Mantises
Order Mantodea
137 speciesPredatory insects known for their raptorial forelegs and triangular heads that can rotate 180 degrees. They are ambush predators with excellent binocular vision.
Species in this Order
African Bark Mantis
Tarachodes afzelii
A small flat mantis with mottled grey-brown coloring perfectly matching tree bark. It presses its bo...
African Devil Mantis
Idolomantis lobiceps
A large, lobed mantis from the dry forests of central East Africa. It has pronounced lobes on its he...
African Grass Mantis
Pyrgomantis nasuta
An extremely slender mantis shaped like a grass stem with an elongated head and thorax. It sways gen...
African Ground Mantis
Ligariella trigonalis
A small mottled grey-brown mantis adapted to hunting on the ground among stones and gravel. It is re...
African Mantis
Sphodromantis viridis
A large, powerful mantis that occurs in green or brown color forms. It is one of the most commonly k...
African Pink Flower Mantis
Chloroharpax modesta
A delicate green mantis from tropical Africa that develops pink highlights when near flowers. It is ...
African Twig Mantis
Popa spurca crassa
A subspecies of twig mantis with an even rougher bark-like texture. Its flattened body and ragged ed...
Algerian Desert Mantis
Eremiaphila denticornis
A robust desert mantis with toothed antennae found in the rocky deserts of Algeria. It is among the ...
Amazonian Bark Mantis
Liturgusa amazonica
A cryptic bark mantis found in the Amazon basin that is almost invisible on tree bark. Its mottled b...
Ant Mantis
Odontomantis planiceps
A tiny mantis whose nymphs mimic ants to avoid predation....
Apical Flower Mantis
Creobroter apicalis
A small flower mantis from Southeast Asia with distinctive markings at the tips of its forewings. It...
Arizona Unicorn Mantis
Pseudovates arizonae
A bark-mimicking mantis found in desert scrublands of the American Southwest. A small horn on its he...
Banded Flower Mantis
Theopropus elegans
A striking Southeast Asian mantis with bands of green, white, and dark markings across its body. It ...
Bark Mantis
Liturgusa sp.
A flattened mantis species that lives on tree bark and is superbly camouflaged. Rather than ambushin...
Bearded Stick Mantis
Toxodera beieri
A rare stick mantis from Borneo with small lobes along its body resembling bark fragments. It was na...
Bolivian Dead Leaf Mantis
Acanthops boliviana
A dead leaf mantis from Bolivia's Yungas forests with exceptionally convincing leaf mimicry. Its win...
Bordered Mantis
Stagmatoptera biocellata
A large green mantis with two prominent dark eyespots on the inner surfaces of its forelegs. It uses...
Borneo Leaf Mantis
Amorphoscelis borneana
A small leaf-mimicking mantis from the forests of Borneo. It rests on dead leaves in the understory ...
Borneo Stick Mantis
Toxodera integrifolia
A large stick mantis endemic to Borneo with leaf-like wing expansions. Its wings resemble dried leav...
Boxer Mantis
Otomantis scutigera
A small African mantis named for its habit of rapidly striking with its raptorial forelegs in a boxi...
Brunner's Stick Mantis
Brunneria borealis
A slender stick-like mantis found in the southeastern United States. It is remarkable because only f...
Budwing Mantis
Parasphendale affinis
A sturdy, aggressive mantis from East Africa named for the bud-like wing stubs of the females, who a...
Burmese Flower Mantis
Creobroter urbanus
A small, adaptable flower mantis found in Myanmar and neighboring regions. It is one of the few Creo...
Carolina Mantis
Stagmomantis carolina
The most common native mantis species in the eastern United States, occurring in green, brown, and m...
Cat-Eye Mantis
Pseudempusa pinnapavonis
A rare Southeast Asian mantis with striking peacock-like eyespots on its inner forearms. It uses the...
Cat-Eyed Mantis
Heterochaeta strachani
A spectacular West African mantis with enormously enlarged compound eyes that give it a cat-like app...
Central African Mantis
Sphodromantis centralis
A robust mantis native to Central African forests with green or brownish coloration. Females are not...
Chinese Mantis
Tenodera sinensis
One of the largest mantis species in North America (introduced). An ambush predator with remarkable ...
Colombian Dead Leaf Mantis
Acanthops soukana
A dead leaf mantis described from the Colombian Andes region. Its dark coloring and compact body sha...
Conehead Mantis
Empusa pennata
A distinctive European mantis with a tall conical head crest and feathery antennae in males. Nymphs ...
Costa Rican Dead Leaf Mantis
Acanthops centralis
The only Acanthops species found in Central America, extending the genus's range northward. It inhab...
Dead Leaf Mantis
Deroplatys desiccata
Extraordinary camouflage that makes it look exactly like a dried, curled leaf — complete with brown ...
Desert Praying Mantis
Stagmomantis limbata
A medium-sized mantis common in desert and arid scrub habitats of western North America. Its colorin...
