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Te rō

New Zealand praying mantis

Orthodera novaezealandiae (Colenso)
Hoki ki te He aha tēnei pepeke? Back to What is this bug?
New Zealand Mantis. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz

New Zealand Mantis. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz

Pūtoi
Order
Mantodea
Whānau
Family
Mantidae
Show in English Te Reo

Te Rahi

  • E 30–40 mm te roa, me te uru mai anō o ngā parirau ki tēnei inenga.

Size range

  • Length 30–40 mm including wings

Te Tītaringa

  • Nō Aotearoa tēnei momo.
  • Ka āta whai haere i ngā pepeke hei kai māna.

Distribution

  • New Zealand native

Te Huringa Ora

  • He tiwha kahurangi kitakita kei te taha whakaroto o tana waewae o mua, koia tana tohu ahurei.
  • Noho ai ki runga i ngā rau.
  • He parauri te pūkoro hua, he kiato anō.

Life history

  • Predacious, catches insects
  • Distinctive bright blue patch inside front leg
  • Usually sits on top of leaves
  • Egg case brown, compact
New Zealand Mantis. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz Image
New Zealand Mantis. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz
New Zealand Mantis face. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz Image
New Zealand Mantis face. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz
New Zealand Mantis showing wing covers. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz Image
New Zealand Mantis showing wing covers. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz
New Zealand Mantis egg case. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz Image
New Zealand Mantis egg case. Image: Phil Bendle Collection, CitSciHub.nz
New Zealand Mantis egg case. Image: jacqui-nz CC-BY-NC-SA Image
New Zealand Mantis egg case. Image: jacqui-nz CC-BY-NC-SA