tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post499629781423760965..comments2024-03-18T09:44:41.095+00:00Comments on ShukerNature: DID I SEE AN UNDISCOVERED SPECIES OF GIANT PRAYING MANTIS IN SOUTH AFRICA?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628598508836601012noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-52469848868297751662014-06-10T15:19:39.398+01:002014-06-10T15:19:39.398+01:00I think you might have seen a mantid of the genus ...I think you might have seen a mantid of the genus Heterochaeta. H. orientalis from Tanzania grows to about 17cm. There is at least one unclassified Heterochaeta species in South Africa, as far as I know.<br /><br />Here is a youtube video of H. orientalis:<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjPMHkvqOscDKDent77https://www.blogger.com/profile/16902117590526409775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-68192979214717214142014-04-12T21:39:24.514+01:002014-04-12T21:39:24.514+01:00Hi Ingo, Thanks for the suggestion, but the mantis...Hi Ingo, Thanks for the suggestion, but the mantis I saw was definitely longer than 10 cm, as its body was as long as the man's outstretched hand and fingers that it was standing upon, i.e. at least 15 cm or so long. I've checked out Polyspilota aeruginosa, but it seems too slender.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-67887911312780325522014-04-12T17:28:07.091+01:002014-04-12T17:28:07.091+01:00Hi, while there are several Empusids down there in...Hi, while there are several Empusids down there in SA which can excee 10 cm (e.g. Idolomorpha dentifrons or Hemiempusa capensis), these can not be described as burly. Thus, I bet, you have seen a big female of Polyspilota aeruginosa. These have a heavy built and often appear to be bigger than the 10 cm they normally do not exceed. Maybe you chek googel pictures to see, if this fits.<br />Best IngoIngohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490611612785399388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-19833754124337990562014-04-11T07:23:56.363+01:002014-04-11T07:23:56.363+01:00Hum I don't think either it is native to Afric...Hum I don't think either it is native to Africa after all, although the female is flightless and use its wings in threat display and I think that's why they are able to grow this large.Boshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582184345673934121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-76667873641952453152014-04-10T21:32:51.525+01:002014-04-10T21:32:51.525+01:00Is the peacock mantis native to Africa? I've s...Is the peacock mantis native to Africa? I've seen online references to this species for Asia, but none for Africa. Also, with such spectacular wings, I'm sure it would have opened them if it had any like this, but as I note in my article here, I'm pretty sure it was flightless, otherwise the guide wouldn't have been able to have it on his hand, as it might well have flown off.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-21257773729160879882014-04-10T21:30:29.965+01:002014-04-10T21:30:29.965+01:00I did send an email about this insect to the email...I did send an email about this insect to the email address of the official website of Shamwari but I didn't get a reply.Dr Karl Shukerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06222845702628862829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-18407130687592620772014-04-10T06:35:57.834+01:002014-04-10T06:35:57.834+01:00Isn't there any way to contact the guide?Isn't there any way to contact the guide?EbrithilBowserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09001056426259049076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3739684561063978507.post-32687998108245338622014-04-08T11:46:08.332+01:002014-04-08T11:46:08.332+01:00I will go for the peacok mantis pseudempusa pinnap...I will go for the peacok mantis pseudempusa pinnapavonnis, I've found an interesting forum discussing its size : <br />http://www.bugnation.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=188&t=4830&start=35<br />Boshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582184345673934121noreply@blogger.com