Skip to main content
Close

Mantis Nymph

Empusidae family

Photo by Bernadette S
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

28.4779, 34.4739

Field Notes

Description:

"The nymph and adult insect are structurally quite similar, except that the nymph is smaller and has no wings or functional genitalia. The nymphs are also sometimes colored differently from the adult, and the early stages are often mimics of ants. A mantis nymph increases in size (often changing its diet as it does so) by replacing its outer body covering with a sturdy, flexible exoskeleton and molting when needed. Molting can happen from five to ten times, depending on the species. After the final molt most species have wings, though some species are wingless or brachypterous ("short-winged"), particularly in the female sex." ~wiki

Habitat:

spotted on a Schouwia purpurea plant in a coastal desert wadi

Notes:

possibly Empusa sp.; ID via email by Dr. Francis Gilbert

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (13)

Thank you, Jemma and naross! This little guy looks similar in shape to a bigger mantis I spotted in the same wadi: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/23834013
Very impressive, Bernadette. I've never seen a mantis quite like it. Great series, and cheers for the detailed description.
Thank you RiekoS and Gerardo! Our desert wadis are so full of life these days. :-)

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon