sexes are fully-winged. Two orthoderine genera occur in Australia.

Mantinae are large (35–120 mm in length) and usually have four discoidal spines on the anterior femur. The pronotum narrows anteriorly from its widest point, generally above the insertion of the anterior coxae. Fifteen genera are currently known from the subfamily in Australia.