Editing Chinese mantis

{{Short description|Species of praying mantis}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Tenodera_sinensis_5_Luc_Viatour.jpg
| image_caption = Adult male
| taxon = Tenodera sinensis
| display_parents = 4
| authority = ([[Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure|Saussure]], 1871)
| synonyms =
* ''Tenodera aridifolia sinensis'' <small>(Saussure, 1871)</small>
* ''Mantis mandarinea'' <br><small>(Saussure, 1871)</small><ref name=TexasA&MUniversity>{{cite web|url=https://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/Arthropoda/Insects/Mantodea/Family/Mantidae.txt |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-13 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013063616/https://insects.tamu.edu/research/collection/hallan/Arthropoda/Insects/Mantodea/Family/Mantidae.txt |archivedate=2014-10-13 }} Texas A&M University</ref>
* ''Paratenodera sinensis'' <br><small>(Saussure, 1871)</small><ref name=blatchley1920/>
}}

The '''Chinese mantis''' ('''''Tenodera sinensis''''') is a species of [[mantis]] native to Asia and the nearby islands. In 1896, this species was accidentally introduced by a nursery tender at [[Mount Airy, Philadelphia|Mt. Airy]] near [[Philadelphia]], United States.<ref name=blatchley1920>{{cite book|last=Blatchley|first=Willis Stanley |title=Orthoptera of northeastern America: with especial reference to the faunas of Indiana and Florida|url=https://archive.org/details/orthopteraofnort00blat|year=1920|publisher=The Nature Publishing Company|pages=[https://archive.org/details/orthopteraofnort00blat/page/122 122]–123}}</ref> ''Tenodera sinensis'' often is erroneously referred to as ''Tenodera aridifolia sinensis'' because it was at first [[Species description|described]] as a subspecies of ''[[Tenodera aridifolia]]'', but ''Tenodera sinensis'' is now established as a full species.<ref>Ehrmann, R. 2002. Mantodea: Gottesanbeterinnen der Welt. Natur und Tier, Münster</ref>

''Tenodera sinensis'' feeds primarily on other insects, though adult females sometimes catch small [[vertebrate]]s. For example, they have been observed feeding on hornets, spiders, grasshoppers, katydids, small reptiles, amphibians, and even [[hummingbird]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx |title=Praying Mantis Makes Meal of a Hummer |date=2005-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051212115752/http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyardbirds/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.aspx |archive-date=2005-12-12}}</ref> Like most mantids, they are known to be [[cannibalism|cannibalistic]]. One study found that cannibalism occurs in up to 50% of matings.<ref>{{Cite journal|url= |doi=10.1098/rspb.2016.0656|title=Sexual cannibalism increases male material investment in offspring: Quantifying terminal reproductive effort in a praying mantis|year=2016|last1=Brown|first1=William D.|last2=Barry|first2=Katherine L.|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences|volume=283|issue=1833|pmid=27358366|pmc=4936037}}</ref> These mantids have been observed eating the larvae of [[Danaus (genus)|monarch butterflies]], while discarding the entrails.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/25/chinese-mantis-guts-its-toxic-caterpillar-prey/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127191348/http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2013/01/25/chinese-mantis-guts-its-toxic-caterpillar-prey/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 27, 2013|title = Chinese Mantis Guts Its Toxic Caterpillar Prey|date = 25 January 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Tenodera sinensis eats male Libellula luctuosa.jpg|thumb|Eating a [[Widow skimmer]] in [[Warrenville, Illinois]]]]
[[File:Mantis catches grasshopper.webm|thumb|thumbtime=3|A Chinese mantis catches a [[differential grasshopper]]]]

==Description==
[[File:Tenodera sinensis yellow spot.JPG|thumb|right|Brown sub-adult female Chinese mantis. The spot between the legs is yellow, compared with the orange of ''[[Tenodera angustipennis]].'']]
The Chinese mantis is a long, slender, brown and green [[praying mantis]]. It is typically longer than other [[praying mantis]] species, reaching just over {{convert|11|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and is the largest mantis species in North America (spread throughout the Northeast United States). Its color can vary from overall green to brown with a green lateral stripe on the borders of the front wings in the brown color form. In low light, the eyes of the mantis appear black, but in daylight appear to be clear, matching the color of the head. Chinese mantids look similar to another mantis species that has been introduced to the United States, the [[narrow-winged mantid]] (''[[Tenodera angustipennis]]''). ''Tenodera sinensis'' and ''[[Tenodera angustipennis]]'' are similar in appearance; however, it is possible to tell them apart by locating a spot in between their front legs, as the spot is yellow in the Chinese mantis but orange in the [[Tenodera angustipennis|narrow-winged mantis]]. The female can produce several semi-spherical [[ootheca]]e, roughly {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on|1}} in diameter, containing up to 300 eggs.<ref name=blatchley1920/> The oothecae are often affixed to vegetation such as bushes and small trees.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
[[File:Mantis ootheca in Marine Park (91115).jpg|thumb|''Tenodera sinensis'' [[ootheca]]]]

==Native range==
This mantis is native to China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Micronesia, and Thailand.<ref name=TexasA&MUniversity/> Populations of ''T. sinensis'' in Japan are sympatric with ''[[Tenodera aridifolia]]'', the Japanese giant mantis, of which ''T. sinensis'' was formerly considered a subspecies.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

