Garden Mantis vs Bark Mantis
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Garden Mantis | Bark Mantis |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orthodera ministralis | Liturgusa sp. |
| Order | Mantodea | Mantodea |
| Family | Mantidae | Liturgusidae |
| Size | 35-50 mm | 20-35 mm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | Australia, Oceania | South America, Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
Garden Mantis
A small to medium-sized bright green praying mantis commonly found in Australian gardens. It has distinctive blue-purple spots on the inner surfaces of its forelegs, displayed when threatened.
Did You Know?
The blue spots on its forearms are thought to startle predators and are unique among Australian mantis species.
Bark Mantis
A flattened mantis species that lives on tree bark and is superbly camouflaged. Rather than ambushing prey, it actively chases insects across bark surfaces at high speed.
Did You Know?
Bark mantises are among the fastest-running mantis species and will sprint across tree bark at speeds that rival many ground-dwelling predatory insects.