New Zealand Praying Mantis vs Field Cricket
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Praying Mantis | Field Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orthodera novaezealandiae | Gryllus campestris |
| Order | Mantodea | Orthoptera |
| Family | Mantidae | Gryllidae |
| Size | 35-45 mm | 20-26 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Seed Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Europe |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
New Zealand Praying Mantis
New Zealand's only native praying mantis, a small bright green species found throughout the country. It is now threatened by competition from the larger introduced South African mantis. Females are larger than males and occasionally cannibalize them after mating.
Did You Know?
The native New Zealand mantis is being outcompeted by the introduced South African mantis, which arrived around 1978 and is now more common in many areas.
Field Cricket
Males produce their characteristic chirping song by rubbing their wings together (stridulation). The rate of chirping is temperature-dependent, following Dolbears law.
Did You Know?
You can estimate the temperature in Fahrenheit by counting cricket chirps in 14 seconds and adding 40 — this relationship is known as Dolbears Law.