How to identify the four large Mantodea-species of Spain

Family Mantidae
Mantis religiosa

• horizontal line through the eyes
• black spot with white center in the armpit

• Colour can be green or beige… or anything in between
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/91029889
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34295642
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7509986
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17438437

Family Mantidae
Sphodromantis viridis

• white spot on wing
• Yellow stripes on forearms

• Colour usually green, but brown individuals can occur too
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17041789
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/7464341
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/19160181

Family Eremiaphilidae
Iris oratoria
Can be mainly identified by the absence of characteristic features (no spots in armpits, no line through eye, no white spot on wing)

• coloured wings, opened in threat display ( I have bothered them so often, but they never threatened, just ran away)
• Females have short wings which do not cover the abdomen

• Colour can be beige or green
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97938028
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/8411374
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129610785

Family Empusidae
Empusa pennata
It is so different that it can’t be mistaken for anything else. (There is the very similar Empusa fasciata in the Eastern Mediterranean, but in Spain it is unique.)
Female - with threadlike antennae
Male - with pennate antennae
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/13926520
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18012618

The same as PDF with photos: https://www.icloud.com/iclouddrive/0b4hxyyA8TK64zF7STmfZck8w#Mantodea-pdf

Posted on October 6, 2022 09:11 PM by susanne-kasimir