Mantis ID

[catalyst]

I know the Meral Spot is essential in the ID of stomas but I don't have a frontal pic yet

subject is 3.5-4" in length, is a smasher, is aggressive and reclusive (in comparison to an O. s.)

can anyone narrow down the possibilities based on this pic?:

thx

 

[psychodave]

Im gunna go with a female G. Chiragra due to the white dots on her back and the pink in her antennal scales, uropods, pleopods and pereiopods. Does it have a white meral spot?

 

[catalyst]

my apologies - there are no white spots (except for the tiny-tiny ones on the carapace) - that is either debris or a dirty lens

the meral spot: is white and ovoid with a small (but not tiny) perfectly round dark dot near the joint (not like the large spot of the G. smithii)

the side of the merus has a white blotch wth an orange/pink swoosh (like Nike)

 

[Gonodactylus]

This is definitely a female Gonodactylus chiragra.

Roy

 

[catalyst]

Thank you Dr. Roy!

good eye, psychodave!

 

[mickey85]

Dr. Roy, I have one that looks just like that, but is a bit darker, with very dark green patterns (pink appendages and white spots though). Does that make it a male, or female?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Generally the males are darker green with less pink, but a darker red on the uropods. However, there is considerable variation in this species and at some locations even the males are light tan (see Roy's List). The sure way to tell is to look at the gonopods hanging down from the inside base of the last pair of walking legs.

Roy

 

[catalyst]

just to complete the ID record on this one, below is a photo of the meral spot - grainy but discernable