Large Brown Mantis
S2, Adult Female, Wings
Ellura
Large Brown Mantis
S1, Adult Female, Head & Neck
 
                      
Large Brown Mantis (Archimantis latistyla)Class: Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta)
Order: Mantises (Mantodea)
Family: Praying Mantis (Mantidae)     iNaturalist Observation
Species: Large Brown Mantis (Archimantis latistyla)
This Photo:     S1, Adult Female, Face
Other name: Grass Mantid

Thank you Matthew Connors & Aidan Beutel for confirming the id of this species for us

General Species Information:
Found on Ellura (in the Murray Mallee, SA) and elsewhere
~90mm long Female (S2).
Normally there are 2 spots on the forewings, but here only one is seen clearly. There is a "smudge" where the second spot should be.
You can also see 2 spots on the hindwing. This is actually damage as it's not on the other side.
The female, as shown here, has short wings. The adult male has wings that go to the cerci (anal projections).
These can be green or brown, colour is not diagnostic of species. It's more about camouflage with their local environment.
Matthew indicated that the cerci are helpful in determining species (ie diagnostic). Notice here how thick the cerci are compared with the very similr A . sobrina.
Imaged 2 females in Mar.

Copyright © 2014-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved. Photographed 19-Mar-2014
This species is an Australian Native Species, not listed in the SA Murray Mallee Survey of 2010.