Help identify this Praying Mantis

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Britta_olson Niles, IL Sep 29, 2009

Hi all! So my company gets shipments from our international factories all the time and every once in a while, there are stowaways. Yesterday, we got this praying mantis (it was in the container for about 4-6 weeks with no food or water and is still alive!). I was wondering if anyone could help me identify this lovely creature and then if anyone has any information on how to keep it. I feel like if there is any way to do so, I should. It made it this far, it would be an absolute shame to let it die now. What a fascinating creature it is! Please help!

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Britta_olson Niles, IL Sep 29, 2009

Here is one more photo

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Britta_olson Niles, IL Sep 29, 2009

And just one more

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Sep 29, 2009

This appears to be a gravid female Chinese mantis, Tenodera sinensis (also known as Tenodera aridifolia sinensis), a species that has become quite widespread outside its native range, primarily through the 'pet' trade. See http://tinyurl.com/ybqws8m

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Britta_olson Niles, IL Sep 29, 2009

Thank you so much! I appreciate your response. I also thought this was the mantis you think it is. The only thing that does not make sense about it is that the container came from Ethiopia. Either way, do you know if it would be worth it or make sense to try to keep this insect in captivity?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Sep 30, 2009

These mantids can be kept in captivity quite easily, as they will accept most insects (except perhaps large wasps/hornets) as prey. She might even reward you with an egg mass (ootheca) or two!

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Happy1892 Wake Forest, NC Feb 12, 2012

I do not think you can know if that mantis is gravid before she lays an ootheca and the ootheca hatches. That is a Chinese Mantis.
sinensis is the subspecies in America and China. I have read that stoll is the subspecies in South Korea.

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Happy1892 Wake Forest, NC Feb 12, 2012

You can tell it is a Chinese Mantis not a Narrow Winged Mantis by the yellow dot. Narrow Winged Mantids have an orange dot.

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daves_not_here Las Vegas, NV(Zone 9b) Apr 26, 2012

What is that container your Mantis used to migrate here?

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