Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi, or the spiny flower mantis, is a small flower mantis (40 millimetres or 1+1⁄2 inches)[verification needed] native to southern and eastern Africa.
The adult has spiny structures on the underside of its abdomen, giving it its name. It is variable in colour, being typically light green, but it can equally be tinted yellow, pink, or red. It has a large eyespot on its forewings, which is black, green and cream and is surrounded by a green patch. The inner hind wings are orange and the outer hind wings are transparent. Nymphs are black until the third instar.
Sexual dimorphismedit
P. wahlbergi exhibits sexual dimorphism. Females have small spines towards the base of their wings and six to seven segments on their abdomen. Females also tend to have slightly shorter antennae, longer wings, and take seven moults to reach maturity. On the other hand, males lack the spines found near females' wings, have eight abdominal segments, shorter wings, longer antennae and require six moults to reach maturity.[1]
Behaviour and ecologyedit
P. wahlbergi has a deimatic display in which it spreads its forewings, making itself appear larger and prominently displaying its eyespots to startle would-be predators. While at rest it is well camouflaged, and is a sufficiently good aggressive mimic of a flower that prey insects can attempt to pollinate it, at which moment the mantis seizes and eats them. They prefer to prey on flying insects and spiders, but if unavailable, will eat virtually any insect.[citation needed]
Spiny Flower mantises prefer flying insects throughout their entire lifecycle. These mantises have strong forearms, and a big appetite while they are growing up, and therefore can handle rather large prey compared to their body sizes. They will not chase after food though, as they are not a very active species. Instead, they prefer to remain completely still, disguised as part of the environment, waiting to strike when an unsuspecting insect comes by.[2]
Like with many mantis species, P. wahlbergi females practice sexual cannibalism; however, nymphs are not cannibalistic until their fourth instar.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii.
October 29, 2023
pseudocreobotra, wahlbergi, spiny, flower, mantis, small, flower, mantis, millimetres, inches, verification, needed, native, southern, eastern, africa, spiny, flower, mantisadult, nymphscientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, arthrop. Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi or the spiny flower mantis is a small flower mantis 40 millimetres or 1 1 2 inches verification needed native to southern and eastern Africa Spiny flower mantisAdult and nymphScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder MantodeaFamily HymenopodidaeGenus PseudocreobotraSpecies P wahlbergiBinomial namePseudocreobotra wahlbergiStal 1871 Contents 1 Morphology 1 1 Sexual dimorphism 2 Behaviour and ecology 3 See also 4 ReferencesMorphology editThe adult has spiny structures on the underside of its abdomen giving it its name It is variable in colour being typically light green but it can equally be tinted yellow pink or red It has a large eyespot on its forewings which is black green and cream and is surrounded by a green patch The inner hind wings are orange and the outer hind wings are transparent Nymphs are black until the third instar Sexual dimorphism edit P wahlbergi exhibits sexual dimorphism Females have small spines towards the base of their wings and six to seven segments on their abdomen Females also tend to have slightly shorter antennae longer wings and take seven moults to reach maturity On the other hand males lack the spines found near females wings have eight abdominal segments shorter wings longer antennae and require six moults to reach maturity 1 Behaviour and ecology editP wahlbergi has a deimatic display in which it spreads its forewings making itself appear larger and prominently displaying its eyespots to startle would be predators While at rest it is well camouflaged and is a sufficiently good aggressive mimic of a flower that prey insects can attempt to pollinate it at which moment the mantis seizes and eats them They prefer to prey on flying insects and spiders but if unavailable will eat virtually any insect citation needed Spiny Flower mantises prefer flying insects throughout their entire lifecycle These mantises have strong forearms and a big appetite while they are growing up and therefore can handle rather large prey compared to their body sizes They will not chase after food though as they are not a very active species Instead they prefer to remain completely still disguised as part of the environment waiting to strike when an unsuspecting insect comes by 2 Like with many mantis species P wahlbergi females practice sexual cannibalism however nymphs are not cannibalistic until their fourth instar See also editList of mantis genera and species Flower mantisReferences edit 8 Facts About the Spiny Flower Mantis 2014 03 20 Retrieved 2018 03 22 Spiny Flower Mantis Caresheet P Wahlbergii nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi amp oldid 1170325610, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
