Japanese Giant Mantis (Tenodera aridifolia)

OTHER NAMES: Chinese Mantis
Latin Etymology: Tenodera ("slender neck") aridifolia (?)

Adult Japanese Giant Mantis (subspecies T. a. aridifolia) at Meiji Shrine, Japan - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: Tenodera aridifolia aridifolia
Weight: 3g  /  Length: 68-105mm  /  Wingspan: 40mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

The Japanese Giant Mantis is a large Mantis species found in East Asia.  It is one of the commoner species of its family found in Japan, as well as one of the largest.  It is a fairly typical mantid species in most ways - this particular individual seemed to be sticking to a lantern, possibly to keep warm, on a relatively cool evening in November.

Related Species:  
Order: Mantodea
Family: Mantidae
Genus: Tenodera
Subspecies: T. a. aridifolia, T. a. brevicollis

 - Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - オオカマキリ  /  Oo-kamakiri ("Great Mantis")

 Fairly common and widespread resident.

 - TOKYO/HOKKAIDO 2014 TRIP: One seen in the Meiji Shrine area in Tokyo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto