MANTIDAE Latreille, 1802

Kamila, A. P. & Sureshan, P. M., 2025, An illustrated key to the praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) of India up to generic level, Zootaxa 5566 (3), pp. 446-480 : 464

Family MANTIDAE Latreille, 1802

Four subfamilies with 9 genera are currently recorded from India.

1. Lateral pronotal expansion highly dilated. pronotum anteriorly boat-shaped, enfolds the posterior part of head ( Fig. 123 ) ( Choeradodinae ).............................................................................. Asiadodis

- Lateral pronotal expansion a little dilated. Pronotum anteriorly rounded, does not enfolds the head ( Fig. 125 )............ 2

2. Mid and hind femora without genicular spine. Fore coxa often ventrally with an oval black basal patch, sometimes with a white patch inside it ( Figs. 128 , 130 ) ( Mantinae )................................................................. 3

- Mid and hind femora with genicular spine. If not, then eyes a little conical. Fore coxa ventrally without black patch....... 4

3. Fore coxae ventrally with numerous prominent white granules. Fore femora ventrally without black patch, but with a yellow patch near tibial spur groove ( Fig. 128 )............................................................... Mantis

- Fore coxae ventrally without pale white granules. Fore femora ventrally with a black patch near tibial spur groove, often with a yellow patch merged to it ( Fig. 130 )................................................................ Statilia

4. Pronotum often with lateral pronotal expansion ( Figs. 125, 126 ). Hind wings mostly without any pattern ( Figs. 124, 126 ) ( Hierodulinae )....................................................................................... 5

- Pronotum without lateral pronotal expansion ( Figs. 131, 132, 133 ). Hind wings with blackish transverse patterns ( Figs. 132, 133 ). If not, then eyes a little conical and mid and hind femora without genicular spine ( Tenoderinae ).................. 7

5. Lateral pronotal expansion restricted to supra-coxal area ( Fig. 124 )....................................... Hierodula

- Lateral pronotal expansion extending up to base ( Figs. 125, 126 )................................................ 6

6. Pronotum rhomboidal shape. Metazone about 1.5 times as long as prozone ( Fig. 125 ).................... Rhombomantis

- Pronotum oval shape. Metazone more than twice as long as prozone ( Fig. 126 ).......................... Rhombodera

7. Eyes conical. Lower frons about 4 times as wide as high. Hind wings without any pattern ( Fig. 131 ). Mid and hind femora without genicular spines........................................................................ Mesopteryx

- Eyes round. Lower frons not that much wide as high ( Fig. 134 ). Hind wings with pattern ( Figs. 132, 133 ). Mid and hind femora with genicular spines.................................................................................. 8

8. Anterior part of hind wings with a black wide transverse patch and hyaline oval patches in it ( Fig. 132 )......... Tenospilota

- Anterior part of hind wings with more or less chess board- like pattern ( Fig. 133 )........................... Tenodera

Figures

FIGURES 123–128. 123) Asiadodis squilla, head and pronotum, dorsal view (©MantID). 124) Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure. 125) Rhombomantis woodmasoni (Werner). 126) Rhombodera fratricida Wood-Mason (©MantID). 127) Mantis religiosa L. 128) M. religiosa, forelegs, ventral view.

FIGURES 129–134. 129) Statilia sp. 130) Statilia sp., forelegs, ventral view. 131) Mesopteryx alata Saussure (©Trustees of the Natural History Museum-NHMUK012497826). 132) Tenospilota nova (Beier), body, ventral view (©Thornthan Unnahachote). 133) Tenodera superstitiosa (Fabricius). 134) Tenodera aridifolia (Stoll), head, frontal view.