photographs by Greg Morgan

Large Mantid (Polyspilota aeruginosa) Uses the fierce spines on the fore legs to grap prey and attack.

photograph by Greg Morgan

Large Mantid (Polyspilota aeruginosa) Body length over 80mm. It is a large and spectacular mantid. 

 
photograsph by Ann Koeslag

Large Mantid (Polyspilota aeruginosa) Heavy bodied and aggressive when threatened.

Common Green Mantid (Sphodromantis gastrica) Beginning the laying process, a side view of the eggcase and after 25 minutes she had finished.
Egg cases are  found on twigs, branches and rocks. The case is cream coloured and sets hard in a few hours after being laid. It is made up of a number of chambers containing a single egg in each cell.

An old egg case, the small holes are where the small mantids emerged from.