Orthodera ministralis

Green Mantid at Goorooyarroo NR (ACT)

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Identification history

	Orthodera ministralis	26 Jan 2024	michaelb
	Unidentified	25 Jan 2024	betchern0t

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User's notes

reminds me of a mantid or a grasshopper but is neither. It is probably some form of true bug

10 comments

betchern0t wrote:

26 Jan 2024

I have added a blow up of the head and front legs. The head is missing the classic triangular head of a mantis and the legs are normal insect legs rather than the heavily modified attack and grasping claws of a mantis.

michaelb wrote:

26 Jan 2024

The front legs are folded. See: Orthodera ministralis (Green Mantid) Yours is also immature, see: Orthodera ministralis (Green Mantid)

Csteele4 wrote:

26 Jan 2024

@betchern0t I get where you're coming from, the first few times I saw them, they confused the heck out of me as well, but they are in fact a mantid! Nature is wild!

betchern0t wrote:

26 Jan 2024

I don't see a good match with the listing on the Australian Museum: https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/garden-mantid/

betchern0t wrote:

26 Jan 2024

I guess though that is why I couldn't identify it.

Csteele4 wrote:

26 Jan 2024

@betchern0t as @michaelb has said, the legs are folded in, and it has also tucked in its head, which makes it hard to tell, but this is 100% Orthodera. They're just very good at disguising themselves.

michaelb wrote:

28 Jan 2024

Thanks Christina. See these pages: Orthodera ministralis and https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/4df73026-423d-4a0f-a9c5-cb82f319167f#gallery

betchern0t wrote:

28 Jan 2024

Thanks both of you for the identification. My response was in the order of gobsmacked rather than an intention to be rude. My apologies

Csteele4 wrote:

28 Jan 2024

@betchern0t it's all good, I understand the gobsmackery of it!

michaelb wrote:

29 Jan 2024

Not offended ! Education is one of our goals.

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