Tenodera sinensis

Saussure, 1871

Chinese mantis, Chinese praying mantis

Species Guides

1

Tenodera sinensis is a large praying mantis native to China and Japan, accidentally introduced to North America in 1896 near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has become widely established across the eastern and central United States and parts of the Pacific Northwest. This is among the largest mantids in North America and is known for its voracious predatory , including documented consumption of pests such as the brown marmorated stink bug and spotted lanternfly. Females are flightless or poor fliers, while males are capable of sustained . The species overwinters as in a hardened foam case called an .

Tenodera sinensis 5 Luc Viatour by Luc Viatour. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.Tenodera sinensis, Danyang by Gaeho77. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Tenodera sinensis P1340948a by xpda. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Tenodera sinensis: /tɛˈnoʊdərə sɪˈnɛnsɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Tenodera sinensis is one of the largest in North America, with reaching up to 100 mm in body length. It can be distinguished from the native Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) by its substantially larger size and from the European mantis (Mantis religiosa) by the absence of the diagnostic black-and-white bullseye marking on the inner foreleg. Coloration ranges from green to brown, with individuals capable of changing color after molting. The is brown, Styrofoam-like, and typically deposited on upright vegetation. Males possess fully developed wings and fly at night; females have reduced wings and are effectively flightless.

Images

Habitat

Disturbed and weedy areas, often associated with man-made structures. Frequently found on flowering plants such as goldenrod in late summer, where they hunt . Also occupies gardens, meadows, agricultural fields, and woodland edges.

Distribution

Native to China, Japan, and nearby Asian islands. Introduced and established in North America: eastern United States (east of the Mississippi River), northward into Canada, and westward to the Pacific Northwest including Washington, Oregon, and California. Distribution records include Vermont and the conterminous 48 United States.

Seasonality

typically appear in September. Breeding season involves male . () deposited in autumn overwinter, with nymphs hatching in spring when temperatures warm and small insect prey become available. In temperate regions, the can complete its in approximately four months, though individuals may live six months to a year.

Diet

consuming a wide variety of arthropods including , flies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, butterflies, bees, , and spiders. Documented to prey on including brown marmorated stink bugs (Halyomorpha halys) and spotted lanternflies (Lycorma delicatula). Large females have been observed to capture and consume scorpions. Has been observed drinking water when deprived, and facultative omnivory has been demonstrated in captivity with consumption of banana.

Life Cycle

Overwinters as within a protective containing 100 or more embryos. Oothecae deposited on upright vegetation such as twigs or stems in autumn. Nymphs hatch in spring and undergo through multiple instars. mature in late summer, with males beginning approximately one week after reaching maturity. Females deposit one or more oothecae before winter.

Behavior

Sit-and-wait that employs active pursuit when starved and ambush tactics when sated. Hunting is modulated by internal physiological state: starved individuals exhibit stereotyped, prey-motivated sequences including increased prey monitoring, turns to track prey, translations to close distance, and strike attempts toward distant prey (≥15 cm). Sated individuals show more variable behavior, restricting attention to close-proximity prey (~5 cm) with reduced locomotor pursuit. Insulin injection can induce behavioral shift from active pursuit to ambush . Males fly at night and possess a single auditory organ between the second and third pair of legs adapted for bat echolocation detection. Females are flightless or capable only of short . can occur during courtship and mating, particularly when females are nutritionally stressed.

Ecological Role

Apex in many ; contributes to of agricultural and nuisance pests. Preys upon including brown marmorated stink bugs and spotted lanternflies, potentially mitigating their ecological and economic impacts. Serves as prey for vertebrate predators including bats (males employ auditory evasion). may be parasitized by .

Human Relevance

Widely kept in captivity by entomology enthusiasts and educators; popular for behavioral research due to its size and hardiness. Occasionally sold for garden pest control, though effectiveness is variable. sometimes accidentally transported on nursery stock or Christmas trees, leading to indoor hatching events. Not endangered or protected; legal to collect and keep.

Similar Taxa

  • Mantis religiosaEuropean mantis shares introduced range in North America but distinguished by black-and-white bullseye marking on inner foreleg and smaller maximum size.
  • Stagmomantis carolinaNative Carolina mantis is substantially smaller (typically half the size or less), with more limited distribution in eastern and central North America.
  • Stagmomantis limbataNative to western North America; females employ signaling for mate attraction similar to T. sinensis but differs in and geographic range.

Sources and further reading