Gongylus gongylodes

Gongylus gongylodes, also known as the wandering violin mantis, ornate mantis, or Indian rose mantis, is a species of praying mantis in the family Empusidae. Characterized by extremely slender limbs with large appendages. It is not a particularly aggressive species and often kept as a pet by hobbyists. The mantis is especially known for swaying its body back and forth to imitate a stick flowing in the wind.[1] It primarily feeds on flying insects. Its native range is in southern India and Sri Lanka. It can reach up to 11 cm long. The males of the species are capable of flight. This species is a communal species in that they live and breed in large groups without unnecessary cannibalism.

Gongylus gongylodes
Gongylus gongylodes
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Mantodea
Family: Empusidae
Genus: Gongylus
Species:
G. gongylodes
Binomial name
Gongylus gongylodes
Synonyms
  • Gryllus gongylodes Linnaeus, 1758
  • Gongylus flabellicornis Fabricius, 1793

Its specific name gongylodes means "roundish" in Greek,[2] from the same word as its generic epithet Gongylus.

Range

They are found in India, Java, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.[3]

References

  1. French, Jess. Minibeasts with Jess French: Masses of Mindblowing Minibeast Facts! Bloomsbury Wildlife, 2018.
  2. Stearn, William Thomas (1983). Botanical Latin. 275. David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-8548-7. gongylodes / gongyloides: roundish
  3. Texas A&M University


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