Pseudoharpax virescens on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
''Pseudoharpax virescens'', common name Gambian spotted-eye flower mantis, is a
''Pseudoharpax virescens'' mimic flowers. They are mostly white with green wings and have pointy eyes. ''Pseudoharpax virescens'' are small for a
Mantisresearch.com Literature La Greca
/ref>
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of praying mantis
Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They ha ...
native to western, central and eastern Africa.
It takes its name from two eye spots on the dorsal side of the abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the to ...
of adult females.
Description
''Pseudoharpax virescens'' mimic flowers. They are mostly white with green wings and have pointy eyes. ''Pseudoharpax virescens'' are small for a mantis
Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They ha ...
, around 3 centimeters in length as adults. 1st instar
An instar (, from the Latin '' īnstar'', "form", "likeness") is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each moult (''ecdysis''), until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or ...
nymph
A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label= Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...
s are almost 4 millimeters in length. The color of ''Pseudoharpax virescens'' eyes change night to day. At night their eyes are dark red, during the day their eyes are light green. Oothecae can be 5 millimeters to 15 millimeters long.
Sexual dimorphism
Females are usually about 28 millimeters in length, while males are usually about 25 millimeters. Females have short antennae, while males have long and red antennae. Females are bulkier than males. Eight segments can be counted on the underside of the abdomen of a male and six on that of the female. Females have two dots on their abdomens as adults, while males, whose abdomens are thin and covered completely by their wings when looked at from above, appear to have none.Subspecies
There are two subspecies in thisspecies
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
.
*''P. v. centralis'' (La Greca, 1954) - found in central and eastern Africa
*''P. v. virescens'' (Serville, 1839) - found in western and central Africa
/ref>
Captivity
Thesepraying mantis
Mantises are an order (Mantodea) of insects that contains over 2,400 species in about 460 genera in 33 families. The largest family is the Mantidae ("mantids"). Mantises are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. They ha ...
es are kept and bred in the pet mantis hobby. They are relatively tolerant of different temperatures and humidity levels, a temperature of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit being suitable for these insects.
This mantis breeds rapidly, with females able to lay an ootheca every 3 to 4 days at high temperature.
''Pseudoharpax virescens'' can live together without much cannibalism or maybe none when a reliable food source is present. They are very fast and skittish when they are young nymph
A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label= Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are ...
, but when they get older, they are rather calm. Adult males are skittish and are strong fliers. ''Pseudoharpax virescens'' sway sideways in the wind to imitate foliage and they move their antennae back and forth very fast while moving around. They are aggressive predators, with adult females willing to tackle prey as large as themselves. Males are more timid so they need smaller prey items than females will take.
See also
*List of mantis genera and species
The following list of mantis genera and species is based on the "Mantodea Species File", which is the primary reference for the taxonomy shown here.
The insect Order (biology), order Mantodea consists of over 2,400 species of mantises in about 460 ...
*Flower mantis
Flower mantises are praying mantis species that use a special form of camouflage referred to as aggressive mimicry, which they not only use to attract prey, but avoid predators as well. These insects have specific colorations and behaviors that ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1746421 Hymenopodidae Mantodea of Africa Insects described in 1839