Chinese mantis
Encyclopedia
The Chinese mantis is a species of praying mantis
. Originating from China
, they were first introduced to North America
around 1895 as a source of pest control
. Since then, the species has spread throughout much of southern New England
, and the Northeast United States, and ootheca
can be purchased from plant nurseries nationwide. The Chinese mantis looks like a long and slender praying mantis, with different shades of brown. It is typically larger than most other mantises, growing up to 10 cm (4 inches) in length, and is the largest mantis species in North America. This species is often erroneously given the taxonomic name of Tenodera aridifolia sinensis; when first classified, it was thought that T. sinensis was a subspecies of T. aridifolia but this is not the case.
Their diet consists primarily of other insects, though adult females can sometimes take down small vertebrate
prey such as reptiles and amphibians (some have also been documented preying on hummingbird
s). Like some other mantids, they are known to be cannibalistic
. The female can produce several spherical ootheca roughly the size of a table tennis ball, containing up to 200 eggs. The ootheca are often affixed to vegetation such as bushes and small trees, as seen in the image below.
Their color can vary from overall green to brown with a green lateral stripe on the edge of the front wings. In low light the eyes of the mantis appear black, but in daylight appear to be clear, matching the color of the head.
in its native range. Despite being larger than the hornet, the mantid's only defenses are its front grasping legs and its biting mouth, which cannot penetrate the hornet's armor. The hornets have a much larger pincer-like mouth that can decapitate the mantid and a powerful sting.
province of China in the mid-1600s, Praying Mantis kung-fu
is based on the quick movements and techniques of the Chinese mantis. An unrelated style of kung fu that was developed by the Hakka
people in southern China is known as Southern Praying Mantis.
Mantis
Mantis is the common name of any insect in the order Mantodea, also commonly known as praying mantises. The word itself means "prophet" in Latin and Greek...
. Originating from China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, they were first introduced to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
around 1895 as a source of pest control
Pest control
Pest control refers to the regulation or management of a species defined as a pest, usually because it is perceived to be detrimental to a person's health, the ecology or the economy.-History:...
. Since then, the species has spread throughout much of southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and the Northeast United States, and ootheca
Ootheca
An ootheca is a type of egg mass made by any member of a variety of species .The word is a latinized combination of oo-, meaning "egg", from the Greek word ōon , and theca, meaning a "cover" or "container", from the Greek theke...
can be purchased from plant nurseries nationwide. The Chinese mantis looks like a long and slender praying mantis, with different shades of brown. It is typically larger than most other mantises, growing up to 10 cm (4 inches) in length, and is the largest mantis species in North America. This species is often erroneously given the taxonomic name of Tenodera aridifolia sinensis; when first classified, it was thought that T. sinensis was a subspecies of T. aridifolia but this is not the case.
Their diet consists primarily of other insects, though adult females can sometimes take down small vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
prey such as reptiles and amphibians (some have also been documented preying on hummingbird
Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are birds that comprise the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range. Indeed, the smallest extant bird species is a hummingbird, the 5-cm Bee Hummingbird. They can hover in mid-air by rapidly flapping their wings...
s). Like some other mantids, they are known to be cannibalistic
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
. The female can produce several spherical ootheca roughly the size of a table tennis ball, containing up to 200 eggs. The ootheca are often affixed to vegetation such as bushes and small trees, as seen in the image below.
Their color can vary from overall green to brown with a green lateral stripe on the edge of the front wings. In low light the eyes of the mantis appear black, but in daylight appear to be clear, matching the color of the head.
As Pets
Chinese mantids are one of the more popular mantises in the pet hobby. Chinese mantids in particular make great pets, and need little care. Anywhere between a two and a half and a ten gallon tank or small-screened cage will do. One cricket about every other day is all they require for nourishment. Mantids drink by lapping up dew from leaves, so a gentle misting every other day or so will suffice. After being handled a few times, the mantids will allow handling without objection as long as you move slowly. Being docile by nature, a mantis will often stay perched on a houseplant, bedrail, or piece of furniture for hours at a time, cleaning themselves and keeping a careful watch for the slightest movement, and so can be allowed out of the cage under supervision. Mantids are watchful, curious, fastidiously clean predators and will even eat wet catfood if offered to them on forceps. They typically live under one year, and only for a month or two as winged adults, but breed easily in captivity.Predators
Although formidable, the chinese mantis is preyed upon by the Asian giant hornetAsian giant hornet
The Asian giant hornet , including the subspecies Japanese giant hornet , colloquially known as the yak-killer hornet, is the world's largest hornet, native to temperate and tropical Eastern Asia...
in its native range. Despite being larger than the hornet, the mantid's only defenses are its front grasping legs and its biting mouth, which cannot penetrate the hornet's armor. The hornets have a much larger pincer-like mouth that can decapitate the mantid and a powerful sting.
Culture
Developed in the ShandongShandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
province of China in the mid-1600s, Praying Mantis kung-fu
Northern Praying Mantis (martial art)
Northern Praying Mantis is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after its province of origin. It was created by Wang Lang and was named after the praying mantis, an insect, the aggressiveness of which inspired the style...
is based on the quick movements and techniques of the Chinese mantis. An unrelated style of kung fu that was developed by the Hakka
Hakka
The Hakka , sometimes Hakka Han, are Han Chinese who speak the Hakka language and have links to the provincial areas of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian in China....
people in southern China is known as Southern Praying Mantis.
Sources
See also
- List of mantis genera and species
- Northern Praying Mantis (martial art)Northern Praying Mantis (martial art)Northern Praying Mantis is a style of Chinese martial arts, sometimes called Shandong Praying Mantis after its province of origin. It was created by Wang Lang and was named after the praying mantis, an insect, the aggressiveness of which inspired the style...
, a Chinese martial arts style based around the movements of a Mantis. - Southern Praying Mantis (martial art)Southern Praying Mantis (martial art)Southern Praying Mantis is a Chinese martial art native to the Hakka people...
, a southern Chinese martial arts style developed by the Hakka people, and unrelated to the northern Chinese martial art style of Northern Praying Mantis.