Stats

Lifespan: Up to 1 yr
Size: Huge
Diet: Insectivore
Activity: Diurnal
Social: Solitary
Biome: Temperate grassland
Range: East Asia
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Egg-laying
Defense: Camouflage
Status: Common

About

The Chinese Mantis is the largest praying mantis in North America, reaching up to 10 cm long — big enough to snatch and eat hummingbirds. Introduced from China in 1896, it is now one of the most commonly encountered mantises in eastern gardens.

Life cycle

1.
egg
A small egg is laid on or near the larval food source and hatches within days or weeks.
2.
juvenile
An immature insect feeds and molts, growing through successive instars.
3.
subadult
A near-adult insect has wing buds or near-mature form, one molt away from full size.
4.
adult
Fully grown, with full wings and adult coloration.

Learn more

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Mantidae
Genus: Tenodera
Species: Tenodera sinensis