All data for the systematics is taken from Reinhard Ehrmann's book "Mantodea - Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt" (Mantodea - Praying mantids of the world).
More about this book can be found in the section literature at this page.
Super-Order
Dictyoptera
Order
Mantodea
Family
Empusidae
Subfamily
Empusinae
Tribe
Empusini
First Description
Author
BRUNNÉ
Year
1832
Size
Quotation of Size
The given size is measured from the head to the end of the abdomen, without the wings.
Male
ca. 5cm- 7cm
Female
ca. 6cm- 8cm
Lifespan
Quotation of the Lifespan
The lifespan is given in month and has the following definition:
overall-age ("time between hatching and imago" + "lifespan after the last molting")
Example: 9 (2 + 7) month lifespan
overall-age = 9 month
time between hatching and imago = 2 month
lifespan after the last molting = 7 month
Male
Larvae: 1.5 months
Female
ca. 6 (2 + 4) months
The period of growing can be 6 month
longer caused by a break in the winter.
Sexing
Sexing
Morphologically differences between male and female.
Male
L5 and above: only by counting the abdomial appendages at the bottom of the abdomen (6 appendages)
adult: douple comped antennas
Female
L5 and above: only by counting the abdomial appendages at the bottom of the abdomen (5 appendages)
adult: normal and short antennas
Spreading
Spreading
For a better overview, only whole countries are listed for the quotation of spreading, even if a species can only be found in a small part of that country.
All data for the spreading is taken from Reinhard Ehrmann's book "Mantodea - Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt" (Mantodea - Praying mantids of the world).
More about this book can be found in the section literature at this page.
At the menu "Spreading" for each country only the genus but the species is printed (Exception: on this site described species).
North-East-Italia to Westasia
The description is based on mantids of the following origin:
Putini (Croatia)
Asia
Europe
Habitat
dry meadows, small bushes
sunny and dry places
Aggressiveness
very low
Hint
They are skilful hunters. Keep looking for a good ventilation.
Mantids from countries which have temperatures under 10°C in winter have a break (diapause) in their development between 2 moltings. You should keep them at 5°C to 10°C for 3- 4 month during this break.