=== Invasive status ===
The Chinese mantis is regarded by some experts as [[Invasive species|invasive]] in various regions of the United States, particularly where the native [[Carolina mantis]] (''Stagmomantis carolina'') is found.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maryland Insects - Invasive Species |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/wildlife/insects/html/invasive.html |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=msa.maryland.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Invasive Mantis Species {{!}} Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art |url=https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/blog/invasive-mantis-species |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=www.brandywine.org}}</ref> While commonly sold for [[pest control]], it is said that Chinese mantids lack effectiveness in pest management. As [[ambush predator]]s, they attack anything within reach that they can subdue, but they do not actively hunt for insect pests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Mantid |url=https://entomology.ces.ncsu.edu/biological-control-information-center/beneficial-predators/chinese-mantid/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |website=entomology.ces.ncsu.edu |language=en}}</ref> Their non-selective predatory behavior and significant size has led to documented attacks on [[beneficial insect]]s such as pollinators, small birds, mammals, frogs, and snakes. As a result, the Chinese mantis can alter [[food web]]s and affect the dynamics of local insect populations.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==Growth==
Chinese mantises hatch in the spring, eat, grow, and molt through the summer, and lay eggs at the end of summer. When it gets too cold, they die, only living around a year long.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chinese Mantis|url=https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/chinese-mantis|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Missouri Department of Conservation|language=en}}</ref> First [[instar]] [[Nymph (biology)|nymphs]] that eat less take a longer time to molt to the next instar and are smaller at the second instar than first instar nymphs that have been fed more.<ref>{{ cite news | first1=K. | last1=Duss | first2=L E | last2=Hurd | title=Food limitation reduces body length in mantid nymphs, Tenodera sinensis Saussure (Mantodea: Mantidae): Implications for fitness | journal=Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington | year=1997 | volume=99 | publisher=Washington, etc. :Entomological Society of Washington | pages=490–493 | issn=0013-8797 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16213161#page/504/mode/1up }}</ref>

==Captivity==
''Tenodera sinensis'' is a common pet for mantis enthusiasts, and oothecae can be purchased from plant nurseries across the US.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Mantis |url=https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/chinese-mantis |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Missouri Department of Conservation |language=en}}</ref>

== Predators ==
The Chinese mantis is preyed on by other mantises, birds, and the [[Asian giant hornet]] in its native range. The female mantis specifically preys on male mantises. She often kills and eats her male partner after mating, providing nutrition for her offspring.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Making a meal of it: Praying mantis cannibalism explained|url=https://phys.org/news/2016-06-meal-mantis-cannibalism.html|access-date=2021-09-29|website=phys.org|language=en}}</ref> [[Sexual cannibalism]] is a strange phenomenon not yet completely understood by scientists.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Prokop|first1=Pavol|last2=Maxwell|first2=Michael R.|date=2016-02-10|title=Female predatory response to conspecific males and heterospecific prey in the praying mantis Mantis religiosa: evidence for discrimination of conspecific males|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10164-016-0458-8|journal=Journal of Ethology|language=en|volume=34|issue=2|pages=139–146|doi=10.1007/s10164-016-0458-8|s2cid=15224163|issn=0289-0771|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Similar species ==
The [[European mantis]] (''Mantis religiosa'') and the [[Carolina mantis]] (''Stagmomantis carolina'') are both smaller mantises closely resembling the Chinese mantis.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Chinese Mantis|url=https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/chinese-mantis|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Missouri Department of Conservation|language=en}}</ref> The European mantis is anywhere from tan to green in color and about 7.5 cm (3 in) long.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2020-12-09|title=European Mantis|url=https://www.colorado.edu/cumuseum/2020/12/09/european-mantis|access-date=2021-09-24|website=Museum of Natural History|language=en}}</ref> The Carolina mantis, on the other hand, is only 6 cm (2.5 in) in length and varies more in color.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Carolina Mantid {{!}} NC State Extension Publications|url=https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/carolina-mantid|access-date=2021-09-24|website=content.ces.ncsu.edu|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Culture ==
There are two martial arts styles created to mimic the movements of the Chinese mantis. Developed in the [[Shandong]] province of China in the mid-17th century, [[Northern Praying Mantis (martial art)|Praying Mantis kung-fu]] is based on the quick movements and techniques of the Chinese mantis. An unrelated style of [[kung fu]] that was developed by the [[Hakka people]] in [[Southern China]] is known as [[Southern Praying Mantis]].{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Master Mantis, one of the supporting characters in the 2008 [[Dreamworks Animation]] film franchise ''[[Kung Fu Panda]]'', is a Chinese mantis and one of the members of the Furious Five.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Tenodera sinensis 3 Luc Viatour.jpg|Adult male
File:Tenodera sinensis 1 Luc Viatour.jpg|Adult female
File:Mantis in Connecticut.jpg|Adult at rest
File:Prayingmantismeal.jpg|Adult female ''Tenodera sinensis'' eating a [[Tettigoniidae|long-horned grasshopper]]
File:Brown sub-adult female Chinese Mantis on hand1243.JPG|Sub-adult female in hand
File:Chinese mantis on wall.jpg|Adult female on a wall
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of mantis genera and species]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Tenodera sinensis}}
* {{inaturalist taxon|71034}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1149167}}

[[Category:Mantidae]]
[[Category:Mantodea of Asia]]
[[Category:Insects of China]]
[[Category:Mantodea of North America]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1871]]
[[Category:Insects of Korea]]