Devils Flower Mantis
Idolomantis diabolica
One of the largest and most spectacular flower mantises. When threatened, it produces a dramatic dei...
Dragon Mantis
Toxodera denticulata
A rare and bizarre-looking mantis from pristine Southeast Asian rainforests. Its elongated body and ...
Ecuadorian Dead Leaf Mantis
Acanthops elegans
An elegant dead leaf mantis from the western Amazon basin of Ecuador. It has refined leaf mimicry wi...
Egyptian Conehead Mantis
Empusa egena
A slender pale mantis found in arid regions of northeastern Africa and the Middle East. Its body col...
Egyptian Mantis
Miomantis paykullii
A small to medium green mantis native to Africa that has become established in parts of the southern...
Elegant Bark Mantis
Amorphoscelis elegans
A delicate bark mantis from West Africa with fine, elegant body proportions. It is one of the more g...
Erosion Dead Leaf Mantis
Acanthops erosula
A small dead leaf mantis with eroded-looking wing edges from the forests of the Guiana Shield. Its r...
False Garden Mantis
Pseudomantis albofimbriata
A small green mantis native to Australia with white-fringed forewings. It is the most commonly encou...
Filigreed Stick Mantis
Toxodera fimbriata
A stick mantis from Southeast Asia with fringed edges along its thorax and legs. The fringes break u...
Freyi Dead Leaf Mantis
Brancsikia freyi
A recently described dead leaf mantis closely related to B. aeroplana but distinguished by subtle di...
Gambian Conehead Mantis
Empusa guttula
A West African conehead mantis with spotted markings on its wings and body. It is found in savanna h...
Garden Mantis
Orthodera ministralis
A small to medium-sized bright green praying mantis commonly found in Australian gardens. It has dis...
Ghost Mantis
Phyllocrania paradoxa
A small mantis with elaborate leaf-like extensions on its head, body, and legs. Sways gently to mimi...
Giant African Mantis
Sphodromantis gastrica
One of Africa's largest mantis species with a robust green or brown body. It can catch prey as large...
Giant Asian Mantis
Hierodula membranacea
One of the largest mantis species in Asia, reaching 90 mm. A voracious generalist predator that catc...
Giant Devil's Flower Mantis
Idolomantis serrula
A close relative of the devil's flower mantis found in the dry forests of East Africa. It has serrat...
Giant Malaysian Leaf Mantis
Deroplatys truncata
The largest dead leaf mantis species with a broad, flat body that mimics a curled brown leaf. Its en...
Giant Rainforest Mantis
Hierodula majuscula
One of Australia's largest mantises with a green body and reddish inner forelegs. It has distinctive...
Giant Shield Mantis
Rhombodera basalis
A large, robust mantis with a distinctive broad shield-shaped pronotum and vivid green coloring. It ...
Goblin Mantis
Amorphoscelis pulchella
A tiny, cryptic mantis found on tree bark in West African forests. Its mottled brown coloring makes ...
Grass Mantis
Pyrgomantis jonesi
A very slender mantis adapted to hiding among tall grass stems in savanna....
Green Shield Mantis
Chlidonoptera lestoni
A flat-bodied mantis from West Africa with a wide, shield-shaped pronotum. Its flattened body helps ...
Ground Mantis
Litaneutria minor
The smallest North American mantis, well camouflaged on dry rocky soil....
Guiana Bark Mantis
Liturgusa guianensis
A small, flattened bark mantis from the Guiana Shield region of South America. It inhabits primary r...
Hooded Mantis
Choeradodis rhombicollis
A Central American mantis with an enormously expanded, leaf-shaped prothorax. Its green, shield-like...
Indian Bark Mantis
Amorphoscelis annulicornis
A small bark mantis from India with banded antennae unique in the genus. It is found in the tropical...
Indian Flower Mantis
Creobroter pictipennis
A small, colorful flower mantis with green and white coloring and a single large eyespot on each for...
Indian Rose Mantis
Gonypeta brigittae
A small pastel pink mantis that sits among rose petals and other flowers to ambush prey. Its delicat...
Indian Stick Mantis
Toxodera maculata
A spotted stick mantis found in the forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. It has dark spots scatt...
Iranian Conehead Mantis
Empusa hedenborgii
A Middle Eastern conehead mantis adapted to arid mountain valleys and steppe habitats. It has a tall...
Iranian Desert Mantis
Eremiaphila iranensis
A small, pale mantis endemic to the deserts of Iran. It runs rapidly across gravel plains to ambush ...
Jade Mantis
Hierodula venosa
A bright jade-green mantis with a rounded thoracic shield edged in pale yellow. It is a common and c...
Japanese Giant Mantis
Tenodera aridifolia
A large brown or green mantis widespread throughout Japan and eastern Asia. It is commonly seen in a...
Javan Stick Mantis
Toxodera maxima
One of the longest stick mantises, reaching over 12 cm from Java, Indonesia. Its extremely thin body...
