Description

Praying Mantis, Tenodera fasciata from East Java, Indonesia.

You will receive the specimen shown, or one like it.

Tenodera fasciata is a large and elegant species of praying mantis found in East Java, Indonesia. It is closely related to Tenodera aridifolia and shares a similar long, slender body, but there are subtle differences in coloration and markings that distinguish it. Adults typically reach 7 to 9 centimeters in length, with females larger and sturdier than males.

The body is usually a leaf-green or yellow-green, providing excellent camouflage among leaves, grasses, and shrubs. Unlike T. aridifolia, T. fasciata often shows slight banding or subtle stripes along the wings or thorax, which gives it its name “fasciata,” meaning “banded.” Its wings are long and narrow, folding neatly along the back, and the forelegs are armed with sharp spines to grab and hold prey efficiently.

Like other mantises, Tenodera fasciata is an ambush predator, remaining motionless on foliage while waiting for insects such as flies, grasshoppers, or moths. Its triangular head can rotate nearly 180 degrees, and the large compound eyes allow it to detect movement with exceptional precision.

This species is notable for its grace, patience, and hunting skill, making it one of East Java’s most impressive and recognizable mantises, while remaining distinct from its close relatives through subtle body markings and banded patterns.

Praying Mantis, Tenodera aridifolia from East Java, Indonesia