Hierodula majuscula is a species of praying mantis in the genus Hierodula. It is also known as the giant rainforest mantis and the Australian giant mantis. It is found in coastal northern Australia, usually in rainforest and adjacent habitats.[2] This species is typically green although a less common bright yellow form does occur.
| Hierodula majuscula | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female with her ootheca | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Mantodea |
| Family: | Mantidae |
| Genus: | Hierodula |
| Species: | H. majuscula
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hierodula majuscula (Tindale, 1923)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Diet
editIt is predominantly a predator of insects including phasmids, grasshoppers, crickets, flies and other mantids. It also feeds on other invertebrate predators such as spiders and occasionally small vertebrates like geckos, frogs, and juvenile snakes.
Description
editThis is the largest species of Australian mantids. Size is 70–110 mm in total length from eye to wing. It is one of the largest mantis species in the world. The specific epithet "majuscula" means large in Latin.[citation needed]
Gallery
edit-
Adult -
Mating couple
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tindale, Norman B. (1923). "Review of Australian Mantidae". Records of the South Australian Museum. 2 (3): 449; Pl. 20, Figs. 50–51.
{{cite journal}}: External link in|postscript= - ^ "Species Hierodula (Hierodula) majuscula (Tindale, 1923)". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2010.
External links
edit- Rainforest Mantid (Hierodula majuscula) on museumvictoria.com.au