Jeweled Flower Mantis
Creobroter gemmatus
A small, brilliantly colored mantis with green and cream body and striking green eyespots ringed wit...
Kenyan Conehead Mantis
Empusa capensis
A southern and eastern African conehead mantis found in dry bushveld and savanna. It has a prominent...
Libyan Conehead Mantis
Empusa decorata
A decorated conehead mantis from the dry regions of North Africa. Its body has ornate markings that ...
Libyan Ground Mantis
Eremiaphila barbara
A stout desert mantis found across Libya and neighboring Saharan regions. It is nocturnal and shelte...
Lichen Mantis
Pogonogaster tristani
A small mantis covered in mossy-looking protuberances that mimic lichen....
Long-winged Bark Mantis
Amorphoscelis longipennis
A bark mantis from West Africa with unusually long wings for its body size. Males are capable of sus...
Lurker Praying Mantis
Archimantis latistyla
One of Australia's largest praying mantises, reaching over 10 cm in length. It is a powerful ambush ...
Madagascan Bent-toed Gecko Mantis
Brancsikia aeroplana
A rare and unusual mantis endemic to Madagascar with flattened lobes on its legs. It closely mimics ...
Madagascan Marbled Mantis
Polyspilota griffinii
A large mantis with marbled green and brown wing covers. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its mottled co...
Madagascar Bark Mantis
Amorphoscelis madagassa
A small bark mantis endemic to Madagascar's eastern rainforests. It is part of the island's rich end...
Madagascar Stick Mantis
Idolomorpha madagascariensis
A large, slender praying mantis reaching 7-9 cm with a body that closely resembles a twig. Adults ha...
Malabar Flower Mantis
Creobroter meleagris
A beautifully marked flower mantis from southern India with speckled wings. It is commonly found in ...
Malagasy Bark Mantis
Liturgusa malagassa
A flattened mantis that lives pressed against tree trunks, with mottled brown and gray coloring that...
Malagasy Ghost Mantis
Phyllocrania illudens
A small mantis with elaborate leaf-like extensions on its head, thorax, and legs that make it nearly...
Malayan Stick Mantis
Toxodera gracilis
A graceful, slender stick mantis from the Malay Peninsula. Its elongated prothorax and thin limbs cr...
Malaysian Dead Leaf Mantis
Deroplatys lobata
A mantis with an extremely broad, shield-like prothorax that mimics a dead leaf. It remains motionle...
Malaysian Orchid Mantis
Helvia cardinalis
A vividly colored mantis found in Malaysian rainforests with red and green coloration. It blends in ...
Mediterranean Mantis
Iris oratoria
A medium-sized mantis with striking eyespots on its hindwings used to startle predators. It is nativ...
Mega Mantis
Plistospilota guineensis
One of the largest mantis species in the world reaching up to 17cm. It is green with a massive thora...
Moroccan Desert Mantis
Eremiaphila moroccana
A small mantis endemic to the stony deserts of Morocco. Its reddish-brown body matches the iron-rich...
Moss Mantis
Haania lobiceps
A small mantis covered in spiny projections and textured to look like a piece of living moss. Its gr...
Narrow-Winged Mantis
Tenodera angustipennis
A large East Asian mantis closely related to the Chinese mantis, with characteristically narrow fore...
New Zealand Praying Mantis
Orthodera novaezealandiae
New Zealand's only native praying mantis, a small bright green species found throughout the country....
Ocellated Flower Mantis
Pseudocreobotra ocellata
A small African flower mantis closely related to the spiny flower mantis. It has a prominent spiral ...
Orchid Mantis
Hymenopus coronatus
A stunning flower mimic with petal-shaped legs and pink-white coloring. Does not just hide among flo...
Pale Bark Mantis
Amorphoscelis pallida
A pale-colored bark mantis from tropical Africa that hunts on light-colored tree bark. Its transluce...
Pale Dead Leaf Mantis
Acanthops paraensis
A light-colored dead leaf mantis from the Para state of Brazil. Its paler coloring mimics sun-bleach...
Peruvian Bark Mantis
Liturgusa manausensis
A bark mantis originally described from the Manaus region of Brazil but also found in Peru. It has a...
Peruvian Leaf Mantis
Pseudacanthops lobipes
A mantis that perfectly mimics a green leaf complete with a leaf-shaped abdomen and wing covers with...
Philippine Flower Mantis
Creobroter nebulosa
A small, cloudy-winged flower mantis native to the Philippines and nearby islands. Its mottled wings...
Philippine Stick Mantis
Toxodera philippina
A slender stick mantis endemic to the Philippines found in primary forest habitats. It is rarely enc...
Praying Mantis
Mantis religiosa
The original praying mantis, named for the prayer-like position of its folded forelegs. A formidable...
Purple-winged Mantis
Tenodera australasiae
A large Australian mantis with distinctive purple-tinged wings that are displayed in flight. It is o...