Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi

African Blütenmantis ( Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii )

The African Blütenmantis ( Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii ) is a mantis in the family Hymenopodidae.

Features

Females reach a body length of 40 to 50 millimeters. A male from 30 to 40 The African Blütenmantis is colored white, the portions of the segments but are green, even some parts of the thorax and the head and legs wearing green bands or spots, but the African Blütenmantis can after each moult the ground adapt, so they can be blue, white, be colored green or purple. Strikingly, the lobe-shaped outgrowths on each side of the abdomen, the petals seem to imitate, as well as bubble- shaped swollen appendices side of the front part of the thorax ( pronotum ). The wings show a yellow-green- black eyes drawing that play a role in threatening posture. In immature animals in which the wings are not fully developed, can be seen on the abdomen instead an eye drawing. When threatening behavior of the abdomen will be charged. The rear end bears two small dorsal appendages.

The eyes of animals shine light blue violet. They extend far beyond the outline of the head also.

The males are good fliers, the females can fly only conditionally.

Occurrence

The African Blütenmantis occurs in eastern and southern Africa. The type specimen originates from southern Ethiopia. In addition, these Blütenmantis from Angola, Kenya, Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania including Zanzibar, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Transvaal is known. The African Blütenmantis is depicted on a postage stamp of the State of Zimbabwe.

In these African countries, she lives on bushes and flowers, preferably on flowers.

Way of life

Females have a life expectancy of nine months and molt at this time 7 times, males reach the age of seven months and molt 6 times. Females are ready to mate 14 to 20 days after the last molt, males after ten. Pairing takes 4 to 6 hours.

Then up to six oothecae are stored at an interval of 10 days. The oothecae are thin and long and are attached to the base on a solid surface, such as tree trunks, branches or leaves. Four to six weeks after oviposition hatch 20 to 80 nymphs from the ootheca.

The African Blütenmantis feeds on insects and spiders, the larvae feed on smaller insects such as fruit flies. While the males of the species are quite passive, and rarely present the eyes drawing on erected wings during courtship, the females are more aggressive and tend to slightly threatening posture.

Taxonomy

The species was described in 1871 by Carl Stål. The Artepithet wahlbergii was chosen in honor of the Swedish naturalist Johan August Wahlberg, who had sent the insect to Sweden. Within the family Hymenopodidae the way to the subfamily Hymenopodinae is counted, comprising 14 genera.

Gallery

African Blütenmantis with prey