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HIERODULA VENOSA
GOLDEN

EMBEDDED IN CASTING RESIN

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Classification

Phylum Arthropoda

Class Insecta

Order Mantodea

Family Mantidae

Subfamily Hierodulinae

Tribe Hierodulini

Genus Hierodula

Species H. Venosa

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Phylogenetic systems of
Mantodea (Dictyoptera)

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HIERODULA VENOSA

GOLDEN PRAYING MANTIS

Hierodula venosa, a.k.a. Golden-armed Mantis, Giant rain forest, Golden Praying mantis is similar to other Hierodula species in that it is large however it is more of a golden color most of the time than green. This is one of the larger species in the hobby. Very aggressive with prey and fun to keep.

Hierodula is a genus of mantis which contains many different species below it. Each species varies a bit in color and appearance, but for the most part, all specimens in this genus are large, and are native throughout Asia. Due to the size and classic shape of this genus of mantis, mantises under the Hierodula umbrella are some of the most popular and commonly kept pet mantises in the hobby.

The Golden Giant Asian mantis (Hierodula venosa) is very similar in body shape to the Giant Asian mantis, the main difference is a striking difference in color! There are not many species of mantises that have the potential to take on such a peculiar and stunning shade of yellow.

But it is important to note that some specimens turn out more yellow than others as adults. However, even the specimens that stay more green than yellow as adults have beautiful yellow accents on their underarms, legs and bellies that is absent in a typical adult Giant Asian mantis.

They have voracious appetites, and it is fascinating to watch them aggressively hunt down fairly large prey. They are certainly not your sit and wait kind of predators, like so many other mantises.

Males are about 45-65 mm long and females around 65-75 mm long. Individuals can vary from green to brown in color. Although this species is fairly large for mantises in general, it is among the smallest members of the genus Hierodula, of which many species can reach 110-150 mm. Three pairs of legs, colors vary from green to brown and generally has a big dot on the wing. Mantis praying is one of the few insects that can fully rotate the head.

Very aggressive. 60-100% chance female will eat the male while trying to breed them.

They are found in Malaysia, Hawaii, India, Java, Korean Peninsula, Philippines, New Guinea, Southern China, Taiwan, Vietnam & more.

Giant Asian mantis lives in forests, rice fields, home yards, stretched lands and river banks. They perch on branches with a height of about 1 meter from the ground on a variety of plants.

This Mantis is a carnivore that generally preys on small insects including crickets, butterflies, bees, but also large vertebrate animals including snakes, rats, lizards, frogs, and small birds. This species is more stationary by moving the front foot to wait for an opportunity and ambush suddenly.

Virgin mantis females, Hierodula patellifera, exhibit a characteristic calling posture. When holding the body below a branch or leaf, the female curls the abdomen ventrally, flexing it away from the wings and exposing its dorsal surface. The curling is accompanied by pumping movements. The average age at which females start adopting this calling posture is 14 days after adult moult, and it is related to their nutritional stage. Once initiated, females exhibit the posture everyday until they mate. After mating, the behaviour is completely suppressed. Males are attracted by virgin females adopting the calling posture but are not attracted to mated females. The characteristics of the posture and the responsive behaviour of the males indicate that this female calling involves the release of sex pheromones.

Females produce an ootheca which contains up to 300 eggs and is protected in a foam bag in the fall to hatch in the next five months. Some hatch at small intervals and last up to five weeks before the larvae appear fully.


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